RRI.CO.ID, Amsterdam – The Indonesia Summer Cooking Experience, a cooking class organized by the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, was warmly received by the people of the Netherlands. The event, held at Ron Gastro Bar in Amsterdam, was attended by culinary business owners in the Netherlands, importers of Indonesian products, spice distributors, as well as representatives from Warung Barokah in Amsterdam and Toko Kalimantan in Zaandam, the Netherlands.

According to a written press release from the ministry on Thursday, July 16, 2026, the Indonesia Summer Cooking Experience falls under the umbrella of the larger Rasa Rempah Indonesia (S’RASA) program. S’RASA is a global culinary product promotion initiative that showcases Indonesian identity, stories, and cultural heritage through Indonesian restaurants in various countries.

The Ministry of Trade’s Director General of National Export Development, Fajarini Puntodewi, hopes this program will encourage culinary entrepreneurs abroad to utilize local ingredients unique to the Indonesian archipelago. This step is considered highly effective for introducing authentic Indonesian flavors to the world.

“When international culinary entrepreneurs become familiar with and use Indonesian ingredients in the dishes they serve, we are paving the way for Indonesian food, beverages, seasonings, and spices to enter the global market,” Puntodewi said.

The Indonesia Summer Cooking Experience was opened by the Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Laurentius Amrih Jinangkung. Following the opening, participants in the Indonesia Summer Cooking Experience were invited to get hands-on experience preparing four Indonesian dishes, namely lamb satay, fried dough balls or cireng, fish cakes or otak-otak, and palm sugar sponge cake. This experience gave them the opportunity to sample the authentic flavors of Indonesian cuisine.

“We hope today’s cooking class can inspire new partnerships and foster greater appreciation for Indonesian food products on the global stage through culinary diplomacy,” he said.

The event also promoted Bango soy sauce, palm sugar from PT Mahorahora Bumi Nusantara, and Kapal Api coffee, which will be available in the Dutch market through local importers. One of the participants in the Indonesia Summer Cooking Experience, founder of Lakeside BV, Oswin Beingsick, believes this event could serve as a gateway for importing Indonesian food products into the Dutch market.