Talking Tongues Chinese Indonesian Cuisine

I love Southeast Asian flavors. Fortunately for me, there's a new foodie spot for Chinese-Indonesian cuisine in the eskinitas of Salcedo Village. Talking Tongues is owned and managed by (KK) Gertruida Nelwan, an Indonesian who decided to live in Manila.

This is one restaurant where Rache and I agree to disagree in our foodie assessment. I love it because of its spicy dishes (they appeal to the Bicolano in me) and unique flavor, but she hates it because she feels there is something missing in its ingredients, flavor or the way the food is cooked.

I'm not sure if this is just a guy or girl thing, but let me know your own assessment of Talking Tongues...

Talking Tongues Menu | Starters and Noodles | Rice dishes, Vegetable dishes, Grilled dish | Side dishes, Curry, Dessert, Drinks | More drinks

 

Talking Tongues' (TT) address along 116 Leviste St, Salcedo Village is deceiving. You won't see it along that main street. It is actually located at the back of the building along San Agustin Street. This area is famous for office foodie spots like Sinbad and other small restos.

 

I was surprised with the colorful interiors of TT -- filled with Indonesian paintings and its rainbow-colored chairs.

Special Fried Rice with Chicken Satay, Fried Egg or Omelette and Prawn Crackers (P210). Nasi Goreng, Sate Ayam, Telur Goreng Dadar, Kerupuk Udang Acar.

This is the most popular dish -- Nasi Goreng with 3 sticks of sate. Nasi Goreng is a bit similar to the Bagoong Rice in Thai restos, which has a sweet taste and different chunks of meat. The serving size is good to share for two people.

Vegetable Salad with Peanut Sauce (P180). Gado-Gado.

I love this salad with its sweet and spicy peanut sauce. I prefer to eat it on top of a cracker.

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce 8 pcs.-(P300) Sate Ayam Saus Kacang.

What sets this satay apart is its peanut sauce made from Java Sauce (think Aristocrat) with Peanuts.

Fried Kwee Tiauw with Seafood (P222) Kwee Tiaw Ayam atau Seafood.

You'll see a noticeable similarity between Pad Thai and Kwee Tiauw. It is slightly oily (as expected) because it is fried. A bit spicy and sweet, too, just the way I like it.

Extra Special Beef Rendang - 4 pcs (P288). Rendang Padang.

The beef is a bit dry, with beef crumbs covering it. I'm not sure what authentic Beef Rendang tastes like, so let me know if this is really how it is supposed to look and taste.

That day, we met up with Marge (seen here with Rache and Aidan), the sole distributor of Sigg in the Philippines. I'm still waiting for my wife to post her take on Talking Tongues. I'll link it up so that you can have two opposing perspectives on this restaurant.

Talking Tongues
Chinese- Indonesian Cuisine

Ground Floor LPL Manor,

116 Leviste St., Salcedo Village, Makati City

(actually, it is located at the back of the building along San Agustin Street)

Mobile: +63916- 3443440, +63915-2302931

Telephone: +632 473-3588

 

 Live an Awesome Life,

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2009.

 blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

 prof. blog: AntonDiaz.com

 mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)

email: anton@diaz.ph

Comments

[teza]

I love nasi goreng! and it's so near my office I can't believe I didn't know about it! thanks for the heads up! i know what im eating tomorrow for lunch!

[Timi Siytangco]

My rendang experience has always been a bowlful of tender meat (as in falling-off-the-bone -- if there were a bone) lightly coated in a gravy-type sauce. Certainly not dry... and definitely not *four* pieces. Unless that's merienda?

[nadelyn]

Hi Timi! How are you?

[Garando]

I've had beef rendang in a couple of "Padang" restaurants (traditional) in Jakarta. It was as if the beef has been re-cooked cooked hundreds of times :) So the edges of the beef was a bit toasted, making it quite tough, but the core was chewy and the flavor just explodes making it very tasty. Oh and it wasn't dry, it was quite saucy. I remember well because we all had to eat with our hands. :D
Looking forward to trying this place out. I was disappointed with the Indonesian cafe in MOA, and I need my fill of Indonesian cuisine. :)

[Jasper Jugan]

looks interesting! will try to drop by this week

[zee]

Hi Anton, I'm a bit surprised and let me say I am excited when I saw your blog about Talking Tongue resto because I am Indonesian :)
And I just want to let you know that the authentic rendang is not dry like that, usually with heavy coconut milk and the oil comes up from that coconut milk, however the color of rendang padang in that pic was just right.
And the sate sauce, yes the taste is almost the same as Java sauce in Aristocrat. That's what I thought when I tried Aristocrat for the first time :)
Anyway, I read your blog often and enjoy it so much.

Regards

[Anton]

Hi Zee,

Can you let me know your Indonesian Foodie assessment of Talking Tongues?
Thanks!

Anton

[zee]

Actually, I never been there nor tried eating Indonesian cuisine in Talking Tongues, I eat my mom's cooking instead. I know the owner of TT and I ever tried her cooking twice, but it's quite far from the authentic ones. But I know the reason why she changed the taste. First thing is Indonesian foods are so hot and spicy, and she doubt that people here could accept the taste; the second is it's really difficult to find our ingredients here so the taste just cannot be the same.
Oh anyway, you can find 'Gado-Gado' in Sunday market, my friends told me that the taste is still acceptable.
Anyway I'll be coming back to my country this coming Friday, I will upload pictures of Indonesian foods, so at least you have some kind of ideas :)

-Zee-

[Anton]

Yes Zee,
I'm quite interested to learn more about Indonesian food. I like it hot and
spicy.

Please let send a link on the photos... salamat!

anton

[Dip]

Hi!

Thanks for sharing new place.
Upon reading earlier[ 11:30AM}.. i called them right away and there I was... 11:50AM] fulfilling my indonesian food dream!

I got to know the owner too and the staff and yes the place is awesome!
I am hoping to use my Bahasa here!

Thanks for sharing!!

Terimah kasi!

[Ocy]

I like nasi goreng restaurant talking tongue's. There is kerupuk also chicken satay.

[Zee]

Hi, how are you Anton.
I hope it's not too late to show you the original version of Indonesian food.hehe.
please see some pictures that taken during my vacation in Indonesia. Sorry, some of the pics are blurred.hehe.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82708&id=699503144
and http://www.flickr.com/photos/536/collections/72157594587353052/ ( this one is not mine, I just browse others picture since mine are not that good )
Hope those pics could give you some idea :)

Anyway, congrats for the 3rd baby!

Regards,
Zee

[Sabrina]

Hello Anton, I went to Talking Tongues 3 times. Why? Coz the food they cook so delicious, that's why I come back again with friend from French and U.S. They said it's very..very good especially special fried rice and the beef rendang. You know the foreigner is like the curry. And I will come back again there with other friends..

[Pinoyexexpat]

Just like the earlier comments, beef rendang is not supposed to be that dry. In terms of tenderness, the Indonesian versions I have tried in Jakarta are quite tough and chewy. The Malaysian version is more tender and has more sauce than the Indonesian version. Again, this is based on what I have tried in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Btw, the food here is quite pricey. Indonesian food is not supposed to be expensive. Php300 for 8 sticks of satay?!?!? Damn. I'm really gonna miss spending Php 150 for twenty sticks of satay here in Malaysia.

I wish Talking Tongues will include Sop Buntut (Oxtail soup) and Mee Jawa (a soupy and spicy version of pancit palabok).