Indonesian Fair in SF March 4

[Nina]

A friend of mine just told me about this - she's going to be the MC.

"If you never tried Indonesian food you'll love the options at the fair. From oh SO spicy food to amazing vegetarian dishes, all available for dirt cheap! You can buy Indo spices as well.
Sunday, 4 March 2007, 10.00-15.00, SF County Fair Building, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. http://pasarsenggol.blogspot.com/"

Along with the earlier post on the Indonesian-Dutch Bazaar in San Jose on March 11 --
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/46638
it looks like a great month for lovers of Indonesian food.

[vlorin]

Do you know if there is an Indonesian food fair this year?

Also, do you know of any good Indonesian caterers located between Palo Alto and San Francisco?

[Philip]

I went to the Indonesian Food Fair today. It turned out that it was a private event, and not open to the public.

Oh well.

[Melanie Wong]

That's a shame. Next time tell 'em you're with "Han Lukito".
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/30987...

[Han]

Sure, use my name if you must ! I know the organizer, Mr, John Oei and he will surely remember my name. Everyone there knows John Oei but not everyone knows my name - many probably knows me. So, knowing the 2 names will most likely get you in. If they give you trouble just ask for John Oei and tell them that you know me. I know for a fact some hounds have done this in the past.

Sorry it did not workout for not knowing this fact but the event should be a must for any Asian food lover. The key is to get there early within 1 hour of opening time.

[Atomica]

So, everyone from the general public should just tell Mr. Oei that we know you to gain entrance to this private event? Is there any desire on the part of the organizers to make it larger, open to the public, and advertised as such? Otherwise, I just don't see how Asian food lovers can take advantage of this "must" event.

[Han]

Then you just can't go to this "must" event. Tough luck for you, sorry !!

[Atomica]

What a sweet sentiment. Thanks ever so.

[echo]

my guess is that that venue is just too small to 'throw open the doors'.
it is, however, a pleasant and convenient spot, and perhaps a cheap one too. faced with the alternative of finding a larger hall and paying for it, my guess is they are happy to keep it 'intimate'.

i went nearly 3 yrs ago, and perhaps because i was late and the crowds had thinned to a manageable level, i was able to walk right in. the year after that, the event was cancelled altogether, and last year might've been too. i asked han, and he suggested that this was an informal event serving a smallish community, so it shouldn't really be thought of as an institutional public event.
i will say, though, that it was a grand time. very friendly family-oriented atmosphere, with music and good food. and i guess i missed this year too!

[Melanie Wong]

Often these events have not procured a big venue, necessary licenses and/or liability insurance coverage to make them large-scale, public events, limiting them to members and their guests only. Confronted with this, savvy chowhounds then ask what's needed to become a church or other organization member. Often it's a donation to the general fund, and you're in.

The officially "non-commercial" Berkeley Thai Temple has adapted to crowds by getting steam table food from restaurants and the quality of sunday lunch has suffered badly. I'd hate to see that happen here.

[Dave MP]

Atomica - You came across as being rude in your post....probably this wasn't intentional, but that's probably why Han responded that way. I think it's awesome that we could potentially mention Han (who I don't even know) and get into an event like this! Like echo says below, it's probably not big enough an event to 'open it up to the public' but thanks to chowhound, there's a way we could go! Just my two cents

Dave MP

[Atomica]

It certainly wasn't meant that way. If the event is "a must for every Asian food lover," you're talking about potential huge numbers of people who would go and be turned away. Hence, my follow-up question as to whether the organizers are interested in making the event larger and open to the public. Frankly, I was taken aback by the reply.

[Nina]

As the person who originally posted about this event, I feel really bad that anyone showed up and was turned away. Please accept my apologies. I had a conflict so didn't go, but apparently if I hadn't name-dropped at the gate, I would have been stiffed as well. I don't think my friend who was MCing it knew it wasn't open to the general public either -- she had forwarded the information to a fairly large number of non-Indonesian friends.

[Han]

No problem here- not now anyways. Dave was right, I was a bit ticked off initially.

But moving on to the food discussions: I personally thinks that it is a must because of the sheer number of different food offerings involved. Most of them are probably just home cooks. That is probably another reason they kept it private and does not advertise it in general public. If I were a hound, especially non-Indonesians, this is a chance to explore the cuisine without actually spending thousands in plane tickets. This fair (the past ones I been in) really has a depth of offerings. If you count the type of different foods they have, I think it is quite impressive. I would say more than 50, easily near the hundred types of different things. Many are probably good and some bad versions mixed in.

[Carb Lover]

Han, is the San Jose event this weekend technically open to the public?

[Han]

This maybe too late but the SJ event is DEFINITELY open to public. Been there several times. Be sure to lookup previous posts on CH favorites. Many gold as well as land mines.

For the SF event, have a backup plan just in case you can't get in just by giving my name.

[isaac1972]

I can't get these links to work, and googling seems to be of no help - is there any more info about this event online somewhere? Thanks.

[Robert Lauriston]

That double-quote at the end of the link was confusing Chowhound:

http://pasarsenggol.blogspot.com/

[Mul]

If you are going.. be prepared to bring CASH.... It's cash only, no credit card.

[yayako]

Thanks for the info!
Even though I had lunch plan with my friend that day, I went there just to get some food for to-go.
Loved pineapple cookie there too...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/69229804...

[Mul]

I've look at the participants for this upcoming Pasar Senggol; two of them I've tried in the past and like their food:
1. Arthur Catering - Arthur "Atet" Wijaya
2. Salero Bundo - Ibu Yetty Firdaus

For Ibu Yetty, I've tried her Nasi Padang; it was very good. Better come early, usually it sells out quickly.