Time flies when you’re having fun. Yes indeed. Last year flew by as though it was just one season. But, what a year it was, full of blessings and milestones. My first cookbook went to print in the Netherlands, which was one of the biggest pay offs of many years of preparation. To me, the book is more than just a collection of favorite dishes. It is a tribute to all the loved ones tied to the recipes and memories featured in the book. We had an emotional reunion and book presentation in Amsterdam at what was once our family restaurant Djokja. We came full circle to the place where it all started, where I was born and raised, where my grandmother started her restaurant, and where I presented her book to the press. Now it was my turn, surrounded by family members, old friends and former guests.
Whenever I was given a chance, I talked about my book and my mission to preserve our culinary heritage of the Dutch East Indies and to encourage people to prepare and enjoy our family recipes, which had been passed down from generation to generation. I appeared on national television and radio, and I was a featured chef at the Tong Tong Fair in the Hague, the largest annual Eurasian Festival in the world. My mother and niece were able assist me on stage with the cooking workshops. People stopped by to speak with us who still knew my family or my grandmother from her cookbook. What a treat to be surrounded by so many appreciative people.
Dutch-Indonesian cuisine is well known in the Netherlands. However, on an international level, this fusion cuisine deserves much more attention and acknowledgement. When I started showing the cookbook to Dutch-speaking people in Los Angeles, many of them asked for an English-language version to give to their friends and family members. I am excited to announce that we are currently preparing an English-language version of Keasberry: Kitchen Secrets of the Dutch East Indies. It feels like deja vu, and I am as excited as I was while preparing the Dutch version of the book. I even got a new DSLR camera to shoot new, seductive pictures of these dishes, both for my new book and blog.
Also this year, I will be launching my new cooking videos and will continue presenting more Cooking With Keasberry Workshops in Southern California. I am also considering revamping the website. Wow, I also need an extra pair of hands!
With all of this going on, I expect the months zip by as quickly they did last year. I’m planning so many fun things to do and share. Thank you for checking back and taking a peek in my online kitchen to see what’s cooking with Keasberry. Feel free to respond and contribute your own ideas and stories. Let’s keep in touch. Are you in the mood for Indofood? I am!
© January 2, 2013 Jeff Keasberry
Wondering if the cookbook is still in the works for the US. My father is a Dutch Indo that came to the states as refugees in the late 50’s. I love when we get together with his family and get cultured Indo meals. I would love to be able to start making my own. Thanks
Yes, please stay tuned we are in the middle of the project. Check back regularly. Also like is on Facebook ‘cooking with keasberry’. Thx