Pleasure Palate Rijsttafel at Indo Cafe March 12, 2006

Time to tempt your palate with all the pleasurable flavors that Southern California has to offer. Join Pleasure Palate as we do some culinary exploring of restaurants (both high-end and holes in the walls), various food and beverage tastings, cooking classes, potlucks and so much more. From savory to sweet, from salty to sour, from spicy to tangy, from exotic to All-American, we'll taste it all, so come along and take your taste buds on the ride of their life. Tonight's dinner is all about experiencing Indonesian cuisine through a Rijsttafel at Indio Cafe.

A unique blend of Dutch and Indonesian. Rijsttafel is a feast of mild to strongly spiced Indonesian dishes. Rijsttafel means "Rice Table", an array of many dishes in small portions that covers the whole table. Although it is a Dutch idea, its origins are clearly Indonesian and it was known at one time as Makan Besar.

Indonesian people traditionally take a meal from a central plate of steamed or fried rice with other dishes arranged around it. Usually including some fish or meat, a vegetable dish, and a spicy sauce known as sambel. The early Dutch planters, with their great appetites, added more and more dishes and so the Rijsttafel originated. Rijsttafel was served on the plantations and at home parties. A Rijsttafel of 40 dishes was not uncommon, the meal sometimes taking three to four hours to consume. Later it was combined with hotel menus, and each dish served separately by a waiter.

In essence the Rijsttafel consists of rice and foods to accompany it: curried meats, fish, chicken, vegetables, fruits, relishes, pickles, sauces, condiments, nuts, eggs, and so on. The diner is served a plate of rice and chooses from among the side dishes to achieve a balance of salty, spicy, sweet, and sour accompaniments.

Tonight, we will be experiencing our very own Rijsttafel at the Indio Cafe. Although we won't have the 40 dishes as described above, we won't be doing too shabby with the 14 dishes that have been planned for this menu and all for $27, including tax and gratuity, that will need to be PRE-PAID.

The menu will consist of the following:

• Soto Ayam (Soup)
  
• Kerupuk Udang (Shrimp Cracker)
  
• Kerupuk Ikan (Fish Cracker)
  
• Perkedel (Mashed Potatoes, Indonesian Style)
  
• Tempe Goreng (Crispy Soy Bean Cake)
  
• Gado-Gado (House Salad with Peanut)
  
• Sate Ayam (Chicken Satay)
  
• Sayur Lodch (Vegetable Curry)
  
• Rendang (Beef Stew Specialty Prepared with Indonesian Spices)
  
• Ayam Goreng (Fried Chicken, Indonesian Style)
  
• Telur Balado (Egg with Chili Sauce)
  
• Nasi (Steamed Rice)
  
• Layer Cake for Dessert
  
• One Soft Drink


I'd say your best bet is eat lightly today, because all your appetite is going to be needed for this fantastic meal, so please join us for what will be definitely a fun culinary and oh-so-delicious experience.

To RSVP and Pre-Pay, please join Meet in LA by clicking here!