To understand a dish, sometimes the journey begins before it reaches the kitchen. For Chef Fernando Sindu, the latest menu at Salira started with a trip through Central Java, travelling with Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) to explore the food traditions of Pati, Blora, Solo, Semarang and Rembang.
The journey is now being brought to the table at Salira, The Union Group’s Indonesian restaurant in Senopati. From 1 October to 30 November 2026, the restaurant will serve eight dishes and drinks inspired by the culinary trip, covering regional specialities from across Central Java.
It is the latest edition of Salira’s Special Menu of the Month, following previous explorations of Makassar and Cirebon.
From a Culinary Trip to the Table
The Central Java journey was part of UFS Culinary Trip 2026, a programme that brings chefs closer to Indonesia’s regional food traditions through visits to local markets, food producers, warungs and other culinary destinations. The 2026 trip covered 11 cities, with Fernando among the chefs taking part.
For UFS, the programme provides an opportunity for chefs to experience regional ingredients, dishes and culinary practices directly, bringing those experiences back into their own kitchens.
At Salira, that journey has resulted in a menu that moves across several Central Javanese destinations. Sate Kambing Blora, Nasi Gandul Pati, Gudeg Semarang and Lontong Tahu Srepeh Rembang make up the savoury selection, while Serabi Solo Pandan Cokelat is served for dessert.
The drinks continue the regional focus with Es Kapal, Es Kawista and Es Teh Solo, the latter presented as a cocktail.
Exploring Indonesia Through Food
The collaboration is also connected to UFS’s wider work with professional chefs. Through programmes such as its Future Menus initiative, the company researches food trends and culinary developments while looking at how chefs can apply those ideas to their own kitchens. Its Culinary Trip takes a more local approach, putting chefs in direct contact with the places and people behind regional Indonesian food.
For Fernando, the Central Java trip also adds another chapter to his work with Salira. The restaurant itself was created as The Union Group’s first Indonesian dining concept, bringing dishes and culinary traditions from across the archipelago to Jakarta.
That idea is reflected in the restaurant’s special menu of the month, which changes its regional focus over time. This time, the spotlight falls on Central Java, with dishes connected to the places Fernando and the UFS team visited during their journey.
The menu offers a chance to taste several of those regional specialities in one sitting, from the smoky Sate Kambing Blora and rich Nasi Gandul Pati to the Rembang-style Lontong Tahu Srepeh and Serabi Solo.
Rather than ending when the culinary trip was over, the journey continues in the dining room at Salira, where these eight dishes and drinks will be available throughout October and November.
Salira Special Menu of the Month: Jawa Tengah is available from 1 October to 30 November 2026.
Salira
Jl. Senopati No.52 1st & 2nd Floor, RT.6/RW.3, Senayan, Kec. Kby. Baru, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12190
