Google Doodle Today Celebrates Rendang Day, National Cooking From West Sumatra

Google Doodle Rendang (photo: Google)

JAKARTA - If today you see the Google logo as different from usual, it is because today Google Doodle is celebrating rendang, one of the foods that the Indonesian people like a lot.

Rendang is officially recognized as Indonesia's national dish and designated as an intangible cultural heritage by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture.

The origin of Rendang

Launching from the official courtyard of the Ministry of Education and Culture, the origin of rendang began in the 16th century. Because Gusti Anan, a historian from Andalas University, found the notes found in the early 19th century which explained that in the past the Minang people often migrated to the Malacca Strait to Singapore.

They traveled this long journey by water for approximately one month of travel. The absence of villages along the route and the distance that must be traveled makes these migrants prepare food that can last for a long time, and the suitable food for this condition is rendang.

This habit of carrying food supplies has made rendang known to people outside West Sumatra and increasingly known for its distinctive spice taste.

The Minangkabau people usually cook rendang using the same technique when cooking curry, using a lot of spices and coconut milk. Even though the cooking is a little longer and let the soup thicken.

The first spread of rendang in West Sumatra began with three areas known as Luhak Nan Tigo (three mountains), namely Luhak Agam, Luhak Limo Puluah, and Luhak Tanah Data. From these three areas, rendang spreads faster to other areas in West Sumatra.

Between the rapid migration and trade in Southeast Asia, rendang has finally become a popular dish in other countries such as Malaysia and Singapore.

Various cultures have also given their own touch to this classic dish. For example, the Philippines uses native spices mixed with palapa and adds muscovado sugar.