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.
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