Malaysian opening a restaurant in the UK, US or other countries might be nothing unusual. But, imagine stumbling upon a Malaysian restaurant in Kraków, Poland. Well, meet Chef Didi, the owner of Batik Restauracja who is making waves in Poland’s culinary scene.
The first Malaysian Halal restaurant in Poland
Batik Restauracja in Kraków, Poland’s first-ever haven for authentic Indo-Malay cuisine. While it’s easy to spot international restaurants, especially from the Middle East in Poland, Chef Didi decided to take a different route. With his proud Malaysian background, he decided to introduce rich and flavourful Malaysian cuisine to a curious Polish palate. Will it be successful?
Meet Chef Didi, an international student turned chef of Batik Restauracja in Poland
So, how did Chef Didi find himself in Poland, running the only Malaysian Halal restaurant in the country? Chef Didi originally hails from Kuala Lumpur, where he developed a deep love for food, as rich and diverse as Malaysia itself.
His journey to Poland began when he pursued a master’s degree at Jagiellonian University. Luck was on his side, after he completed his studies, he was offered a job in Poland. However, as a foodie who always liked to cook for his friends, he couldn’t resist the culinary call within him. He decided to quit his job and that’s how Batik Restauracja was born.
Living in Poland for three years now, Chef Didi admits it’s not easy to source authentic Malaysian ingredients in a foreign land. He noted it was the most challenging for him to create Malaysian authentic food without adjusting the ingredients.
The closest he could find were imports from Indonesia and Thailand – but the taste was never quite the same. What he did was something odd – determined to bring the authentic flavours of Malaysia to Poland, he rolled up his sleeves and started to make his herbs and spices.
Altering Malaysian recipes to suit Polish tastes
With a bit of creativity, Chef Didi makes his homemade herbs and spices. How did he do it? He shared he studied the ingredient labels on the back of the boxes, carefully studied the percentage of all ingredients and experimented until he hit the perfect blend.
For instance, Batik Restauracja created their cendol, kaya spread, and sambal budu from scratch by preserving the authentic Malaysian taste.
Chef Didi’s signature dishes
At Batik Restauracja, your taste buds are in for a treat. Try crispy Tahu Isi, spicy Sambal Tempe, or dive into the flavours of Gado-Gado, a salad bursting with peanut sauce goodness.
For the main course, savour the timeless Classic Indonesian Fried Rice or the smoky Satay, served with a rich peanut sauce. Malaysian delights include the fragrant Traditional Nasi Lemak and the colourful Malaysian Nasi Kerabu. Warm your soul with comforting dishes like Soto Ayam and Sayur Lodeh. And don’t forget to explore the flavorful journey of Nyonya Laksa, a Malaysian noodle soup with creamy coconut broth and aromatic spices.
So, the next time you’re in Kraków and find yourself craving a taste of Malaysia, head over to Batik Restauracja and meet the heart and soul of a Malaysian chef who dared to dream big!
Batik Restaurant
Website: Batik Retauracja
Address: Józefa 5, 31-056 Kraków, Poland
Reservation: Click here
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