Definition

Noun: 1. A meal originating in Indonesia, characterized by a central serving of rice accompanied by a wide variety of side dishes, such as meats, vegetables, eggs, and sauces.

Usage

• Rijstaffel is a singular noun. It refers to the entire meal experience, not a single dish.
• It is often used to describe a specific style of dining or a restaurant that serves this type of meal.
• Example: "For dinner, we experienced an authentic rijstaffel at the Indonesian restaurant."

Examples

• The travelers were eager to try the famous rijstaffel during their visit to Amsterdam.
• Preparing a proper rijstaffel requires many small dishes with diverse flavors and textures.
• The restaurant's signature is its elaborate rijstaffel, which includes over twenty different items.

Advanced Usage

• The term rijstaffel is of Dutch origin ("rice table"), reflecting its historical connection to the Dutch colonial period in Indonesia. It is sometimes used outside of culinary contexts to metaphorically describe an array or assortment of items.
  • Example: "The conference offered a rijstaffel of workshops on different topics."

Variants and Related Words

• Rijsttafel: An alternative spelling for the same word.
• Satay: Skewered and grilled meat, often served as part of a rijstaffel.
• Rendang: A spicy meat dish, commonly one of the side dishes in a rijstaffel.

Synonyms

• Indonesian rice table: A direct English translation.
• Smorgasbord: A Scandinavian buffet of various hot and cold dishes. (This is a conceptual synonym for a meal with many small dishes, but of a different cultural origin.)
• Banquet: A large, elaborate meal. (This is a more general synonym.)

Notes

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with the word rijstaffel.

Noun

1. dish originating in Indonesia; a wide variety of foods and sauces are served with rice