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

INDRAMAYU, KOMPAS.com - A simple idea pursued with dedication can open the door to promising business opportunities.

This has been proven by Darni, a resident of Rancajawat Village, Tukdana District, Indramayu Regency, West Java, who has successfully developed a culinary business called Asap Gentong.

Though it is a home-based culinary venture, Darni manages to generate up to Rp 30 million in monthly revenue from this business.

Darni, also affectionately known as Mimi Ardi, shared that she started the business in 2023.

The inspiration behind Asap Gentong originated from her life experience working in Beijing, China.

Since returning to Indonesia, she often missed the distinctive taste of smoked chicken from the Land of the Rising Sun.

This nostalgia motivated Darni to experiment until she could recreate the flavor of that cherished cuisine.

Born from Serendipity

The journey to find the right formula was not quick, until she finally discovered a flavor profile she felt closely resembled the taste she longed for.

From there, Darni bravely decided to venture into the culinary business.

"At first, it was because I like to cook, so I experimented with various recipes to make this smoked chicken," Darni said when met at her business on Sunday (20/9/2026).

Darni uses a range of raw ingredients, including free-range chickens, broiler chickens, ducks, Pekin ducks, and tuna fish.

These ingredients are prepared using traditional smoking techniques.

What’s unique is that Darni uses an unconventional cooking method—she smokes the food in a clay pot (gentong).

Interestingly, the use of the clay pot was actually accidental.

Darni admitted that while looking for a way to evenly cook the meat, her gaze fell upon an unused clay pot at home.

"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.

KOMPAS.com/HANDHIKA RAHMAN Darni, also affectionately known as Mimi Ardi, running her Asap Gentong culinary business at her home in Rancajawat Village, Tukdana District, Indramayu Regency, West Java, Sunday (20/9/2026).

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.

Meanwhile, a 1-kilogram free-range chicken is sold for Rp 110,000, and a 1.7-kilogram broiler chicken is priced at Rp 90,000.

"Basically, the price depends on the weight, so if you order 10 ducks, each has a different price," Darni explained.

Darni acknowledged that her business gained momentum when she started using social media platforms, especially Facebook, for promotion.

Orders that initially came only from friends and relatives have expanded widely, and she now has several resellers across various areas of Indramayu Regency.

Through her Asap Gentong culinary venture, Darni has proven that a simple idea pursued diligently can evolve into a highly promising business opportunity.

She hopes her business will continue to grow and become better known among culinary enthusiasts, both in Indramayu and beyond.

"Hopefully it gets even more successful, and more customers will like it," Darni said with hope.