The Rice Table

What does it take to bring Indonesian cuisine to a wider international audience? On The Rice Table , host Jeff Keasberry talks with London-based chef and restaurateur Pino Edward Sinaga. They first met at the Indonesian Food Outside Indonesia Symposium in Leiden. Now, they continue their conversation about diaspora cooking, cultural identity, and Indonesian food abroad. Born in Bogor to a Batak Si...

In this episode of The Rice Table , we meet Zefan Susanto , founder and CEO of Dapur CUK , a UK-based Indonesian food brand dedicated to bringing authentic sambal to European kitchens. Founded during the 2021 pandemic, Dapur CUK has grown into a range of six regional chili sauces, from its bestselling Sambal Bawang to Sambal Cumi and Sambal Padang . In 2025, its Sambal Bawang Vegan and Sambal Bela...

Indonesian cuisine does not arrive in Austria with inherited familiarity. It must first be explained before it can be understood. Working in Vienna, a city with a strong and self-defined culinary identity but without historical Indonesian diaspora infrastructure, Taufik Hidayat explores what it means to introduce a cuisine that carries no collective memory in its new context. Through his work at K...

In deze aflevering van Indo Bros schuift Ashley Melissa de Groot aan bij onze virtuele rijsttafel. Ashley is creatief fotograaf, storyteller, schrijver, moeder van twee dochters én natuurlijk Indo. We praten over opgroeien met een sterke Indische achtergrond, identiteit, familie, creativiteit en de dingen die je bewust (of soms onbewust) van vorige generaties meeneemt. Wat wil je zelf doorgeven aa...

Today, we’re traveling to Mexico, not simply to talk about tacos and burritos, but to explore how food crosses borders, evolves through migration, and becomes part of a nation’s identity. My guest is Mauricio Velázquez de León, food writer, publisher, and author of An Illustrated Guide to Tacos and Burritos . Born and raised in Mexico City and now living in the United States for nearly three decad...

Deze keer hebben we Nicky Boot aan tafel: oprichter en creatief directeur van The Blend Within. Een sociale onderneming waar identiteit, cultuur, creativiteit en technologie lekker door elkaar gemixt worden. We hebben het over de nalatenschap van Grandmaster Verdi Phefferkorn von Offenbach — beter bekend als Paatje Phefferkorn. Als Indo-beoefenaar en een van de bekendste leraren van Pencak Silat s...

In this episode, we unpack the rich, often misunderstood world of Indonesian and Indisch (Dutch-Indonesian) cuisines. Drawing from insights shared at the Indonesian Food Outside Indonesia symposium in the Netherlands, we tear down five persistent misconceptions blocking our view of diaspora food culture. From the royal Javanese roots of the famous rijsttafel to the deep personal mission of preserv...

De IndoBros zijn terug! Vanuit San Diego en LA schakelen Willem-Jan en Jeff met Nederland. Vandaag maken we een flinke bak riboet aan tafel met de dames van Riboet Verhalenkunst: Elsbeth Vernout en Wendy Ripassa. Met theater, spoken word en oral history brengen zij verhalen, herinneringen en onze geschiedenis tot leven. Vandaag leggen we de identiteitskaart op tafel en trekken hem genadeloos door...

In this episode of The Rice Table , we reflect on the life and legacy of Sri Owen, one of the most influential voices in bringing Indonesian cuisine to a global audience. Host Jeff speaks with Janice Gabriel, a London-based television producer, food writer, researcher, and curator whom he met at the symposium Indonesian Food Outside Indonesia in Leiden, the Netherlands. Janice moderated the openin...

In this episode of The Rice Table, we explore the connection between Indo-Dutch (Indisch) and Anglo-Indian cultures, two hybrid communities shaped by colonial history, migration, and identity. We are joined by Bridget White Kumar, an award-winning author and culinary voice known for preserving and sharing the stories and recipes of Anglo-Indian heritage. We discuss how food preserves cultural trad...

The Indo Bros zijn terug met een Nederlandstalige aflevering. Vanuit San Diego en Los Angeles schuiven Willem-Jan Brederode (MERAH) en Jeff Keasberry (Chef Jeff) aan, samen met bijna-vaste gast Jess Anthonio uit Almere. Met een knipoog — “Ik zag vanochtend een Italiaan in de spiegel…” — duiken ze meteen een grotere vraag in: wie ben ik eigenlijk? Ben ik Indo? Het gesprek draait om Indotiteit: iden...

In this episode of The Rice Table, we sit down with Francis Kuijk — Dutch chef, culinary author, and one of the most recognizable voices in Indonesian and Indisch cuisine in the Netherlands. Francis first captured national attention as a finalist on the TV-show Heel Holland Bakt in 2016, where her baking skills and storytelling through food made a lasting impression. Since then, she has become a p...

