Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Cooking With Love : Celebrated the life of Bunda Inong



The meaning of life is that it ends.
Franz Kafka.


Irza Ahsan Pramana might remember his 5th birthday cake. A two-tier red and white icing beautifully assembled in a feet square cake, seemed generous for his entire friends who attended party bash at apartment in Singapore. Right in the middle of the cake was picture of Lightning McQueen –a cartoon character from Cars movie with irking and smiley wide eyes.

Nobody would realised that the Cars theme birthday cake was the last creation of Anna Siti Herdiyanti known as Bunda Inong (Bunda is a love name for Mum). The day after those kids party, Bunda had asthma attack. She was in coma at intensive care, never regained consciousness then died peacefully with husband Haris and two beloved hearts : Zidan and Syifa.

Like wave of gulf, everyone knew her in shock. Everyone in her virtual life and real life. She has been pioneered in Dapur Bunda (Bunda’s Kitchen) a mailing list for baker who want to share tips and tricks how to produce such wonderful handmade like Pavlov cake. In addition she also put diary of her pastry adventure at a blog along with her poem and pictures.

New chapter of Internet
Bunda Inong became a beacon in the mist of unfriendly virtual world in the late 90’s. On that era, Internet and technology was like in the hand of masculine domain. World wide web (www) was seen as an invisible evil, full of dirty pictures, pornography and flirty chatting. Woman especially stay home moms left in the corner, terrified or even don’t want to touch computer keypad. They scared that evil will insert into their precious heritance: their kids. They want to protect family by not having close encounters with virtual life. It was naughty act and even treat as a sin itself. How could you put yourself into the world full of sexual predators, pervert who hungry with elicited shameful images?

Consequently most of this woman ended up in computer illiterate, did not know how to access to get better positive information. They were starved with it. They were try to find answer of household stuff -things that always seen undervalue by their partner. The main problem was where to find a safe source of information, friendly and acceptable by standard moral.

Then Bunda Inong arrived with her lovely personality. Full of energy, always helpful to give words about recipes, flour and butter. She opened up cooking classes at her hometown Bandung along with members of Dapur Bunda. To extend audience she even moderate forum such as Blogfam (Blogger Family) and writing at Indonesian Muslim Blogger Community. Both have thousands of members to share better information on the first hand. With her extensive works, she always put reminder herself that “my children are the best customer ever”. She gained respect and admiration from common woman who in the same position, try to balance between family and work.

Arguably Bunda Inong changed Indonesia woman to be more accentuate with Internet. When Blog just about take off in the mid 2000’s, her foodie blog became a daily consumption for reader. Even before RSS Feed or fancy CSS Wordpress code. Not even social networking have been put in map into higher level as it now with Facebook, Myspace, Friendster, Bebo or Multiply. She opened eyes of woman that there is safe virtual sanctuary. A place that you can share ideas, thought, literature, or even family photos safely with having control of the contents of what you’ve writing for.

The life should be to celebrate
Bunda might have a short life. But to determined a good life is by filling it with useful one. She proved it by her influence that touched many women in Indonesia who read her words. She had two wonderful kids, a husband; many chronicle friends and blogs that still exist until now. Her figure alive immortal with highly awaiting book : Cooking With Love contains recipes and stories behind the kitchen. You’ve probably found that Bunda had funny, playful and smart side. She said that cooking not always with usual ingredients. It’s needs something that makes your food more delicious. Those secret ingredients called Cinta (or Love).

Her message was clear. That life can be wonderful if you embraces and rendering love. You will do everything so passionate. Cooking, writing, teaching, working, studying and any kind activities that you’d thought would ruin your normal day. Love can be the source of energy, the soul of meaningful life. The energizer battery that keep feed your bulb to en light the dark night.

The book came in full colour, rich with photos from her original blog or taken by friends who tried out her recipes. Compiled by team from We R Mommies and Dapur Bunda, this book will guarantee to give you insight of Bunda Inong sanctuary. Her life should be celebrate and rejoice by mothers, as inspiration for their current and future family.

With foreword from Bondan Winarno –a well known culinary expert himself, this book will fulled her ever dream. Bunda will always been remembered with her warmest heart, dignify women and stand with her precious cinta. Zidan and Syifa.



Book : Cooking With Love –Kumpulan Resep Favorite & kisah-kisah Bunda Inong
Compiled & rewrite : WeRMommies & Dapur Bunda
Format : Art paper, full colour, 106 pages
Language : Bahasa Indonesia
Product Dimension : 21 x 21 cm
Publisher : Hikmah Publishing House (August 2008)


Labels: ,

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home