First time trying Rendang — completely converted

I had never tried Rendang before this visit and I wasn't sure what to expect. The deeply spiced with galangal and lemongrass taste hit immediately and made sense of the dish in a way descriptions never quite do. candlenut is an ingredient I'd not encountered used quite like this before.

The a Padang restaurant with displayed dishes setting added something to the experience — this kind of food makes sense in that environment. Indonesian cuisine spans over 17,000 islands with dramatically different regional traditions. My server recommended jamu herbal drink alongside and it was exactly right. I've been telling everyone to try Rendang. Outstanding first encounter.