Hello. What are some things I should know before coming to Jakarta?

[Shadrach]

Here are some things that I haven't been able to find here so I always bring them over from the UK:
Alpen breakfast cereal
Pickled sliced beetroot
Jamaican ginger cake
Fry's chocolate cream
Christmas crackers
Christmas pudding
Yorkshire pudding mix

Good luck finding those items. I do know pickled beetroot is easy to make. You just wash some beets, boil them until soft, then let them cool. peel off the skins .then slice them to the size you want. Put the slices in a clean jar, fill with red wine vinegar. Put a clean top on the jars. Put in a large cooking pot with water over the top of the jars, bring the water to a boil, then boil for twenty minutes. Take off the heat, remove the jars and let them sit on the countertop. Slowly the tops on the jars with snap closed to seal the jars. There you have Sliced Pickled Beetroot! This technique is called canning by water bath! It's OK if they don't seal, because they will pickle in the vinegar. If they seal, you will know bu tapping the top. It should sound like a ping. If they don't seal, just put them in the fridge and they will store just fine!
I'm sure this technique is on Youtube. It's fun to do, and opens you up to the world of canning!

 

[Jaime C]

Buen apetito! Jaime, I am curious about the smoked salmon, where did you buy it?

Costco, USA. Kirkland Norwegian smoked salmon, 2 pack, 12 ounces each. 24 ounces for $22.99. USD

 

[Jaime C]

Concerning cost benefits of bringing in free luggage allowance vs buying locally in Indonesia.

I like pork salami, and usually just end up with Mama’s when buying in Bandung. Mama’s cost about 400k per kilo at Setiabudi supermarket. From Costco USA, it’s about 180k per kilo, and I find the quality better. I like the pre-sliced product, and the Kirkland brand is in two packages of 1 pound each. they also seem to freeze well.

 

[jstar]

The thing with salami is there are thousands of varieties and flavors. And every Italian region obviously thinks they have the best. Also, everybody has a different preference. Now of course the dry sausages from France and Spain can also be very nice. (@Balifrog : I didn’t forget about you but we went back via the US last time and spent some time in Mexico, it was really not feasible to take something chilled).

Once in a while we order Mrs. Pigie salami since my wife likes to make her own pizza’s. Approx. 75.000 per pound. That is also precut and frozen. Not bad but no way in hell I would ever buy a salami or sausage sliced, if it’s for regular consumption. It loses quality and flavor faster; you want to minimize the exposure to air and bacteria. And cut it very thin, that’s often not the case. It’s like I cringe when they pour wine or beer here, I’d rather do it myself. It’s very important to serve and eat salami on room temperature, I saw someone nuking it once to defrost

So yes, I fully understand people take their own preferred food or ingredients. But it also seems many absolutely want to stick with their ‘own brand’ which is not even original/real esp. if it’s from the US. They have many New Zealand imports now which are great alternatives.

For me things to take mainly include (high quality) cheese (non sliced!). The price here is threefold and then you get something from a brand nobody ever heard of in my home country.

All these things like premium Canadian dog food, spread and sprinkles for the sandwiches, cream cheese, cookies etc. etc. I get here now. Many years ago I even had to take capers, anchovies, brussels sprouts and parmesan but that’s not necessary anymore. I wish that change on alcohol would ever take effect but it doesn’t look like it will.