Bakso without borders
For many countries, culture is one of their most bankable exports. Governments in France, Korea and Singapore undertake gastro-diplomacy programmes to present the best culinary arts. to the rest of the world. From omakase, the meteoric rise of vibrant Korean cuisine to the sensibilities of New Nordic cuisine, the spread of these culinary cultures intensifies as more and more chefs travel to share their distinct brands of gastronomy.
Yet, despite its rich culinary heritage, Indonesian food lacks the same fanfare that its neighbours enjoy on the regional and global gastronomic stage. Many Indonesian restaurants abroad tend to serve up diluted versions of the cuisine to pander to foreign taste buds or cite the difficulty in obtaining specialty Indonesian ingredients. It’s no wonder when one thinks of the most famous culinary export of Indonesia, Indomie comes to
