-Courtesy of Punch Media
photo by Adrianne Galvez
In honor of this upcoming Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Chef Diana Widjojo of Rice & Sambal, the Indonesian concept that returned to Chef Joncarl Lachman’s Dankbaar restaurant located on East Passyunk Avenue, is teaming up with Chef Daps Manansala to present a one-night-only 22-seat Kamayan/Liwetan-style dinner on Sunday, May 5, titled Bajau Srivijaya.
Drawing inspiration from their Indonesian and Filipino traditions, this exclusive feast invites guests to gather ‘round the table, get personal, and savor a robust array of delicacies from their cultures. Both Widjojo and Manansala, originating from Southeast Asia, share a common goal: to introduce their guests to the rich flavors of Indonesian and Filipino cuisine, while showcasing their respective Kamayan and Liwetan practices, which are synonymous. This includes presenting family heirloom dishes and regional recipes that are lesser-known in the United States. A Kamayan feast, also referred to as a “boodle fight,” is a Filipino dining style where guests share a communal meal in a familial setting, using only their hands as utensils. Their collaborative effort in hosting this dinner epitomizes their dedication to honoring their customs, and promises to bring participants together for a one-of-a-kind experience.
Guests will dine amongst a bountiful spread of dishes (no forks or knives needed!), as Widjojo and Manansala provide insights into each creation, presented on traditional banana leaves. Attendees can look forward to a vast array of traditional and reimagined Filipino and Indonesian dishes, including Nasi Bunga Telang (steamed Butterfly pea flower rice), Chicken Pyanggang (chicken marinated and blackened with burnt coconut, sofrito, and coconut cream), Lechon Kawali (roasted pork belly), Gulai Kambing (Indonesian goat stew), Singapore Noodles (sautéed angel hair noodles), Udang Balado (shrimp with spicy red pepper sauce), Pecel Salad (fresh salad with herbed peanut dressing), Tempe Goreng (tempe fritters), and desserts such as Durian & Ube Ice Candy (ice cream), and Kalame Nasi (sweet sticky rice cake infused with Pandan and coconut milk, topped with coconut caramel). A bowl of Jasmine water will be provided for guests for hand washing.
“As a young adult, I made it my mission to share Indonesian food and culture with people,” said Widjojo. “Joncarl gave me an amazing platform when I popped-up at Dankbaar last year, and it’s incredible to be back in the space again and do creative collabs. Plus, Daps and I share a lot of the same values, so it’s great to get to work together.”
Manansala, an immigrant from Manila, was well-attuned to cooking as a calling, but spent the most of their 20-year hospitality career in the front of the house. It wasn’t until later in life the industry-vet realized that Filipino food could serve as the spark for personal and professional growth, and they have since acted on their passion through pop-ups, collaborations, and direct-to-diner meal kit delivery service.
Hosted at Rice & Sambal, Bajau Srivijaya is priced at $125 per person, and will begin at 5:30pm. Reservations are highly encouraged, and can be made via Resy.
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