Indonesian culinary delights to tickle your tastebuds

With tons of delicious dishes to offer, Indonesia is easily one of Asia’s top destinations for culinary tourism.

Since I still have a hangover from Indonesian food (because of the Indonesian Food Festival I attended at SM Megamall a week ago), let me pay homage to some of my favorite Indonesian dishes.

All together let’s say “Selamat makan” (Happy eating!)

Rawon

RAWON or NASI RAWON (If it comes with rice)

Rawon is beef with black soup. Originally from the city of Surabaya, black nuts (keluak) give this dish a distinct flavor and black color. Rawon is usually topped with baby bean sprouts and served with salted eggs. Rawon has to be my most favorite Indonesian dish. Too bad keluak is not available in the Philippines :c

Find delicious rawon at:

Rawon Setan (Devil’s Rawon)

across JW Marriott Hotel Surabaya, Jalan Embong Malang, Surabaya, East Java

Rendang

RENDANG

Rendang is a spicy beef dish, sometimes called ‘West Sumatra caramelized beef curry’ as it originates from the Minangkabau ethnic group from this region. It takes long hours to prepare ‘authentic’ rendang. The coconut milk together with the meat is cooked in fire and mixed non-stop for 4-6 hours. In 2011 an online poll among 35,000 people by CNN International chose rendang as the number one dish for the 'World’s 50 Most Delicious Food.’ The same way Philippine adobo can be prepared dozens different ways, rendang recipes vary from region to region but I would say the best recipe is the original one from Sumatra.

Find delicious rendang at:

Warung Indo

Ground Floor LPL Manor, 116 Leviste Street Salcedo Village, Makati, Metro Manila

Bebek goreng

BEBEK GORENG

Bebek goreng simply means fried duck. Tell the Peking Duck to pack up and leave because Indonesian bebek goreng is how duck should really taste.

Find delicious bebek goreng at:

Nasi Bebek Tugu Pahlawan

Jalan Pahlawan, Surabaya, East Java

Kepiting telur asin

KEPITING TELUR ASIN

Kepiting telur asin is crab with salted eggs sauce. This yummy dish easily puts Singapore chilli crab to shame. Expect to set your table manners aside as you’ll end up licking every drop of the sauce from the crab shells. :)

Find delicious kepiting telur asin at:

Layar Seafood & Ikan Bakar

Jalan Manyar Kertoarjo, Surabaya, East Java

or

Lorenzo’s Way

Greenbelt 5 Paseo de Roxas corner Legaspi Streets Ayala Center, Makati, Metro Manila

That's it for now. Hope I didn't make you drool too much. LOL. I'll add more dishes in this list soon. :)