Indonesian Consulate General in San Francisco Explores Collaboration to Promote Nusantara Cuisine in the US

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in San Francisco, Yohpy Wardana, is exploring collaboration with Chef Martin Yan to strengthen efforts to promote Nusantara cuisine in the United States.

“Indonesia possesses a very rich culinary heritage, born from the history of spice trade and cultural diversity across more than 17,000 islands. Collaboration with Chef Martin Yan will undoubtedly further strengthen efforts to promote the richness of Nusantara flavours to the American public,” he said.

In a press release from the Indonesian Consulate General in San Francisco in Jakarta on Saturday, he expressed optimism that this exploration could develop into concrete collaboration in introducing Indonesian dishes such as rendang, nasi goreng, sate, soto, and other dishes to the Bay Area public.

Meanwhile, Chef Martin Yan expressed his appreciation for the promotion of Indonesian cuisine and is willing to help introduce Indonesian cooking in the US.

Chef Martin Yan is a legendary figure who has successfully introduced Asian cuisine to the American public through the PBS public television station for decades, according to the press release from the Indonesian Consulate General in San Francisco.

The famous Hong Kong-American chef has visited Indonesia several times and collaborated with Chef Marinka in the programme Martin Yan’s Asian Favorites and appeared at the Culinary Masterpieces event in Jakarta some time ago.

He is known for his attractive, educational, and entertaining cooking style, and is popular for dishes such as Kung Pao Chicken, Hot and Sour Soup, Peking Duck, as well as various Asian dumplings and noodles.

The meeting between Yohpy and Chef Martin Yan at the 2026 Asia Game Changer West Awards Gala organised by Asia Society Northern California became a strategic momentum to expand Indonesian cultural diplomacy through the culinary route.