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EtnoJourney
Heritage Cuisine

Rendang Kitchen and Pandai Sikek Songket

Minangkabau, West Sumatra

Photo: Adhmi · CC BY-SA 4.0

Duration
2 days
Group size
Max. 8 people
Category
Heritage Cuisine
Difficulty
Easy
Suitable for almost everyone; plenty of stops and light walking.
Language
Indonesian, English

About this journey

Cook rendang the traditional way and visit songket weavers in the village of Pandai Sikek.

Rendang is cooked slowly in coconut milk and spices until the liquid reduces and the oil separates, leaving the meat coated in a dark, rich paste. With a Minang family you follow the whole process, from grinding the spices to stirring for hours over the stove. Day two takes us to Pandai Sikek on the slopes of Mount Singgalang, a village known for songket woven with gold and silver thread and for its woodcarving. Weavers show the three required Pandai Sikek motifs, the areca palm, spinach seed and plaited rib, on the panta loom.

Hosted by the local community in Minangkabau

What you'll experience

  • Cook rendang with a Minang family
  • Gold-thread songket in Pandai Sikek
  • The panta loom and woodcarving
  • Share the meal you cooked

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    The rendang kitchen

    09:00 meet at Jam Gadang, buy spices at the market, cook rendang until late afternoon, dinner with the family, overnight in Bukittinggi.

  2. Day 2

    Pandai Sikek songket

    Morning drive to Pandai Sikek, visit weavers and carvers, lunch, back in Bukittinggi around 15:00.

What's included

  • Local guide from the community
  • Cooking class and all ingredients
  • 1 night's lodging in Bukittinggi
  • 3 meals
  • Local transport

Not included

  • Travel to Bukittinggi
  • Purchase of songket cloth
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses and souvenirs

Before you go

Practical notes so your trip is comfortable and your hosts feel respected.

What to bring

  • Modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees
  • Headscarf or shawl for women visiting mosques
  • An apron or clothes you don't mind marking in the kitchen
  • Some cash; ATMs are scarce on site

Local etiquette

  • The kitchen is family space; follow your host's way of cooking and serving
  • Food is halal; do not bring alcohol into homes
  • Use your right hand to give or receive things
  • Ask before photographing people, homes or ceremonies

Getting there

Fly into Minangkabau International Airport in Padang Pariaman. From there Bukittinggi is about 2–3 hours and Batusangkar (Pagaruyung) about 2.5–3 hours via the Anai Valley. Intercity buses and shared cars run from Padang.

Meeting point

Jam Gadang, Bukittinggi

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