Amalia Wirjono

Amalia Wirjono knows she has been blessed by being able unite her “passions” – art, food and yoga – into a career. In the early 1990s, she opened Koi restaurant and gallery on Jl. Mahakam, South Jakarta, a understated and stylish spot to sample Asian and Western cuisine amid the works of emerging young artists. A few years later, her new venture was Rumah Yoga, heralding the renewed interest in the health therapy. “I never think about setting trends or being part of them, but it’s more about doing the things I love,” said Amalia, who lived for many years in Singapore and San Francisco.  She is married to a Belgian and has two children, Xavier, 8, and Alexia, 3, and is a regular on Jakarta’s social scene. “People call me a socialite, but I don’t see myself as that. I go to events to meet people and also to thank friends for their support in coming to my events.”

Family
They are the number one for me. I have quite a busy schedule, I meet a lot of people, but the best thing is to hang out with my family.

Our adopted dog
Coco came into our life in July last year, when a friend called and said there was a dog that had been abandoned by its owner. We took him in; he ran away a couple of times, but came back. The kids love him. I have always had dogs around me, and grew up with pugs and collies.

Xavier’s oatmeal cookies
My son does not have the typical tastebuds of an eight-year-old [asked to name his own top 10, Xavier declared his first two choices were pate and sushi]. He doesn’t like sweet stuff. We decided to make our own cookies, and it’s great to cook together, figuring out the portion. It’s a staple food for us now, and he sells them at Rumah Yoga to collect money for a computer.

Fresh-cut flowers
I love flowers, and especially having fresh ones every day. My favorite is the smell of sedap malam, but I chose roses for the decoration today.

Cookbooks
My three favorites are The Zuni Café Cookbook by Judy Rodgers, The Williams-Sonoma Cookbook by Chuck Williams and Bills Open Kitchen by Bill Granger. The Zuni Café has the best roast chicken, cooked over an open oven with real wood. I love the turkey recipe in Williams-Sonoma; it reminds me of San Francisco. Granger is a Sydney chef, and I like the little twists that Aussies put on their breakfasts and brunches. 

Cell phone
I am always on the go, organizing the people at Koi, my kids’ schedule or talking with friends. It’s OK to SMS, but I often prefer to call to make contact. I don’t really like getting special greetings by short message.

Paintings
I have paintings all over the house, and my favorite is this one, Gong by Hanafi. I first exhibited him in 1994 before he was well known. One of the main reasons I established Koi was so local artists would have a place to show their works, and the chance to earn some money from their sale.

Movies
The experience of being at the theater is the best, but putting on a DVD at home also will do. I like independent and foreign films.

Traveling
It’s great to explore, especially getting the chance to go to museums abroad, because here there are not enough. The first thing I do when I get to a new city is go to the supermarket to check out their products.

Yoga
I got serious about it about 10 years ago, to help me with my asthma. When I was pregnant with my son, I was worried about having an asthma attack during pregnancy or even during delivery. I fell in love with it, not only for the workout but how it makes me feel.

+ Bruce Emond

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