A rijsttafel prepared by Dutch-Indonesian chef Jeff Keasberry. The feast became a social phenomenon and much-enjoyed ritual in the Dutch colonial world after it was adapted from traditional Indonesian communal gatherings. Photo: Courtesy of Jeff Keasberry
Indonesian food with a colonial twist: how the feast of rijsttafel, or rice table, became a social tool and status symbol
- Rijsttafel is inspired by traditional Indonesian communal eating, which Dutch colonists adapted to their own culture
- The extravagant display of rijsttafel became a symbol of colonial power among the Dutch, turning special meals into a spectacle
