Instructions: Dutch word meaning "rice table," and was used by the Dutch colonists in Indonesia to describe elaborate banquets comprised of many dishes. When my parents were entertaining guests in their home in Jakarta many years ago, my father pointed to the impressive buffet my mother had prepared and, knowing that rijsttafel was a Dutch term and wondering what the Indonesian word was, asked an Indonesian guest, "What do you call this?" The gentleman shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Food."

A typical rijsttafel may contain as many as two dozen dishes, and in order to best represent it I have made some modifications to my standard format this week. You will notice that I doubled the number of recipes by including some that I have published in the past, and that I have eliminated desserts because, except for fresh fruit, they arent part of a traditional rijsttafel. Here is the lineup for "An Indonesian Rijsttafel":

Atjar Kuning (Yellow Pickles)

Satay Ayam (Chicken Satay)

Sambal Goreng Telur (Spicy Eggs)

Rempeyak Udang (Prawn Fritters)

Nasi Gurih (Fragrant Rice)

Nasi Goreng (Fried Rice)

Ayam Bali (Balinese Chicken)

Semur Daging (Beef in Soy Sauce)

Rempah (Coconut Beef Patties)

Mie Goreng (Fried Noodles)

Chef Henderson

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