Darni’s Story: From Longing for Beijing Flavors to Earning Rp 30 Million from Clay Pot Smoke Cooking in Indramayu

"Usually smoked chicken is made in a special smoking place. But here, I started just out of curiosity; I happened to see an unused clay pot at home and decided to use it for smoking," she explained.

Many customers say Darni’s Asap Gentong dishes have a delicious flavor.

This is largely due to the preparation process.

Darni said that before the smoking process, the raw ingredients undergo a marination stage.

The meat is seasoned with selected spices and allowed to marinate for about an hour.

This step is crucial for the spices to fully penetrate the meat.

After that, the meat is poured with a spiced broth before being placed into the clay pot.

Inside the pot, the meat is slowly cooked over small wood coals for a full hour.

This lengthy process results in tender meat that's juicy on the inside while maintaining a crispy texture on the surface.

That flavor has become the hallmark of her business.

"Alhamdulillah, many people like it," Darni said with a smile.

Price Variations

Darni revealed that her best-selling menu item is the smoked duck.

Currently, her Asap Gentong business only offers take-away service; she has yet to provide dine-in facilities.

Regarding prices, Darni adjusts them according to the weight of the ingredients.

For example, a 1.3-kilogram duck is priced at Rp 130,000, while a 1.4-kilogram duck costs Rp 140,000.