Rendang (randang), the ethnic food of West Sumatra Province (Minangkabau), is made of coconut curry and meat as the main ingredient. It is a favourite food of local inhabitants for its delicious and luscious taste.
Randang is considered for having reputable position among Minangkabau people remembering its philosophy in daily life. Minang people believe that the main ingredients of randang, consisting of dagiang (meat), karambia (coconut), lado (chilli), and pemasak (flavours), contain certain philosophies. Dagiang is a symbol of mores leader or in local language, niniak mamak. Karambia, as supporting ingredient, symbolizes the intellectual figures (in local language called cadiak pandai). Lado (chilli) represents religious scholars who must be strict-decision makers and the last one is pemasak (flavours) connoting Minang people.
The distinction of this food is on its flavour having multifarious colours, black, brown and even in some restaurants, typical restaurant for Minang culinary is called Rumah Makan Padang, you will discover randang with red colour of its flavour.
It is common that randang has hot taste, but at the end, it just depends on the taste of each restaurant. For you who have ever came to Padang, tasting randang made of indigenous people surround, you will find some differences from other Rumah Makan Padang outside Padang City, West Sumatra Province. Besides the taste that is stronger, the hot taste is spicier.
Longer it is cooked, more delicious the randang will be. For you who cannot consume it in a day, you may keep randang for some next days by heating it without adding some flavour anymore. It will be more delicious after being heated for several times.
Randang can be found at all restaurants in West Sumatra Province considering randang is the most popular food there. You will also find some menus coming from other provinces there.
There is no serious problem to find randang in West Sumata Province. After being in Padang City, you will find Rumah Makan Padang easily.
Other favourite menus such as dendeng, balado, gulai asam, and padeh can also be found in some Rumah Makan Padang in West Sumatra Province. For appetizers, there are numerous juice or egg teas.