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Underground Secret Dining
June 28, 2010 · 144 views

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Text : Athina Ibrahim | Photos : Azanaya
Underground Secret Dining is created by duo food-lover Lisa Virgiano and Sari Hartono, organized under their group Azanaya, derived from the Sanskrit word meaning ‘to have a passion for food’. With the infectious concept spread worldwide from Sao Paolo, Rio De Janeiro, San Francisco, Chicago, Florence, London, Hong Kong, and Sydney. Indonesia so far is the only existing country in South East Asia holding the USD.

Whiteboard Journal recently talked with Lisa to learn more about her objective and her most interesting food experience with USD.

What is your main objective in creating Underground Secret Dining (USD) and where did the inspiration come from?

L: Azanaya is actually a reflection of our soul who are passionate for food. We refer food as a part of uniting flavor to a friendship as well as a luscious life seasoning. Underground Secret Dining is one of Azanaya’s product we created to bring alternative event for food lovers. This idea emerged in the year 2009 at the beginning of a casual conversation.

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2. Having tried all sorts of Indonesian cuisine, which did you find to be the most interesting of all? (and why?)

L: Indonesian cuisine is one of a kind.. It is a peculiar cuisine with intense spices and varied cooking technique, not forget to mention: its rich cultural history. The most interesting of all is when I had a chance to taste indigenous rendang from Payakumbuh: not made from beef shank but 21 different leaves picked directly from a forest in Payakumbuh. It was slowly cooked with rich spices and eel, until it was crispy, it left no oil nor broth. The other one was Empal Gori in Yogyakarta : young jackfruit slowly cooked in mixed of coconut milk, palm sugar, and other spices until it had a meaty texture, just like the real empal : Sundanese beef shank.

3. What interesting experience have you encountered during USD?

L: I meet people with positive attitude. They really know how to appreciate food and its culture.

 These Jakartans are hardly to find in common public places, such as shopping malls or coffee shop. They bring inspiration (mostly creative ideas) and positivity to the whole event. USD gathers long time no see friends, I have seen the reunion of 2 friends who have not seen each other for almost 13 years, and they meet (unplanned) in USD. Plus, maximum exposure from the media, yeah..That brings the jiffy!

4. USD is very exclusive, limited to only 50 people. With recent exposures and award achievements, it could attract more people, would you consider expanding the quota of guest?

L: No. But we are planning to add more frequency.

5. With USD recently celebrating its first year anniversary, what is the next step for Azanaya?

L: Azanaya has various strategic plans, putting collaboration with many communities in Indonesia as its top menu.

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Our grand plan is to bring food as a medium for inspiration. We set plan to collaborate with Indonesia creative industry, involving food and creativity to trigger inspiration and hopefully brings solution to the boring life of many commoners.

6. Compensating the daily office jobs with travel and eating, would you say you have one of the best job in the world?

L: HELL YEAH! It is my dream career actually and I strive for the very best to get acknowledgment of it. But frankly speaking, it is also the toughest job in the world because you have to start from zero again, leaving your stable career in my mature age (I am not in my early twenties anymore, I wish I were…), and have no fixed (adequate) income coming to your bank account monthly.

But I think I have nothing to lose, if I fail, at least I fail trying being the real me, rather than succeed copying others.

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