Thank you to my friend, Keandra, who recommended this beautiful restaurant for a Rijsttafel, known…read moreas a rice table. Definitely make a reservation as the narrow restaurant has limited seating. They turned away several parties on an early Thursday evening around 7 PM.
A rijsttafel is an elaborate Indonesian meal that was adapted by the Dutch who colonized Indonesia. It consists of many, many side dishes served in small portions that are accompanied by rice prepared in several different ways. Although the dishes served are undoubtedly Indonesian, the rijsttafel's origins were colonial. The Dutch introduced the rice table to impress visitors with the exotic abundance of their colony while showcasing foods from different regions.
Rijsttafels strive to feature an array of flavors, colors, degrees of spiciness and textures. The dishes may be crispy, crunchy, chewy, soft, hard or velvety. Such a beautiful display. A feast for the eyes as well as the palate.
Ordered both the large and small Tujuh Maret's rice table. The larger rijsttafel includes all the specialties of the chef, composed of 18 different dishes. The smaller rice table can be ordered as mild-medium or medium spicy including chicken and tofu satay, yellow rice, jasmine rice, sweet and sour salads and prawn or rice crackers.
Chicken dishes included (from least to most spicy):
Ajam Opor-Chicken in a mild sauce of coconut and kurkuma.
Ajam Roedjak-Chicken in a spicy sauce of red peppers and coconut.
Ajam Rica Rica-Chicken in a spicy sauce of assorted peppers.
Beef dishes included (from least to most spicy):
Daging Smoor-Beef in a mild soy sauce and nutmeg
Daging Rendang-Beef in a spicy sauce of various peppers and coconut
Daging Belado-Beef in a spicy sauce of red peppers and tomatoes.
Satay dishes included:
Sate Ajam- Chicken satay with peanut sauce.
Sate Tahu- Tofu satay with peanut sauce.
Side dishes included:
Gado Gado-Mixed vegetables with peanut butter sauce.
Sambal Goreng Telor-Boiled egg with spicy sauce.
Atjar Kuning Menado-Sweet and sour salad.
Krupuk-Prawn crackers.
Emping-Vegetarian crackers.
Seroendeng-Grated coconut with peanuts.
Nasi Putih-Steamed Jasmine rice.
Nasi Kuning-Yellow rice with coconut and lemongrass.
Although everything was delicious, it was definitely hard to remember what was what, even after our hostess was graciously described each of the 30 dishes that were on our rice tables. Labels would have helped.
Finished with a Pandan crepe filled with coconut. A beautiful way to end a really nice evening in Amsterdam.