Cultural discovery through Rendang

Rendang opened a door into a cuisine I'd previously known almost nothing about. The deeply spiced with galangal and lemongrass flavours are unlike anything in my usual rotation and I mean that positively. Indonesian cuisine spans over 17,000 islands with dramatically different regional traditions. Understanding that context made the dish taste different — richer with meaning.

I learned that tempeh is central to this cuisine's character, not just a seasoning. The a Jakarta street food cart setting was authentic and helpful for understanding what I was eating. es teh manis iced sweet tea completed the picture. A genuinely educational meal.