In the 1980s, there was a punk band in Melbourne called 'I Spit On Your Gravy. Its Indonesian equivalent could be 'I Cough On Your Rendang. Dont get me wrong Padang food is delicious but Im not so keen on dining on food that other diners may have sneezed and coughed upon.

The popularity of West Sumatras Minangkabau cuisine, with its Indian and Middle Eastern influences, is evidenced by the estimated 20,000 Padang restaurants across Jakarta. Some p