Arisarmu - If you are driving along Ambarawa - Magelang Rd, you can drop by in Ngampin, a village in Ambarawa and taste its authentic dish; "Serabi Ngampin", which is sold by the locals along the roadside.
For you who usually travel from Semarang to Magelang or vice versa must be very familiar with Ambarawa, a district in Semarang Regency, Central Java. It is well known with its historical tourism where you can visit Palagan Ambarawa Monument, Indonesian Railway Museum and Fort Willem 1. While for culinary tourism, this small town boast with "Pecel Mbok Kami" and "Serabi Ngampin".
"Serabi" is a traditional Indonesian pancake, made mainly from rice flour and coconut milk with a choice of savory and sweet taste that has long been exist. And as "kue basah" (moist snack), it can also be served with sweet coconut milk sauce.
In the early of May before the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims around the world, including in Indonesia, endured a period of daily fasting for a month. I, accompanied by my wife, finally headed to Ngampin, Ambarawa, a home of a famous "Serabi" in Semarang Regency to excite my curiosity of the taste.
We randomly decided to stop at a stall, owned by Sari, near Ngampin Village Office on Soegiyopranoto St (on google map, it's written as Ambarawa - Magelang Rd).
Sari, 28 years old street food vendor opens her stall from 09.00 am until it's depleted.
She looks enjoy selling "Serabi" and serves her customers kindly, but she doesn't know when people in Ngampin started selling it. So when I asked her, she simply answered; "When I was born, people had been selling Serabi along the roadside". But at least I've got some interesting information from her that currently there are approximately 70 Serabi sellers in Ngampin who join a community which hold a monthly meeting every 6th.
In the meeting, the members will be trained on how to make good "Serabi", how to cook it, and how to serve it. It's such a great effort to maintain the standard recipe and a unique cooking method.
 |
| "Serabi Ngampin" with sweet coconut milk sauce |
In the early of May before the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims around the world, including in Indonesia, endured a period of daily fasting for a month. I, accompanied by my wife, finally headed to Ngampin, Ambarawa, a home of a famous "Serabi" in Semarang Regency to excite my curiosity of the taste.
We randomly decided to stop at a stall, owned by Sari, near Ngampin Village Office on Soegiyopranoto St (on google map, it's written as Ambarawa - Magelang Rd).
 |
| A row of "serabi" stalls along the roadside |
Sari, 28 years old street food vendor opens her stall from 09.00 am until it's depleted.
She looks enjoy selling "Serabi" and serves her customers kindly, but she doesn't know when people in Ngampin started selling it. So when I asked her, she simply answered; "When I was born, people had been selling Serabi along the roadside". But at least I've got some interesting information from her that currently there are approximately 70 Serabi sellers in Ngampin who join a community which hold a monthly meeting every 6th.
In the meeting, the members will be trained on how to make good "Serabi", how to cook it, and how to serve it. It's such a great effort to maintain the standard recipe and a unique cooking method.
"Serabi Ngampin" is still cooked traditionally by using clay griddles over burned firewood at the price of 5k (USD 0.35) per portion which consists of 5 Serabi (with both chocolate and pandanus flavour) and sweet coconut milk sauce, and if added with "Tape Ketan" (fermented glutinous rice), the price becomes 6k (USD 0.45).
So I can conclude that wherever you eat, "Serabi Ngampin" will have the same or similar savour among sellers and the price will be same as well.
Although its taste is ordinary, however, drop by at "Serabi Ngampin" can be a nice place to release your hunger, thirst and fatique in your journey by spending just little money.
 |
| Batter of "Serabi Ngampin" |
 |
| Cooking "Serabi Ngampin" with clay griddles |
 |
| "Serabi Ngampin" added with "Tape Ketan". (fermented glutinous rice) |
 |
| Sari is selling "Serabi Ngampin" |