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Influences from all corners of the globe make up Indonesian cuisine. Curries, cucumber, eggplant, Indian mustard and cow peas came from India; the Chinese brought the wok and stir-frying, Chinese mustard, and vegetables such as brassica and Chinese cabbage; from Arabia came kebabs and mouth watering goat stews, while the Europeans introduced avocados, peanuts, pineapples, guavas, papayas, tomatoes, squashes, pumpkins, cocoa, soybeans and cauliflower. Lombok food revolves around spices, often partnered by coconut milk, which adds a rich flavour and creamy texture to intriguing dishes of tropical vegetables, poultry, meat and fish. Sugar, fragrant roots and leaves are fondly used and the end result is food that is both subtle and sophisticated. Rice is the basis of any Indonesian meal. A main serving of rice is normally taken first, followed by a small portion of three to four dishes of vegetables or meat, known as lauk. Dishes of lauk are placed in the centre of the table for all to share. It is not considered polite to ‘dump’ a bowl of food on top of your rice…spoon it on top as you go. A side dish or sambal, made with red-hot chillies ground with dried shrimp paste and other seasonings such as limejuice should be taken with caution. It can be scorching for the inexperienced or chilli intolerant person. If indeed you are burnt, do not drink water immediately as it will only worsen the situation; instead settle for bananas, plain boiled rice, bread, cucumber or a glass of milk. However, delicious side dishes like tempeh, a protein-charged savoury cake made of fermented soybeans, and rempeyek, small crisp cookies made of peanuts, should not be missed. Snacks For simple dining, there are warungs - snack bars and mobile carts that cater mainly to local workers and those who understand that low cost hawker meals are really safe to eat. These three-wheeled carts are often pushed by young boys and are nicknamed kaki lima, which means five legs - the three wheels of the cart and the two legs of the boy! Adventurous travellers can delight in sampling all these delicacies that can be found within reach. Those who are unsure but are willing to try should go for something simple such as pisang goreng or banana fritters, lumpia, a type of fried spring roll, and bakso, a meatball soup. A snack called tupat, actually steamed rice in coconut-leaf packages that are cubed with tofu, cucumber, spinach and sprouts and mixed with a fiery peanut sauce is well worth sampling. Do not miss bubur injin or black rice pudding for breakfast or dessert, it is heavenly. Tropical Fruit Lombok has a extensive range of fruit, some unimaginable and some you wish you had never imagined! One of these is the fabled durian, the king of fruits, which is a thorny fruit the size of a football. It has an offensive smell to some but is prized by locals and tastes somewhat like a fruit salad mixed with thick cream. In other words don’t be put off by the smell, just try it and you’ll more than likely be VERY pleasantly surprised. TIP: Do not eat Durian if you are drinking alcohol as it can make you VERY ill. Others that can be savoured include mangoes, mangosteens, bananas, jackfruit, rambutans, markisas, pineapples, papaya, longans, melons, oranges and custard apples, to name a few. Of course, the best fruit would be the salak or the snakeskin fruit. This scaly, brown fruit encloses a crunchy white fruit with a pear-like flavour. Western Food is available in many restaurants but why eat western food when there's far more taste sensation meals created by your Indonesian hosts. Tip: Bottled drinking water (air) is highly recommended and safer to drink than tap water. The most common brand is Aqua, which is synonymous to drinking water. Just be certain that the bottle has an intact plastic seal!
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Dining on Lombok, as within anywhere in Indonesia poses endless possibilities as the country has one of the world's greatest cuisines. From a five-star restaurant to a roadside stall, you will be amazed by the choices offered. Tourist-oriented restaurants abound in tourist centres but Indonesian and Chinese food is predominant.
