20 Comments
Nov 16, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

Looks a so fresh and amazing! Maybe you'll find a Bali joint to eat at. Good luck!

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Thank you! Several people wrote in to suggest Indonesian restaurants in LA. So my culinary adventure will continue in our kitchen and around Los Angeles.

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Nov 15, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

I’m surprised when you lived in NYC you didn’t explore the Staten Island Indonesian Resto scene. Some great all you can eat buffets on the north shore!

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It might surprise you to learn that I never went to Staten Island. Zero trips in three years. Which begs the question: did I even really live in New York if I’ve only been to four of the five boroughs?

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My cousin who now lives on Staten Island has been an NYC resident for about forty years. He jokes that the only way to become a true resident is to run the NYC Marathon and see all five boroughs the hard way :) The variation for this for you Michael was the tendency to meet folks when we lived in California to advise they were from LA when in fact they were commuting for hours from way inland. Being there and being there :)

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Your cousin has a high bar for New Yorker status. Is he a legit New Yorker?

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Nov 15, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

Fantastic post! I’ve loved the (admittedly limited) Indonesian food I’ve had (mostly in Amsterdam) and now need to find a closer source to sample. And as for shallots on mosquito bites... that’s pure gold!

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Thank you, Bryan! And thanks for noticing the shallot tip! You’re right that one is pure gold.

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Oooh nasi goreng was (and still is) my comfort food when we used to live in Malaysia. What a scrumptious despatch!

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Thank you! Glad you enjoyed this one!

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Nasi goreng! Growing up with a Dutch background, we ate it all the time. Pro tip: add a fried banana to the mix next time.

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Ooooh! That is a good tip! Thank you!

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Nov 14, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

Awesome looking meal. Glad to learn about your adventures!

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Thank you, Steve!

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Superb! Nothing makes a trip complete or puts you in touch with the culture more than diving right into cooking the local food. I think your writing about this trip has definitely pushed more than a few of us into looking at flights to Bali. Very Cool!

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Thank you! But in the interests of full disclosure I’m really hoping the Indonesian government reads this and gives me a free trip back, so what I’m saying is I can be bought!

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There may not be a Balinese restaurant in LA but there may be an Embassy where you might find that "arrangement." Nod nod, wink wink.

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Good call! Gonna have to play it cool and maybe start a TikTok account so they know I’m an influencer.

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Nov 14, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

That looks like the most delicious meal! I'm googling "Balinese food in NYC" right now!

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I’m sure there’s something in Queens. If you can’t find it in Queens, it doesn’t exist.

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