Jetsetting with Wonderful Indonesia Flavours’ Chef Marinka

SINGAPORE — Since her stint as a judge on MasterChef Indonesia and Junior MasterChef Indonesia from 2011 to 2014, chef Marinka (whose real name is Maria Irene Susanto) has become a regular presence in food-related TV series — appearing in Back to the Streets Jakarta and Wonderful Indonesia Flavours.

She returns to the screen in the second season of the latter. “This time around, I’m more familiar and comfortable with (co-host) Tobie Puttock and we went to destinations such as Lombok, Bali and Bandung where we’re introducing street food,” she enthused. “For example, Bali is a destination which everyone thinks is just about partying and beaches, but it has great street food such as fried fish soup (served at Warung Mak Beng) that the locals really love.”

Q: As you’re based in Jakarta, could you tell us where some of your favourite restaurants are?

A: Yes, you can find out in the show! There is Lara Djonggrang, which is just beautiful. It’s one of the best restaurants to visit in Jakarta — the whole restaurant has a story and the food it serves is based on traditional royal cuisine. I also love my own cafe Mars Kitch

Q: Which is your favourite place in Indonesia for a holiday?

A: Bali. I know it’s a boring answer but I really love Bali and going to Gili Islands nearby to escape. I can just go there by myself — it’s so therapeutic. I love to hang out in my favourite cafe Sisterfields. I’m an easy traveller, too. I can stay anywhere and I make it a point to try a new hotel every time I’m in Bali.

Q: Do you have any interesting hotel stories to share?

A: Yeah, I had bad trips. As I’d go to a different hotel each time, I once checked into this place that looked really old. The room felt so creepy like there was someone just staring at me the whole time. I lost clothes, including underwear. I checked out the next day. Now I’d avoid hotels that look really old. And I bring extra underwear when I travel.

Q: What are your other travel essentials?

A: I need something to cuddle. I have a soft napkin-like cloth from my sister. It’s like a handkerchief or pillowcase of sorts. It’s 30 years old, and I take it along to cuddle. It goes everywhere with me.

Wonderful Indonesia Flavours airs every Thursday at 9pm on the Asian Food Channel.