Indo in the BK

Walking into Java Indonesian Rijsttafel, a homey Indonesian (obviously!) restaurant in the baby stroller district of Park Slope in Brooklyn, I wasn't sure what to expect. But being a full time lover in my affair with food, I kept an open mind as I made my first foray into the cuisine of Indonesia. Sadly, the verdict was mixed.

Lumpia
Egg rolls stuffed with ground beef and vegetables. This appetizer came with a spicy sour sauce and a thick lemongrassy sauce. Sauces were decent but the rolls themselves were a tad mushy, with little flavor. It was not a good start...

Tahu Isi

Fried bean curd stuffed with shrimp, celery, and scallion. These fried asian hot pockets also came with the thick lemongrassy sauce. Though the tofu had good consistency as well as a decent amount of stuffing, they fell short again on flavor. Sadly, dousing them with generous amounts of sauce could not resuscitate these bad boys back to life.

Kare Ayam

Chicken with curry and hot spices simmered in coconut milk. Though the sauce was a little heavy in coconut milk (and thereby taming the flavors of curry and spices), the overall dish was enjoyable. Not to nitpick too much, but the chicken was slightly overcooked and felt a tad dry. Still, it was a tasty plate of curry.

Java Special Udang

Jumbo shrimps, fried bean curd, and hot green peppers simmered in a soya bean sauce. When the plate was first made its appearance on the table, I have to admit that my initial impression was not good. The mud-like color of the sauce with a handful of mysterious slop on top of the shrimps did not at all come across as being too appetizing. This goes to show you, you can't judge a book by its cover (mostly anyways). This dish was my favorite of the night. The sauce tasted of a blend of pepper, soy, and a spice that I can't put my finger on. The shrimp, though a little smaller than I would've liked, tasted fresh and were cooked nicely. The bean curd in the dish was more of an afterthought to me, though still tasty. Mix some of the sauce with the accompanying white rice, throw in a couple of Singha beers, and my belly was crying no more.