Nothing wrong with the old

There is a never-ending quest for the new and the novel in Jakarta, but it's really the oldies that are the goodies.

This meal of mostly Surabayan staples at Handayani Prima, shared with old friends and family members nailed that adage -- we didn't head to the newest restaurant in town, but one of the most reliable (it's been in place for almost 30 years).

We reconnected over a justly spicy nasi goreng kambing (fried rice with goat), sweet and nutty beef rawon (black beef soup), stir-fried hearts of the banana (banana blossom), and -- the highlight for me -- really tender marrow satay.

Sometimes it's important to pause: why chase the new when the oldies were already so good to begin with?