Minister of Social Affairs Succeeds in Persuading Chef Juna to Help Youth Culinary Businesses in East Nusa Tenggara

KUPANG (JUNE 22, 2023) - Minister of Social Affairs, Tri Rismaharini, said that she had accepted the invitation to cook with Chef Juna. The famous chef promised to give cooking classes to the youth of East Nusa Tenggara.

In the beginning, the Minister felt hesitant to be seen as unable to cook. It was because she hadn’t cooked for 12 years in the kitchen because she had to manage Surabaya City and the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Minister Risma said that one of the restaurant owners said that he will take East Nusa Tenggara youth as laborers to help work on boxed food which is a collaboration result between Chef Juna and Chef Renata. “But Chef Juna request to cook with me. I’m screwed. I’ve worked for more than 12 years and became a minister; I’ve never cooked anymore. But that’s fine, I will cook. But please give me a direction of what to do,” she said when she started Indonesia Economic Heroes (PENA) Roadshow at Efata Center in Kupang on Saturday (June 18).

Fortunately, the Minister was not required to cook, she only needed to help stirring urap (mixed vegetables with spiced grated coconut for dressing). The cooking class was held from June 17 until June 18, coinciding with PENA Roadshow in Kupang. Professional chefs are invited to teach cooking to 200 people and Vocational High School students.

The presence of the chefs became an attraction to the participants attending the training for two days. One of the participants, Fransiska Funan (18), admitted that she got a lot of knowledge from the chefs. For two days, the teenager graduated from Vocational High School majoring in Culinary Management, and knew the theory on food safety and direct practice to make moringa leaves ice cream and Bandung Batagor.

“Food Safety covers food hygiene.  We also teach how to make batagor and dessert,” she said while attending the cooking class at Efata Center in Kupang on Sunday (June 18).

Fransiska’s schoolmate, Juliana De Carvalho (17) eagerly listened to the chef giving tips for culinary business. “In order to taste similar, the food should be measured. If we don’t use measurements, the taste will possibly be different or less tasty,” she said.

Apart from the two students, the cooking class was also attended by Family Beneficiaries (KPM) of Family Hope Program (PKH). One of the beneficiaries, Milka FS Baikh, claimed that she got a lot of knowledge that could be obtained from the two days activities. “Yesterday (June 17), we learned about the theories of marketing or selling. How to survive. If we fail, we have to rise again. In whatever business, we are not supposed to be afraid to fail,” said the 42-year-old woman.

Becoming a Family Hope Program beneficiary since 2020, she was amazed when the chef turns moringa leave into ice cream. “Moringa leaves ice cream is the most difficult in the beginning. We think about what it will look like. We never made one, but it turns out to be very easy to make and delicious,” she said.

The menu inspired by local potency motivates her to put into practice what she had learned at the house later. Moreover, the mom of two kids planned to start a culinary business. She said that the chef taught her to add some variations if she wants to start a culinary business. Thus, her foods will have a signature and will entice customers.

The training instructor or the chef teaching could also feel the participants’ enthusiasm. “As instructors, we are very happy with their enthusiasm. At first, as humans, we complain about how hot the weather is, etc. But when we see them so enthusiastic, we are getting excited to teach,” Josi Pardamean Tambulun said.

According to Josi, the instructors provided knowledge of cooking techniques in between the course, such as how to cut properly because he thought there were so many materials that cannot be obtained at school. The cooked dish was customized to local potential. As the public knows, there were many moringa leaves in East Nusa Tenggara. Thus, the taught menu is moringa leave ice cream which was a modification of Pontianak’s Ce Hun Tiao Ice. Moreover, there was also Batagor Bandung (Fried Meatballs and Tofu) which used mackerel as the main ingredient. The menu was chosen based on the fact that East Nusa Tenggara was rich of seafood.

Felling gratitude, Minister of Social Affairs gives woven patterned pouches made by speech-deaf beneficiaries for Chef Juna and Chef Renata. The gifts are entrusted to Dailybox CEO, Kelvin Subowo.