With the demise of the Bali (I think that is the name, the one upstairs downtown) and the change in the Old Inn, is there still anyplace to get a ristaffel, or at least a good nasi goreng?

Mel

Some of the local snackies do excellent Nasi or Bami Goreng.

You might want to check out Spanhoek or Suriname

Tony........

Ristaffel? I think you mean "rijsttafel", meaning "rice table" and pronounced something like "rícetaahful".
Originating in Indonesia, the Dutch passed down the rijsttafel to the Antilles. It all started when Dutch plantation owners in Indonesia preferred sampling small portions of native dishes. A bowl of rice in the center of the table is surrounded up to thirty dishes and condiments. Diners fill their plates with the amount of whatever they choose.
Eet smakelijk!

My partners mother makes an authentic risttafel. She is from Suriname and her husband from Indonesia. So far, no one has risen to the challenge of opening a new establishment. Perhaps we can convince Wayne from Great Escape to sponsor a weekly risttafel...how bout it Wayne?

Many years ago, I lived in Belgium for a year, then moved for four years to northern Italy where I shared a house with a Dutch couple...his mother was Indonesian. I grew fond during those years of the rijsttafel (thanks, Anonymous, I'll use the Dutch spelling rather than the Anglicized version).

I moved to Cape Cod, where dining out meant choosing how you wanted your cod fixed. I longed for a good rijsttafel and had to settle for a home-made nasi rames now and then.

On a business trip somewhere, I came back with many packets and bottles of Conimex spices, prepared some recipes, and invited about 20 friends to a pot-luck rijsttafel at my house. Each invitee was provided with a recipe and the appropriate spices.

We all had a wonderful time and all my friends were thus introduced to the joy of the rice table. The funny thing about it was none of the novice Indonesian chefs had any idea what the dish they were preparing was supposed to taste like or even look like, so there were some...interesting...interpretations of the terse info on the back of a Conimex packet!

I'm getting hungry writing this.

- Mel

You're welcome, Mel.

If anybody is looking for some nice recipes to prepare her/his own rijsttafel, try

http://www.indonesiancooking.com/recipes.html

or

http://www.recipes4us.co.uk/Cooking%20by%20Country/Indonesia.htm

I too was jonsing for rice table, rijsttafel, while on Bonaire. I was disappointed to see the Old Inn go German. I always enjoyed the evenings we ate there. Leftovers were always a beautiful thing as well. Oh well, maybe someone will pick it up again.

By the way Anonymous, thanks for the recipes. I think it would be a lot of fun to try doing this some Saturday afternoon in the dead of winter.

Martin - past Rendez-Vous - past Blue Moon - is now the chef at the Old Inn - I have not had the time to look at their new menu

Thanks for all the info on rijsttaffel and the recipes Anonymous. We are lucky to be able to have some very good Indonesian restaurants in California but I'm looking forward to being able to cook some of my own now!

Glad to be of service. Here in Amsterdam we're blessed with a lot of Indonesian restaurants, some of them really excellent. But they will never be able to compete with the memory of the Indonesian meals prepared by Tante Riekje, my next door neighbour when I lived in Goes (in the southwest corner of The Netherlands). She was a tiny old lady with a heart of gold, who made a little boy very happy every time she brought over her home-made bami or nasi goreng.

I took my Singles Month Group to Yacht Club for the Ristaffel. Wilfred is managing the property and taught Rolando, the former Kontiki chef how to prepare this lovely meal. It was 38,50 Naf pp. We started with egg rolls and a lovely broth soup. Then rice and bami and chicken, beef and pork tidbits with Sambal Olek and other garnishes..huges pieces of shrimp toast. The pool/garden setting was magical. We loved our dinner.

Mel,

Lize is a lovely lady from Suriname who prepares the foods you like from her house every weekend. Email me if you want her phone. You get the take out and enjoy at your rental. She has Nasi and Bami and Roti.

r i j s t t a f e l - RIJSTTAFEL - rijsttafel

Tried the Rijstaffel at Yacht Club last nite..out standing taste, value and service...am returning tonight with an Indonesian, two Surimamers, an American and a Bonairean...(reminder, I am editor of the Dining Guide)

Oh, Michael, no need to justify you're dining out and having a great time! LOL. Wish we could join your group, too.

Sounds like a "hit" up there at the Yacht Club. Lots of "new" places for Joe and me to check out when we come back down in a few months. Can't wait to see you, too! Ayo. Carole

GOOD NEWS 4 YOU ALL !!!
New Authentic Indonesian Restaurant "Warung Louise"is opening 20th of june in the KAYA GRANDI, its for dining, take away and delivery.....

Have been watching the progress...can't wait to try it...