Rijsttafel

Rijsttafel is an elaborate Dutch meal that was developed during the colonial era. The Dutch were most likely inspired by an Indonesian dish called nasi padang, as rijsttafel consists of rice and a variety of foods such as fish, chicken, curried meats, vegetables, pickles, sauces, relishes, condiments, fruits, eggs, nuts, and so on. The diners are served a plate of rice, and then they choose from a variety of side dishes, which can range up to 40! It's no wonder that sometimes the meal takes a few hours to consume. The name rijsttafel means rice table, referring to this flamboyant feast of small plates filled with spicy, sweet, sour, and salty flavors, all of them paired with rice. And even though each rijsttafel is different, here are just some of the delicacies one can find on the plates: the sweet and spicy tempeh blado, the slow-cooked yet crispy beef rendang, the crunchy fried pisang goreng banana fritters, and the creamy yet spicy peanut sauce called saté, which covers various vegetables or meats.