The Indonesian Rijsttafel, an elaborate banquet meal developed by the Dutch during Indonesia’s colonial days, is a true journey for the tastebuds. An elaborate display showcasing the richness of Indonesian spices and the culinary prowess of the region, this ‘rice table’ makes for an unforgettable evening of deliciousness.

A Rijsttafel meal consists of a wide array of local dishes, accompanied by several types of sambals and sauces 

If you are staying in Nusa Dua, Bumbu Bali serves up 3 tantalising versions (a vegetarian, a seafood and one featuring meat) while Café Wayan in downtown Ubud can also prepare this for you if you order at least 24 hours in advance. 

The elaborate march-in for the Majapahit ceremonial dinner is sure to impress

Should you be traveling with a group of at least 15, Hotel Tugu can also organisethis ceremonial dinner of the Majapahit Kingdom, complete with your very own villagers, soldiers and dancers to add to the merriment.

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Like much of Indonesia, eating street-food (or warung food) in Bali is an adventure in itself. 

While tucking into Indonesian favorites (i.e. bakso, martabak, gado-gado) will delight any street-food connoiseurs, we think that when in Bali, you should take the time to sample a few dishes that are actually from Bali.

After all, Indonesia's diversity doesn't just apply to traditional costumes, religion, and urban myths. It also applies to our food (some people will even say that it's our greatest source of pride). 

Every region in Bali has its own speciality dish that can be found across warungs or sold in street stalls. Our favorites (which hail from all over the island) are as follows:

1. Sate lilit

 
We Indonesians love our meat on skewers, so much that almost every region in Indonesia has its own sate.  
 
Bali is not different. In fact Bali has many sate variations. Choosing a favorite was tough, but we settled on good old sate lilit, a minced meat, grated coconut, coconut milk, lemon juice, shallots and chilli pepper combo wound around a bamboo, sugar cane or lemongrass stick, all grilled on charcoal. It can be a spicy one, but oh so delish.
 
Authentic Balinese sate lilits are generally made out of pork and fish but you can find chicken or beef ones on the island from time to time. 

 

2. Babi guling

The suckling pig is definitely a dish unique to Bali, with Indonesia's majority being Muslim and therefore non-pig eaters. You probably won't find much pig-meat based dishes in most parts of the country. 

In Hindu Bali, however, babi guling is the local dish. In Balinese traditions, babi guling is normally served as an offering during religious ceremonies (like this one here) but its popularity amongst pig-loving tourists who literally drool over this dish has lead to its widespread availability throughout the island.  

Babi guling is roasted whole over fire, stuffed with onions, garlic, ginger, galangal, turmeric, lemongrass, shallots, chillies and whatever other goodness the babi guling warung chef decides would render his or her dish delicious. 

 

A lady peeling meat of the freshly roasted suckling pig/how suckling pig is usually eaten in Bali, with rice and condiments

3. Lawar

 
Usually served with steamed rice and babi guling, lawar is a mix of vegetables, coconut and minced meat drowned in rich herbs and spices (including shrimp paste, ground pepper, green beans and jackfruit), sometimes added with blood to intensify the taste. It's a very common dish that you will find across most warungs in Bali.
 
You'll find all sorts of lawar in Bali. Pork lawar and jackfruit lawar are pretty common, or if you are into trying exotic things, dragonfly lawar can also be found. These aren't as readily available though, as they take a long time to prepare due to the amount of dragonflies needed to make it (which probably also means lengthy capturing time).
 

Lawar babi (pork lawar) 
 

4. Nasi campur

If there is one thing that Indonesians can't live without, it's nasi.

So technically nasi campur is not from Bali, because much like sate, every region in Indonesia claims to have its own version, including Bali.

We do love the Bali version though, and it's an easy thing to order when we can't make a decision because you get multiple goodness of Balinese food inside a banana leaf. And then there's the surprise factor—you don't know exactly what you're going to get (unless you're doing a serve yourself sort of deal). It could be grilled tuna, tofu, fried tempeh, spinach, sate lilit, who knows?

We did find one thing in common across most Balinese nasi campurs. When you order it from local eateries, the sambal they put on the side (or on top) tends to be ridicolously spicy. Beware and enjoy.

This one's vegetarian

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BANDUNG, INDONESIA: TOP STREET FOOD YOU MUST TRY

By Mark -

April 29, 2016

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Paris Van Java. This is another known name for Bandung. It is a capital of Indonesia‘s West Java province, and housed huge variety of wide range of cuisine spreading from fine dining right down to the street food. I was in Bandung during my short holiday with my families recently and this time, I already set our sight on Bandung’s very own street food. For those who love to eat by the roadside and experience the authentic of the city, well here you go. The top 9 street food you must try when you’re in Bandung!

Mie Kocok Bandung. Believe me folks, this one absolutely nuts! I can feel every single things on that plate seems work really well in my taste, especially that meat. The yellow noodle have a generous texture which is thick and smooth. If we talk about the soup, it’s should be tasty and salty which is blend really well with the meat and that noodle. And the good things here is that noodle and also the meat can absorb all the fragrance of that soup to create a tasty layer on it. It is located at Jl Haji Akbar, opposite of Kartika Sari.

“BELIEVE ME FOLKS, THIS ONE ABSOLUTELY DRIVES ME NUTS! I CAN FEEL EVERY SINGLE THING ON THAT PLATE SEEMS WORK REALLY WELL IN MY TASTE, ESPECIALLY THAT MEAT.”

Roti 234. Despite how it is being done is actually famous with the locals and taste real great where you get to select the filling from salty (beef cornet) to sweet (choco, blueberry etc). Its located at Gang Kote Jln. Sudirman. Come after 5pm.

