KICKSTARTER

Indo Dutch Kitchen Secrets is an inspiring full-color, hardcover cookbook about a unique culinary heritage, told through a collection of delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes and stories.

Hi, I am Jeff Keasberry. My mission is to introduce America to the Indo Dutch Cooking style!

Indo Dutch Kitchen Secrets takes you on a journey of the Indo Dutch diaspora that started in the former Dutch East Indies. It follows the path of the people who traversed different continents and multiple cultures while managing to preserve their heritage to reinforce their identity. It’s about a little known secret in the culinary world, a cherished cultural treasure, which is at the heart of this community. It explores and celebrates the blending of Indonesian, Dutch and the resultant Indo Dutch fusion cooking style, all coming together in one fascinating cuisine – more than 350 years in the making.

These cuisines are still relatively unknown in the USA. Despite Indonesia being the 4th most populated country in the world (more than 6,000 populated Islands), few Americans are familiar with the rich Indonesian and the indo Dutch fusion cuisine.

Indonesian food and Indo Dutch fusion is poised to make an impact in the novelty-hungry culinary world. It can be favorably compared to Thai food and therefore has great crossover potential. There is a growing interest in family recipes, apropos of cultural heritage and traditional cooking styles. The stroopwafel has gone mainstream and now it’s time for the Rijsttafel and all those other culinary treats to find their way to your table. We are presenting a cookbook to make this all accessible to you.

WHO IS JEFF? 

I am a Los Angeles-based event organizer, food blogger (keasberry.com), photographer and author of two cookbooks published in the Netherlands (2012 & 2014). Both books have been well received by the Dutch press and I have appeared on Dutch national television and radio. My family and I were featured in an exhibit on the history of the Dutch Indies cuisine at the Tong Tong Fair (the largest EurAsian Festival in the world) for 3 consecutive years, from 2011 through 2013. My family roots are in the former Dutch East Indies. I was born in Amsterdam and raised in my late grandmothers restaurant (a well-known cookbook author). I started working at the family restaurant at age 14. I worked my way up to becoming a professional host. Along the way, I learned from my father and mother—and eventually took over management of the restaurant at age 18. At the same time, I completed my formal training at the Hotel & Restaurant Management School in Amsterdam. In my books I explain my unique perspective on Indo Dutch cuisine. My formative years in a family of restaurateurs and my heritage research makes me uniquely qualified to reveal these international culinary secrets.

Since my move to Los Angeles 10 years ago, I started craving my mothers cooking, the food that brings me comfort and joy. I learned that little is known about the cultures I belong to and the food that I grew up with. There are no relevant cookbooks available in the English language. My passion to pursue the taste of home, turned into a mission; I want people to rediscover and explore this unique cooking style!

WHAT IS IN THE COOKBOOK?

• Stories about Holland’s eternal affection for its favorite fusion cuisine, including nasi goreng, gado gado, krupuk, lumpia, satay, sambal and the famous and elaborate rijsttafel. 
• Indo Dutch specialties like klappertaart, spekkoek, risoles, kroket , smoor and macaroni-schotel are now staples of Indonesian cuisine.
• All of these and traditional Dutch recipes for the popular stroopwafels, pancakes, bitterballen, and stamppot.
• Easy-to-follow recipes: for snacks to elaborate dinners, for busy workdays, meals-on-the-go, even vegan and gluten free!
• Cooking techniques and serving suggestions for appetizing presentations.
• Ingredients and tastemakers explained.
• Tips on sourcing ingredients, including substitutes to make things easier.
• Inspiring ideas for menus and what to drink with your food.
• You will find suggestions for different occasions and how to make an elaborate Rijsttafel.

Indo Dutch Kitchen Secrets is more than a cookbook. The book pays homage to the mothers and grandmothers who contributed to the evolution of this cuisine. Yes, male chefs included. It’s about connecting people, a sense of belonging and joyful togetherness, or as they say in Dutch: ‘gezelligheid!’ It’s a keepsake cookbook for the coffee table and the kitchen table, to be used and passed on as a gift.

WHY KICKSTARTER?

Making a book takes time. Getting the attention of an agent and publisher takes even more time. We know we have an interesting book and people have been asking for an English version of the books on Indo Dutch Cooking. So we did not want to wait any longer and decided to get a special edition book published in the USA.

Who is ‘we’? In my team we have: 2 editors/proofreaders, a professional graphic designer and a printing manager and publisher with more than 20 years of experience. I do the cooking, food styling and photography.

We could not have made this happen without your support. We need you to be part of our team! We are glad we raised enough to do this 1st print run of a special edition. A lot of time and energy has been invested into this project, which basically is ‘a labor of love’. Printing a book is expensive. The first priority is to be able to use the funds raised for a 1st print run, to pay the Kickstarter’s fee and taxes. Remaining money will pay for graphic design, distribution services, and marketing. I will be the last one paid – if at all. We have found a high quality printer to help us do a first print run of a special edition. If more money is raised and the first print run is sold out, we hope to print more copies.

HOW CAN I GET A BOOK?

Order your copy now  to receive a special edition of the book.We currently ship only within the USA.

SHIPPING OUTSIDE USA: we do want to serve you, but shipping rates vary by country – we will consider shipping to selected countries only with an additional contribution to cover shipping costs. For options be sure to send me an email at: cookingwithkeasberry @ gmail.com.

Please, help by sharing the link of this campaign with family, friends and anyone you think might be interested in owning this book!   #indodutchkitchensecrets #cookingwithkeasberry.