Rijsttafel theme meal with Chillies
Looking for a great idea for a theme meal with Chillies? A Rijsttafel has to be one of the best . It gets its name from a word from the Dutch language of the Netherlands, which translated, means "Rice Table" . Rijsttafel refers to a meal where many small portions ( from a variety of side plates) are served together with rice in one sitting. The Rijsttafel has its origins in the Netherlands colonial history in Indonesia. It, however not a tradition that the Dutch found there, but was rather their own invention . It served as a way of showcasing to their friends and being able to eat themselves the wide selection of food that Indonesia had to offer
The Rijsttafel was brought back to the Netherlands after its colonial rule of Indonesia came to an end. It is still widely enjoyed in the Netherlands ( particularly amongst these with colonial roots). It has, however, virtually disappeared from Indonesia, except for a few fine dining restaurants catering towards the tourist trade.
A Rijsttafel can have as many as forty side dishes that are served with rice. Guests help themselves to rice, which they place in the centre of their plate. They will then surround the rice with small portions of the accompanying dishes. The guests eat each portion separately, with rice being the only common ingredient . The individual dishes never get mixed. Guest return to the Rijsttafel buffet as often as they like, for second and third ( maybe even more! ) helpings.
A typical Rijsttafel
