The Gudeg Jogja (jackfruit stew) is fabulous. The Lontong (rice cake wrapped in banana leaves with squid) is out of this world. And the Ketan Serundeng (sticky rice with aromatic coconut flakes) is to die for.
The New York Indonesian Food Bazaar returns to Elmhurst on Saturday, Jan. 6, from 11 am to 5 pm. Imagine several dozen vendors selling spicy, savory, sweet, tropical, nutty, and fishy products in the basement of St. James Episcopal Church at 84-07 Broadway.
Admission is free. Food prices vary. Delivery, pick-up, and shipping options are negotiable.
Felincia “Fefe” Anggono founded the bazaar in 2012. She also runs a stall – Taste of Surabaya – there. An Indonesian with Chinese heritage, Anggono has been able to attract a steady stream of vendors and clients ever since. People from as far away as Connecticut, Philadelphia, and Virginia make the monthly trip to see friends, buy and/or sell familiar dishes, and enjoy the happy-but-busy atmosphere.
Editor’s note: The bazaar usually happens on the first Saturday of every month, but there are exceptions. Check here or send an email to [email protected] or [email protected] to confirm before heading over there.
With about 264 million inhabitants who belong to dozens of ethnic groups, Indonesian cuisine is extremely diverse. First of all, it’s the world’s most populous Muslim country so halal dishes are common. Second, it’s an archipelago with more than 17,000 islands so fish figures largely in the culinary options. Third, it has a tropical climate that’s perfect to grow dragon fruit, papaya, and coconut. Finally, it’s in the Pacific Ocean and has many Asian influences.
Here’s a small guide.
Basko is a meatball soup that might include noodles, fried fish cakes, spicy sambol, and crisp wonton skins.
Bubur Ayam is a slow-cooked vegetable porridge that usually features shredded chicken.
Empek-Empek Palembang consists of fried fish sticks with spicy tamarind sauce.
Gado-Gado is a salad with egg, peanut sauce, tempeh, and tofu.
Kopi Luwak, which is also known as “Civet Coffee,” contains coffee cherries which are eaten and then defecated by civets, a cat-like, nocturnal mammal that is common in Indonesia. The civets have a stomach enzyme that breaks down the beans (or pits) in a way that creates a rich aroma and flavor. The partially digested beans are taken from the mammal’s feces, cleaned, and roasted in a process that dates to the 19th century when Dutch colonists established coffee plantations in Indonesia.
Martabak Manis is a thick, sweet, buttery pancake with some kind of filling (usually chocolatey or nutty).
Nasi Goreng is a turmeric yellow fried rice with coconut milk.
Oseng Tempeh often mixes stir-fried tempeh cake with garlic, ginger, makrut lime leaves, lemongrass, and a glaze of soy sauce.
Tahu Bacem is a soybean cake that mixes sweet with spicy. It’s served on banana leaves.
St. James has a parking lot, but visitors shouldn’t plan on getting a spot there. Instead, they should look for street parking in the area. The best public transportation options are the M and R trains to the Grand Av-Newtown Station and the Q60 bus to the Queens Boulevard-Broadway intersection.
Established in 1704 and completed in 1736 (with many subsequent construction issues), the church joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. It obtained NYC landmark status in 2017. The architecture is English Colonial with a barrel vaulted ceiling. The interior features decorative wood moldings that date to the 18th century.
Images: New York Indonesian Food Bazaar