Gordon Ramsay’s Uncharted West Sumatra Culinary Adventure

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is renowned for his hands-on approach to cooking and life’s challenges.

He practiced what he preached as he set out try his hand at pacu jawi, the traditional bull race of the Tanah Datar district in the Indonesian province of West Sumatra.

But the Scotsman realized he will have his hands full after seeing what pacu jawi entails – namely controlling the bulls by holding their tails while standing on a bamboo plough as they race through a muddy track.

“Oh my God are you crazy?! This is insane!,” Ramsay exclaimed on seeing the bovines surge through the mud. But this does not stop him from giving the messy race a try.

Ramsay gave the race a go three times, first to the hoots and laughter of the audience, then earning their grudging respect for his determination. The multiple Michelin star winning chef emerged sore and mud-spattered, but with his head held high.

All in a day’s work

The pacu jawi is part of “Sumatra’s Stunning Highlands”, the latest episode of Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, which aired on National Geographic.

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Premiering on Monday night, June 29, the episode has the globetrotting 53-year-old take on West Sumatra’s traditions, and sample foods ranging from bika to dadiah buffalo yogurt.

As with the series’ other episodes or his previous shows such as Hell’s Kitchen and Hotel Hell, Ramsay spiced up his adventures with his helping of dry wit, astute observations and profanity.

“I knew I’d be put to work. But I didn’t know I’d be auditioning for the Cirque du Soleil,” he muttered as he balanced himself on a rickety fishing boat to catch bonito, before falling into the sea. Ramsay also tried his hand at trawling for giant freshwater prawns in a cave.

Yet his adventures merely lead off to his biggest challenge yet – a cookoff of rendang beef stew and other dishes against Indonesian culinary maestro William Wongso, with West Sumatra governor Irwan Prayitno as the judge.

Dok. Instagram William Wongso Gordon Ramsay learning to make rendang in a West Sumatra market

A pre Covid-19 idyll

Viewers might note that the episode featured no face masks or physical distancing.

“['Sumatra’s Stunning Highlands'] was shot January 19-22 this year,” said William Wongso.

“Covid-19 has already been detected then but hasn’t reached [Indonesia yet],” William recalled. “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted’s producer called me at the end of 2019 and asked for suggestions on where to film in Indonesia, so I suggested West Sumatra.”

Also read: Sale of Indonesian Foods Overseas Weather Corona Outbreak

“I chose West Sumatra because it is where rendang originated. The dish has been gaining iconic status throughout Indonesia and around the world,” he said.

He admired Ramsay’s spirit of adventure, eagerness to learn about local food, culture and traditions, and down-to-earth attitude. 

When Ramsay will drop by Indonesia again remains to be seen. But if he does, be sure to keep an eye out for future episodes of Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted.

(Writer/Editor: Silvita Agmasari)

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