The Taste That Never Change

Ragusa ice cream is not about just a typical ice cream, it’s more. Ragusa Italian Ice Cream is a traditionally made and got no preservatives, it’s healthy and satisfying. That’s why, Ragusa still gets its loyal consumer, even had been established for over 70 years.

Luigi and Vincenzo Ragusa was the first owner of Ragusa Ice Cream. They started to sell the ice cream along the street in Bandung, and then open a stall in Jakarta in 1932. They moved to Jalan Veteran I No. 10 (near Gambir railway-station) to reach more consumer, and also become a regular participant of annual event called Pasar Malam Gambir (now Jakarta Fair). The first stall still exists until today, and become one of the antique sites in Jakarta.

The name of Ragusa becomes more popular day by day. The unique of the ice cream attracts consumer. It contains skim-milk, water and sugar, not just a butter-milk. The distinguish taste gets consumer to stay still.

However, after the independent of Indonesia in 1945, Ragusa’s consumer decreased significantly because most of them were foreigner, they all went back home. That was a hard time for the existence of The Italian Ice Cream stall because the market got narrower, not many Indonesian are familiar with the taste.

In ‘50s, Buntoro Kurniawan joined the business and remained to stand still, “My husband joined the business and we committed to stand still (the business) although it got a narrower market,” said Hj. Sias Mawarni, Buntoro’s wife and also recognized as the current owner of Ragusa.

Buntoro was a hard worker, regarding to this, the Italian then let him to run the business. “Firstly, we just helped them to run the business, and then we interested to grow it up and pay for the royalty. But, something unbelievable happened. They put off receiving our payment in 1972 and just let us have it. It’s a God blessing,” she added. Mawarni also told that Ragusa is not a franchise trademark, it is a family name and they don’t sell the ice cream outside the city,” We

Ragusa Restaurant and Ice Cream

Jalan Veteran I No. 10

Call: 021- 3849123

DUTA FOOD HALL

Duta Merlin Plaza Lt. 5

Call: 021- 63864602

GAMBIR EXPO BLOK C No. 10

PRJ Kemayoran Jakarta

Call: 021- 26645457

TUNAS KEMBANG

Jl. Raya Cipanas No. 39

Sindangjaya, Cipanas

Call: 0263- 524042

have to keep the quality, the recipe never changed from the first time it was known,” Mawarni told. “Because it’s a homemade one, we cannot sell it freely, we have it sold in our own stall” she pointed. The tools for making the ice cream was come directly from Italy, cost hundred millions rupiah.

Having a legendary business is not always taking all the luck. Mawarni and husband ever brought down also. The Tragedi Mei 1998 made them lost their stalls in Yogya Plaza Klender and Slipi Jaya Plaza, their tools also got burnt, nothing last. “We really shocked at that moment, we had 20 stalls overall, it’s located in Cinere Mall, Pasar Raya Blok M, and more. We keep struggling instead of wasting tears. Now, we just only have 4 stalls in Jalan Veteran, Duta Merlin, Gambir Expo and Tunas Kembang. We’re in progress to open another stall in Kota Tua anyway,” Mawarni explained while a friend of her showed the menu that contain the variant of ice cream: Banana Split, Spaghetti Ice Cream, Tutti Frutti, Casata Siciliana, Coupe de Maison, Sundae, Nougat, Rum Raisin and more.

“We also have dishes in certain stalls,” Yoest said. “That’s why the stalls then so called Ragusa Restaurant and Ice Cream”, he added.

“But, if you want to go back to the past and enjoy historical atmosphere, then just come along to Jalan Veteran 1 No. 10. Although it’s just an ice cream stall, the interior has never been changed from the first time it was built,” he suggested.[shei]