It looks and tastes great. So why isn’t Indonesian cuisine a part of global popular culture?

Indonesia not only wants to preserve its brilliant, diverse food culture. It wants it to be known internationally. How can it achieve that ambition? One man believes the way ahead is through making use of pop culture. What should be the role of the government?

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Indrakarona Ketaren, is a founder of the Indonesian Gastronomy Association (AGASI), a body that promotes the study of the relationship between Indonesian food and Indonesian values and identity.  He explains to Sri Dean the important role young people must play in increasing the influence of Indonesian cuisine so that it becomes a vehicle for soft diplomacy.

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Indonesian cuisine "Padang food" is seen on display as vendors wait for customers. Rendang has been known globally. But what about other Indonesian dish? Source: Undated/Getty Images.