Masakan Padang

Upon our arrival in Padang, we were quickly introduced to the local cuisine which is well known all over Indonesia, aptly named Masakan Padang (Padang Food).  Padang food is unique in presentation, preparation, and spice!  A variety of local dishes are prepared at the beginning of the day, and displayed in stacked bowls at the front of small restaurants all over town.  The food is a combination of Indian and Indonesia food, with a lot of spice and coconut milk curries which give Padang food its spicy reputation.

After seating yourself at a curbside restaurant, a large serving of rice and a variety of small plates are prepared tapas style and brought to your table.  You can check out all of the different food options, and choose and pay only for the plates that you want.  The plates you don’t touch get added back to the stacked bowls displayed at the front of the restaurant.  It’s a great way to try small portions of a bunch of different types of food.  The only rub is there is no menu, so you never really know what you’re eating.  Is it fish or chicken?  Beef or buffalo?

At your table, you’ll also find a small bowl of water.  This is for cleaning your hand before eating, since utensils are used for serving but your right hand is used for mixing, scooping, and eating.  It’s a bit messy, but I think licking your fingers is fair game.

Veronica’s favorite dish called rendang is probably the best known at Masakan Padang restaurants all over Indonesia.  It consists of

 chunks of beef slowly simmered in spices and coconut milk.  It’s probably the spiciest dish on the table.

The spice takes a little getting used to, but the food excellent and we’re really enjoying it.