Pisang panggang or grill banana. It is served with condensed milk + cheese + choco meisjes, taste very good. Its located at Jln Sudirman Gang Kote near the Roti 234 stall.

Potato balls or Bola Ubi. It has a hollowed innards and taste a little sweet. Easily you can pop in 10 of these in your mouth. It is located near where the infamous Roti 234 @Gang Kote. Gang Kote is a small lane at Jln Sudirman.

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If you have never tasted Indonesian food before and you are wondering where to start you journey, here are five of the best dishes to give you a good start. Indonesian food is full of fresh spices and herbs. People all around seem to agree on that as the thing that makes it special.

Nasi Goreng – so let’s begin with the most famous one, the national dish. It literally means “fried rice” and it is a plate full of tasty vegetables, chicken, shrimp paste, and always completed with eggs. It has an earthy and smoky flavour and the taste is stronger than Chinese fried rice dishes.

Mie Ayam – moving on to pasta. This chicken noodle dish is very popular all over the world. It is usually seasoned with a chicken and mushroom mixture that is mouth watering. If you find yourself in Indonesia you could simply buy it from a street vendor.

Nasi Uduk – or steamed rice cooked in coconut milk. This dish is originally from Jakarta. Lemon grass and cassia bark are usually added for the special flavour. After it is cooked it is mixed with other traditional dishes like fried tempe, shredded omelette, with sambal kacang or ayam goreng.

Pecel – tasty vegetables mixed with peanut sauce. It is a traditional salad that is served with steamed rice. It consists of boiled vegetables like spinach and bean sprouts. So if you are looking for a lighter dish to have today this is one to try out.

Ayam Goreng Kuning – a very popular fried chicken dish. But this fried chicken is first marinated in a turmeric mixture with garlic and ginger and some other spices. This golden chicken is then deep fried to perfection.

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Mbah Lindu, hits banged among foodies Yogyakarta. Frankly, only this time Koko Cici Blue and Red ngapelin mbah Lindu breakfast all morning. Age almost a century, exactly 97 years. Mbah are still healthy and not senile also still good at ngitung; ) Truly make awe, and her daughter who always accompany each vend.

Mbah Lindu itself directly serving customers in a bale of merchandise in the post kamling beside the Hotel Garage Ramayana, Sosrowijayan, Yogyakarta. The car park is a bit difficult, because of the small streets and many hotels around this area. Grateful this morning, front parking can Mbah Lindu. Two seats extending from plain wood, there are only two and a couple of plastic chairs.

This morning, the full but we patiently wait viewed mbah Lindu airport customers with a mix of warm skillfully use their hands directly above pincuk linings made from the leaves. The choice is white rice is also a thick rice porridge. For lauknya there is a chicken and egg, the price of Rp 20,000.

While serving, we are busy photo Lindu with friendly champion, the champion Lindu not a problem, because it was used in a photo every meal there is the usual place. It reminded one of the eating places in Bandung, where when we photograph, his mother was fuming mad to not want to cook. Weird yes. We counted the photo was counted as free promotion. Dimarahin Already, the price is also expensive banged. Just one time came and not a second time for the back again; )

Vegetable gudegnya rather wet and tasty, sweet marinade vegetable fitting well kereceknya delicious and tasty banged, for there lauknya spiced chicken eggs are also very pervasive. Steady deh When satisfied after eating and paying, mbah Lindu always say a few words like a little prayer. Amen.

So if you stop by the city of Yogyakarta, shall cobain Gudeg its mbah Lindu.

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No trip to Bali is complete without a taste of the traditional Balinese favourites like bebek goreng (crispy fried duck) and babi guling (Balinese roast suckling pig) in Ubud. 

The classic bebek goreng, or crispy fried duck at Bebek Tepi Swah

Two classic places to enjoy these dishes are Bebek Tepi Sawah and Ibu Oka. The former boasts a relaxing view of the rice paddies while you tuck into their signature crispy duck while Ibu Oka is practically a local institution for lunch. 

The mouthwatering babi guling (or roast suckling pig) at Ibu Oka in downtown Ubud, right across from Ubud Palace

Our go-to order is the Pisang set at Ibu Oka, which comes with a generous serving of fried pork, crispy pork skin and tender pork meat as well as a side of clear pork broth. No such thing as too much of a good thing, we say. 

Visiting the babi guling stand at the Denpasar night market with guide Mully

If you’re looking for a local to take you to some of Bali’s best spots, try this local food tour for an inside look at the bustling night markets and secret haunts of the locals.

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"There was only one real restaurant in town (five years ago)," says restaurateur Marco Bertini. "Now there are probably 20 good places to eat."

Labuan Bajo has a "Wild West" feel to it -- with an Islamic twist.

The roads are broken, dust gets churned up in the air and the Islamic call to prayer resounds from tinny loudspeakers in the still of the night.

But it's worlds away from how it looked and felt when Italian chef Marco Bertini, owner of Made in Italy -- an al fresco restaurant that serves lobster bisque and handmade ravioli -- moved to Labuan Bajo in 2010.

"Flores is moving so fast -- the development I've seen in the past five years is the equivalent of 20 years' development in other parts of Indonesia," Bertini says.

"There weren't any roads back then -- just rocks and mud. There was only one real restaurant in town. Now there are probably 20 good places to eat."

In addition to a rising dining scene, this part of the island has started to attract investors and hoteliers.

A raft of new hotels has opened in Labuan Bajo, ranging from basic backpacker haunts like theGardena Hotel to four-star properties like Bintang Flores Hotel.

The best places are located on the picturesque hillsides like Selini on the Hill (a suite for $53, per night) and Bayview Gardens Hotel -- with lush tropical surroundings and sweeping views of the portside district and island-studded waters of the Flores Sea.

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