It's interesting having some free time in a new country and I'm always looking for ways to explore and meet new people. I joined an adventure group through the Indonesian Heritage Society and once a month we visit local places of interest. So many people asked about food that they created a Food Explorers group and I couldn't wait for our first meeting. Dozens of lovely ladies from all over the globe met up to learn about Sop Buntut, Javanese oxtail soup.
We had it fried, grilled, and in the soup. I was a pretty big fan of every variation.
The oxtail is a bit hard to eat because of the bones but the Indonesians don't waste any good meat. It's worth the effort! We also got to sample and share several other Indonesian dishes and enjoy the company of other adventurous eaters.
For dessert, we had fresh local fruit dipped in sambal peanut sauce, which sounded terrible but tasted fantastic, especially on the tangy pineapple.
Another new adventure for me was a Melbourne Cup brunch downtown. The Australia/New Zealand women's group hosts it as a huge fundraiser for local charities and it was a lot of fun to get dressed up and spend time with friends. Thank goodness several of us carpooled - the 6.2 miles took two hours in traffic!
Most of the lovely ladies at the two American tables. Andrea (sitting on the swing) won best hat for her awesome creation.
It was a lovely setting and we enjoyed a fashion show, best-dressed prizes, and several raffles while we had our brunch.
Finally it was time for the big race! My horse finished fourth, so no winnings for me, but the morning was such a fun experience.
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