William Wongso’s Culinary Wonders

As the world’s largest archipelago with more than 17,000 islands and more than 300 distinct ethnic groups, Indonesia has been blessed with rich culinary diversity. With bountiful varieties of spices, a wide range of fresh produce, and different cultures in every region, it would take a lifetime for an Indonesian to taste all of our traditional dishes.

From Sabang in the west to Merauke at the eastern tip of the archipelago, every region has its own distinct mix of spices. History records that trading and colonialism also played a part in defining Indonesia’s cuisine. Indonesian cuisine was influenced by traders from India, the Middle East, and China, by the Spanish and Portuguese, and finally the Dutch. It’s no wonder Indonesia has such a vast culinary heritage.