I am from Indonesia. After graduating from culinary school, I wanted to travel around the world and gain valuable experiences. I worked as a cook on a cruise ship for a year, but eventually, I decided it was too much for me.

The workload was overwhelming; we had to work 17 to 18 hours daily. It was good to have that experience, but the work was repetitive, and I wasn’t learning anything new. Downtown Miami was different back then, but it was the leading destination for cruise ships.

After working in many restaurants, including in Miami and even New York, I decided to open my own, which is how @balicafemiami came to be. Downtown the place where it all started seemed like the right place. I always wanted to serve the local community, but I knew starting with the cruise ship crew would be a good base. I opened the menu to offer not only Indonesian food but also sushi. This helped bring customers in and convince them to try our authentic Indonesian food. You always have to give something familiar to make other cultures understand yours, making it a little less spicy or offering options on the menu that are in the safe zone so they can keep exploring.

I’m at the restaurant daily because it’s my passion, and I can’t imagine doing anything else. Some think about retirement, but motion and passion keep you sharp and alive. We open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner and continue to show up dedicated every day because I genuinely love what I do. Our hospitality is always our number one priority. I’ve always believed the best marketing is word of mouth. When people enjoy the ambiance, service, and food, they will most likely return and tell others about it. We are a family-operated business.

My daughter helps me in the back, and my son and his mother in the front of the house. I don’t stress about having a second location, expanding, or comparing myself with others. I respect each perspective and those who want to achieve more, but for me, I am thankful to God for what we have. It’s not about having more or less, but about having enough. Now, my kids have everything they need to build the future they want, and it’s their decision to continue.