At the Mullum Farmers Market, the scent of sizzling spices and coconut drifts through the air, leading visitors straight to Rini and Iwan’s vibrant Indonesian food stall. The couple, who met in Australia, bring together the rich culinary traditions of their homelands: Rini from Java and Iwan from Sumatra.
‘We make everything ourselves,’ Rini says proudly. ‘All our pastes, all our sauces, every bit is from scratch.’ Their menu celebrates authentic Indonesian street food, from mie goreng (fried noodles) and nasi goreng (fried rice) to the crowd-favourite satay chicken, marinated overnight in a hand-ground spice paste. The result is flavour that’s bold, layered, and utterly irresistible.
Their satay sauce, rich with peanuts, shallots, garlic, coriander, turmeric, and fresh ginger, is a perfect example of their dedication. ‘We use only fresh ingredients,’ Iwan adds. ‘We even grow our own galangal. You can taste the difference when everything’s real and made with care.’
They also craft traditional sweets, such as sticky rice with coconut cream, steamed in banana leaves. It’s a patient process, involving soaking, steaming, and folding, the kind of cooking that connects them to the kitchens they grew up in.
For Rini and Iwan, their food is as much about community as it is about tradition. ‘We love the market,’ Rini smiles. ‘The people are so friendly, they come back every week to chat, to eat, to share stories. The energy here is beautiful; it feels like home.’
The Indonesian Kitchen is at Mullum Farmers Market every Friday from 7am to 11 am.
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