A travel writer's account from over 120 years ago has shed light on Indonesia's culinary past. Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore wrote about her experiences in colonial Indonesia in her book. She described a grand feast known as rijsttafel, which featured a wide variety of dishes.

The feast was served at a hotel in what is now Jakarta and included a range of foods such as meats, seafood, and tropical fruits. The event was attended by around 100 guests and was notable for its abundance of food. Further details about Scidmore's account and the rijsttafel feast can be found through CNN, as reported by KVIA ABC-7.