Rendang for the Soul

We all know it. Staple for wedding dos, family get togethers, Hari Raya and general feel-at-home food makes rendang my all time fave, Malay dish. It helps that K knows his que when to get the Rendang stuff out - i.e when Wids is homesick/ill/hungryhungyhungy/Hari Raya. After all, the secrets to a happy home begin with a happy belly. Dare oppose, by all means.

So as usual, it got to around that time when the ladies at work and I start talking about food. Then out comes the round table discussion about food - whats good for you, what isn't, what really isn't and everything in between from our in-house food experts. Let me introduce you.

Name: *Arianne.
Otherwise known as: Soulfood Mummy
Vital Stats: Volunteer, been here for 2 years already. Mum of 21 year old chef in the making. From Jamaica.
Most likely to be found saying: Is not right to be eatin they yams, sweet potato and banana together. Too much starch.

Oh I am beginning to get really attached to Arianne. She's such a.. mum :)

Name: *Jackie
Otherwise known as: Morning Oats
Vital Stats: Works full time, knows the place inside out. Mum and wife, loves being organised and just right.

Jackie knows her stuff but usually lets Arianne and me babble on about how much we love coconuts. Then she'll come out with a corker in the middle of it that'll make you giggle.

Name: *Sue
Otherwise known as: Food Encyclopedia.
Vital Stats: Works full time, also knows the place inside out. Quiet, strong type who knows exactly what she's putting in her system.

Sue knows exactly how much a 'large sized chicken' from the local supermarket will cost you and how many people it will feed. She'll also know just what it says in the papers about how much goes into that chicken.

Name: Widarchitect
Otherwise known as: The girl with strings attached from her belly to her heart a.k.a Soup-er Slurper
Vital Stats: Volunteer, new, getting to know the ropes. Gets excited about food though isn't the world's best cook but is lucky enough to be sous chef to him. Loves soup. SOUP.

So today, Arianne tells me that if I'm wanting Oxtail, to ask her, because she can get it at the butchers near her since they don't sell it at the normal supermarkets. They are £5 a tail, girl. Crikey.
Sue asks me - so what kind of food do you all have in Brunei?
Me - mmmmmm(in curry stupor) rendang.. spicey stuff you know.. a little like a cross between indian food and thai (hey, its the closest description I could guess)
Sue - Rendang?
Jackie - Did you say Rendang?
At this point I'm surprised to see that they can say the word like they've said it before.
Arianne - What is in it?
Me - errrr.. its a curry. (long pause) oh oh.. coconut. (?)
At this point Arianne has a surprised face on
Jackie - you know we (the three of them are originally from the same part of the world -ish, I've gathered) have something called Rundown.
Me - with coconut?
Arianne - Yeah, you boil it down and it gets all sticky and you put a meat in it.
Me - Yeah yeah yeah.. something like that.. only we usually have it with beef..

Okay, so you get the picture. The Rendang/Rundown convo goes on for a while until this:

Arianne - When i was 5 my granddaddy passed. At his funeral I saw his face and I was crying. Then my grandma said 'why you crying for him for?' and she gave me some Rundown. Then I stopped crying completely it was so good. With saltfish.

So I looked it up. The rundown recipe online looks delish and I might give it a try. Or... find the closest Carribean restaurant! And yes! it has loads of the same ingredients as rendang according to this. Only huge differences are, 1. The difference in meats. 2.Rundown is served with 'food' as Arianne puts it i.e green bananas, yam, roast breadfruit and dumplings. phwoar.

Might go and put on my Delia Smith hat, or rather, my Carnival togs on and make me some rice and peas. man. xxw