Indonesian In South Philly
A great piece in today's Daily News focuses on Hardena, a small Indonesian luncheonette in deep South Philly. Although we don't have them on the site (Hardena lacks a formal menu; instead, they opt for a rotating steamtable), they're one of the most interesting immigrant restaurants in Philadelphia. Operated by Ena Widjojo, the former chef for the Indonesian Consulate in New York, the cafe serves a funky mix of Chiense, Indian and Southeast Asian food:
"If you've never tasted Indonesian cuisine but are open to bold Asian flavors and ingredients, you're in for a treat. Indonesia's table is laid with a multitude of influences and migrations, from the earliest Malay people of Southeast Asia, who introduced rice and stir-frying in what would later be called a wok, to Indian merchants and missionaries who preached the gospel of curries and turmeric along with Hinduism and Buddhism. Arab traders brought grilled meats and kabobs; Portuguese and Dutch introduced tomatoes and carrots, and in turn brought heady spices like cardamom, lemongrass and coriander back to Europe. Indonesia, composed of about 13,000 islands arranged like a necklace between the Indian and Pacific oceans in Southeast Asia, offers cuisine as varied as its landscape, which ranges from lush rain forests to emerald-green rice fields and active volcanos."
Recommended dishes include soto betawi (a meat soup with kaffir lime and coconut), fried chicken, satays (beef, chicken or goat) and a collard green-based vegetable soup.
A taste of home [Daily News]
[Photo via Daily News]
