A taste of Indonesia at Enak, Croydon

BY PALOMA LACY

It is said that travel broadens the mind. But for Joe Stewart, it completely changed his life.

A trip to Indonesia showed him a different way of living, and before too long, he was embracing a vegan lifestyle.

Fast forward a few years and he’s running a pop up restaurant, Enak, at Boxpark Croydon.

The good news is, it’s proving popular, which bodes well for a permanent presence somewhere.

Taking all the recipes he learned in small villages on his travels, Joe is giving visitors a real taste of Indonesia.

He even employs some of the more traditional methods still part of village life for authenticity.

Enak translates as ‘tasty’ in Indonesian and the plant-based dishes it serves most certainly are.

It’s not easy to find good Indonesian food in London – though Boxpark has a few options, but Joe wanted to take people on a journey to faraway lands.

So much so, the menu holds many surprises that provide excitement to someone like me, who embraces the unfamiliar.

In all honesty, I had almost no idea about what I was eating but safe in the knowledge that it was delicious, I carried on regardless.

The one dish I did recognise was cassava chips, which I’ve never actually seen on a restaurant menu.

Popular in Caribbean and South American homes, it offers a lighter and slightly sweeter alternative to potato.

Aubergine & tempeh curry and vegetable fritters were both perfect for the freezing conditions – warming and nourishing in every mouthful.

It’s open until January 31, so grab it while you can.

Enak – Unit 207 at Boxpark, Croydon.