They say the spice trade changed the world — today, its legacy is shaping the streets of Paris. In this episode, we sit down with Eka Moncarre , the driving force behind La Maison de l’Indonésie , a cultural and culinary space bringing the flavors of the Indonesian archipelago to France. From her Peranakan Bangka roots to the release of her celebrated new cookbook, we trace a modern spice route co...

Helena Smit is a Dutch-Indonesian culinary heritage professional, entrepreneur, and storyteller who sees food as culture, memory, and connection. She is the founder and director of Stichting Eating Habits , exploring the shared food cultures of the Netherlands and Indonesia. She leads Indofoodtours in The Hague , bringing Indo and Indonesian history to life through taste and storytelling, and is t...

Episode in Dutch - 13 In deze speciale aflevering duiken de Indo Bros en Sis in de vraag: Hoe versiert een Indo eigenlijk? Is Indo love language simpelweg: koken = liefde? En gaat liefde van de man echt door de maag… of moeten we zeggen: van de mens door de mond — en de volgende dag weer naar buiten? We praten over waarom Indo’s opvallend vaak géén Indo daten. Over veranderende tijden, social medi...

In this episode of The Rice Table , we explore what happens when Indonesian cuisine travels far from home — into a place where bold flavors aren’t always immediately understood. Host Jeff Keasberry welcomes Andita Schirmacher to the virtual rice table. Originally from Indonesia and now based in Germany, Andita discovered her passion for Indonesian cooking after moving abroad and has since made it...

In this Catch-Up episode of The Rice Table , we welcome back Indonesian-American culinary powerhouse Diana Widjojo . Five years after our last conversation, Diana shares her journey from Hardena to Rice & Sambal , where she brings Indonesian dining traditions to modern urban tables. Her Rijsttafel is sometimes offered as a Mini Rijsttafel — a scaled-down, contemporary take on the historical Du...

Food is never just food. It’s memory, habit, comfort — and identity. In this special New Year episode of The Rice Table , host Jeff Keasberry shares a personal Dutch-Indonesian story about growing up in the kitchen, learning to cook by tasting, and carrying food traditions across generations and continents. This episode explores Dutch-Indonesian heritage cooking , the meaning of gezelligheid (warm...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Pat Tanumihardja for a relaxed catch-up, exploring how her world has evolved since their first conversation. From food and travel to writing and storytelling, Pat reflects on her journey as a respected food, travel, and lifestyle writer and the bestselling author of beloved cookbooks such as The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook , Farm to Table Asian Secrets , Asian...

In this special edition of The Rice Table , host Jeff reconnects with celebrity chef Farah Quinn for a fast, festive catch-up. They revisit their 2021 conversation, explore what’s changed in Farah’s world, and talk comfort foods, sweet cravings, kitchen trends, and what flavors define 2025. Light, fun, and full of personality, this is a perfect quick listen to get you into the holiday spirit. Grab...

Get ready for a culinary journey straight from the Indonesian archipelago! This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Petty Elliott , an award-winning chef, cookbook author, and culinary storyteller, joining us all the way from the UK. Petty has captivated audiences worldwide by sharing the rich, vibrant flavors of Indonesian cuisine, combining deep respect for tradition with a fresh, modern twist . Fro...

Get ready for a culinary journey like no other! In this episode of The Rice Table, we sit down with Chef William Wongso, Maestro of Indonesian gastronomy, to talk about the magic behind Rendang, the slow-cooked, caramelized beef dish that has captured the world’s taste buds.  Chef William shares his personal journey and the secrets behind authentic Indonesian flavors. Together with business partne...

In this flavorful episode, host Jeff Keasberry dives into one of Indonesia’s most beloved dishes — Gado Gado , a vibrant mix of vegetables, tofu, eggs, and rich peanut sauce that represents harmony in diversity. Special guest Dr. Crane , culinary enthusiast and passionate home cook, joins Jeff to share his own delicious take on Gado Gado — revealing how he makes it, why it’s one of his favorite di...

We’re back baby! Na negen maanden stilte keren de Indo Bros terug, in een fris jasje en met een speciale gast. Verwacht weer die vertrouwde mix van verhalen, inzichten en die onmiskenbare  Indo-flavour. Ze duiken diep in hun Nederlands-Indische roots en brengen het geheel op smaak met humor en levendige discussies. Dit keer met een primeur: de eerste vrouwelijke gast en niet zomaar een gast; het i...

Listen to the new episode of The Rice Table! Bagus Ruswandi, founder of Studio Bumi in NYC, shares how his journey from an Instagram meal-prep service to communal dinners with rotating chefs is reimagining the way food connects people — turning big-city loneliness into shared tables, flavors, and friendships. Tune in now! Check the photo album:  https://keasberry.com/podcast/cooking-up-community-t...