VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

If you are on vacation to Indonesia, just come to Banyuwangi City, East Java. This Banyuwangi City has many beautiful tourism destinations, such as Ijen Crater, Baluran National Park, Blambangan Park, Green Bay, Red Island Beach, Sukamade Beach, and Alas Purwo National Park. Certainly, visiting Banyuwangi is incomplete without trying its special food. One of them is Sego Lemeng. Sego Lemeng is a dish of rice cooked in bamboo and grilled until being cooked. Sego Lemeng is a typical dish of the Osing Tribe from Banjar Village.

Glutinous rice is the basic ingredient needed to make Sego Lemeng. After being washed cleanly, the rice is seasoned with bay leaves, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, and salt. Some people add coconut milk to add a savory taste. As a complement, Sego Lemeng can also be added with minced chicken or tuna. All ingredients are mixed together and then wrapped in banana leaves. After it is shaped like rice-cake, it is put into bamboo and burned in the fireplace for up to four hours. When the bamboo turns black, this is a sign that the Lemeng is well-done. When it is eaten, Sego Lemeng produces a distinctive, savory and delicious taste. Because it has been given a side dish in it, Sego Lemeng can be eaten just like when eating grilled rice. However, time by time, Sego Lemeng is served with other side dishes, such as salted egg, omelet, red chili sauce, and anchovies.

Allegedly, Sego Lemeng is food that becomes the supply of the guerrillas who fought against the Dutch colonial invaders. When fighting for independence, many residents fought and hid in the forest. There, they made Sego Lemeng to survive. To enjoy Sego Lemeng, you can find it in many restaurants in Banyuwangi, that sell this typical dish. The price is around from Rp 15,000 to Rp 25,000 per serving. It depends on what side dish you eat.