Balinese Food

 

Today I got to try Balinese food in Amsterdam. When I think about Amsterdam and about the food I will have there, I would never imagine that I would have Balinese food there. To be honest, it was the best meal I ever had.  Walking into the restaurant, it was decorated with many objects and statues that belong to the Balinese culture. For the meal, the restaurant had six traditional bowls (curry) that four people shared with and it also came with rice to pair with the curry. Each bowl had a unique flavor that was so delicious and none of the flavors really out flavored the others. The only difference I can find between having Balinese food in Amsterdam and in Bali is that in Amsterdam they give you a couple more dishes than Bali.

The question that I have is why is Balinese food important to Amsterdam or to the Dutch in general? Back in 1602, the Dutch East India Company was created in the Netherlands so that they could trade in Asia. It was made so that they can sell spices they got in Asia to Europe. The company was located in Amsterdam which is why Balinese food is important to the city. Since there was a Dutch colony in Indonesia, many people from there ended up moving to the Netherlands. They started creating their own restaurant incorporating their culture into it in the Netherlands. To sum it up, the Dutch East India Company helped make Balinese food an important part of their city.

Balinese food strengthens Amsterdam as a cultural capital by showing that they care about diversity in their city. The Dutch East India Company liked the spices they found in Indonesia and so they brought it back to incorporate it into their culture. I like how they made that a part of their culture and welcomed the Balinese people into their country. They want to show that they welcome all nationalities and religions in their country and embrace their culture.They are keeping the memory of the Dutch East India Company by tieing Balinese food, which they got through the company, into their city.