Wandering Voyager: Rijsttafel at Tempo Doeloe in Amsterdam

Appetizers, including prawn crackers

S. and I wanted to eat at an Indonesian-influenced restaurant during our time in Amsterdam. After a little research, we decided on Tempo Doeloe, not far from Rembrandt Square. Rachel from our hotel made us a reservation and to our pleasure, all the had available that night was the table in the back by the bar. What a treat it was! It was almost like we had our own private room and I had a straight view of the kitchen and all the goings on. I knew I wanted to order the rijsttafel (rice table in Dutch) which is essentially many small dishes that are to be eaten one at a time (from mild to spiciest) with rice. S. found a chicken randang item on the menu that called out to him. It had +++ next to it, meaning very spicy. We thought nothing of it, since we've been raised on spicy food due to our Tunisian heritage, but I suppose we should have known when our Indonesian waiter asked, "Are you sure?" not once, but on two separate occasions before he finally brought the plate out. It was a zinger- by far the spiciest thing either of us had ever eaten in a restaurant. While S. later admitted to me that he was suffering the entire meal, he finished the dish, and we now have a story to tell. I have more respect for him since that night for sure. I snapped some quick pictures but they are blurry because I took them quickly as not to be a distraction in the small restaurant.