Indonesian cuisine, just like the country it selft , stands out with its diversity and exoti cism. For the most part it is marked by intense vibrant fl avors and typical ways of treati ng local ingredients, and includes the richness of spices and herbs. From the world favored spicy beef-stew, rendang from Sumatra, the popular fried rice, nasi goreng, the ubiquitous soup, soto, from the island of Java that varies from region to region, to satay, the typical local barbeque on bamboo skewer, and rice sets that can be found in up-class restaurants as well as in modest food stalls.

Chili sauce popularly known as sambal is always featured in Indonesian meals. Dishes prepared at Indonesian homes that have now found their way to prominent hotels are also presented here including chicken, meat, vegetable and dessert menus, some come in banana leaf wrap.

In this book, Sisca Soewitomo, a television personality known for her popular cooking shows, takes you on a trip around the archipelago and presents you with arrays of Indonesian dishes thickly colored by the indigenous traditi on.