Specialty Grocery Stores in Jakarta and Bali, Indonesia

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Have you ever had the urge to try to recreate a special dish you've eaten in one of Jakarta's finer restaurants, but then you discover that you can't find the ingredients anywhere? A discouraging search of supermarkets may lead you to believe that you'll have to wait till your next overseas trip to find the ingredients or do without that special dish.

In fact, Jakarta has several specialty grocery stores which cater to expatriates looking for ingredients from home and the ever-growing community of Indonesians who enjoy foreign cuisines. Kem Chicks began importing foodstuffs for expats in the early 70s, and even Indonesia's largest supermarket chain, Hero, has increased the number of imported products in stores which they identified as having a large expatriate customer base. Ranch Market has been popular with expats for years with a good mix of products.

Ethnic grocery stores cater to their national groups, such as Sogo Supermarket catering to the Japanese and larger expat community, smaller Japanese and Korean markets like Papaya and Cosmo, and Indian grocery stores in Pasar Baru. Hero also features ethnic food sections in select stores. Read more about ethnic grocery stores in Jakarta

Yet, as many Jakartans will attest, the problem of finding certain ingredients still exists. Where can you find that absolutely gotta-have-it brand of Jamaican salsa, or a choice of 15 foie gras products or scrumptious Australian crumpets? For these and other gourmet items, you will have the best luck at a specialty grocery store. Indonesia's specialty grocery stores are doing their best to carry on the tradition of excellence that comes out of such famous delicatessens as Dean and Deluca, Zabar's and Balducci's in New York.

Dijon Food Specialties

Our readers in Bali won't be disappointed by their distant location, since Bali has its own specialty grocery store too in Dijon Food Specialties. Opened in 1999, and owned by Intoek Scherer, Dijon offers hard-to-find foods from overseas to the expat and local Dijon in Bali

communities in Bali. By its very nature the store is customer focused. To ensure that customers can find what they are looking for. Dijon Fs has gone beyond importing and offers an impressive product line of deli counter items, special spice combinations, jams and preserves. Dijon Fs opened The Corner Café across from the store in 2001 for delicious sandwiches, salads and a quick cuppa.

Dijon offers delivery services throughout southern Bali, and the store's location is easily accessible from Sanur, Kuta, Nusa Dua and Denpasar. The store is at the heart of the expat community as events and services are promoted on a community bulletin board and the staff serves as a helpful resource to assist newcomers to Bali get involved in various community groups and find needed services.

If you live outside Jakarta or Bali, don't despair, these stores can also arrange refrigerated shipments around the archipelago, thereby catering to the needs of Indonesia's widespread expatriate communities and gourmet aficionados in remote locations. Just send an email to receive their product listing.

So if you hankering for some food from home, or want to experiment and cook something new, visit one of these specialty grocery stores for the start of a palate-educating adventure.

Dijon Food Specialties
Kuta Poleng Mall - Blok A1-A2
Jl. Setiabudhi
Kuta 80361 Bali, Indonesia
Tel. (0361) 759-636, 759-638
Fax (0361) 759-783
Email dijonfs@indosat.net.id
Website www.dijon-bali.com

Photo Credit: Dijon Food Specialties

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