My husband and I had promised to meet our friend, Okki Sutanto, for lunch at Sepiring Rendang Minang, a brand-new restaurant at Farmer’s Market Bintaro. And not just any restaurant, its masterchef happens to be none other than our long-time friend, Uda Dian Anugerah, whom we’ve known since 2016. We’ve eaten at his other place before, Sepiring Ayam Pop in Cijantung. So when Uda Dian opened another restaurant near our area, of course we had to come. When we arrived, Okki was already there, standing in front of the restaurant.
The restaurant itself is compact but charming. The front area of the first floor has a giant dandang (pot) behind heat-proof glass, like a stage where the star performer, Rendang, gets its slow-cooked spotlight. Inside, the space feels cozy, with neat rows of tables and chairs. Everything gleams under soft lighting, and there’s that signature green wall that makes you instantly hungry (seriously, who decided green makes food look even better? Because they’re right).
We headed upstairs, and before we could even start talking about food, Okki pulled out two frozen pasta packs from Pasta Lab, gifts for us, he said casually, as if this wasn’t already too generous. Then, he surprised me again by handing me a stack of books.
“Pick your gift,” he said, grinning.
It was his way of celebrating 30-day writing challenge completion. I was torn between Waking Up for the First Timeby Lala Bohang and Hari-Hari di Bloomsbury by Denty Piawai Nastitie. After much indecisive thoughts and “Can I really take both?” inside my hearts, Okki noticed it and being the gem that he is, he let me have both. Thank you so much!!
Soon enough, the golden plates began arriving. Literally golden: stainless steel plates with a warm gold finish that made the food look even more glorious. One by one, dishes appeared like a parade of flavor: rendang (of course), gulai chicken, jangek, telur barendo, plus some krupuk and iced tea.
Let me just say this: every. single. dish. was. divine.
Nothing failed. Every bite was comforting, rich, and perfectly spiced. Even the iced tea tasted like it had its life together. I love when people cook not just to fill you up, but to make you happy. And that’s exactly what this meal did.
In the middle of our laughter and storytelling, Uda Dian arrived, all the way from Cijantung on his motorcycle! He shared stories about the restaurant’s design, down to the chairs, the layout, and even the materials used. Nothing was random. Everything had meaning. You can always tell when someone pours not just skill, but also heart into their work. Uda believes that food should not only make you full, but also make you feel something. And it did.
Okki had to leave early for a meeting (after insisting on treating us, yes, after the pasta and the books!). So my husband and I stayed a bit longer with Uda, wandering around Farmer’s Market Bintaro. It’s grown so much: new stalls, new aromas, new people. The place felt alive.
By 3 PM, some stalls were already starting to close since the market only runs till around 4 PM, but I didn’t mind. The whole afternoon felt complete. Maybe because it wasn’t just about the food. It was about friendship, kindness, and celebrating small milestones. The kind that often go unnoticed unless you pause to appreciate them. As we said our goodbyes, I felt full. Not just from rendang, but from gratitude.
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