Martabak has been a dish that has haunted me for decades. The first time I had the dish was in Chicago, decades ago; it has been a flavour that I have never forgotten. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to have it again very occasionally while I travelled to Asia. Most recently, while I was in Georgetown, Malaysia, I had to have this dish again. I got to enjoy it at the fabled Hameediyah Restaurant. More on this here. Martabak is an ancient dish, one that has travelle

This is a lovely curry from the northernmost tip of Sumatra. This goat curry speaks to old heritage trade routes, influenced by Indian and Arab traders, each adding a nuance to this dish that is perfectly intermingled with local flavours. The dish is made particularly during the months of Ramadaan. In the afternoon, huge metal cauldrons called beulangongs are prepared and set over slow fires to simmer until sunset, when the day -long fast is broken. The curry is served with r

On my first trip to Bali, about 2 decades ago, I was drawn to these pork ribs, the vendors strategically sitting at corners, the aromas wafting, nay beckoning you at every turn. There was no escaping the glory of these ribs, and I indulged in them a lot. This recipe is reminiscent of those delicious ribs, and having them flashed my memory back to the wonderful markets and street food. Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country outside of the Middle East, and yet in Bali, p