It is probably a safe assumption that Indonesia and its cuisine are unfamiliar to most New Yorkers. However, as many know, Barack Obama spent a considerable portion of his youth in that country. It might be an appropriate time to experience the cuisine that the President almost certainly consumed and hopefully enjoyed during his formative years.

While there is obviously a plethora of Asian restaurants in New York, this writer is aware of only a tiny handful of Indonesian restaurants in Manhattan. Bali Nusa, a truly superb restaurant specializing in Indonesian food, is conveniently located near the theatre district between 45th and 46th Streets at 651 9^th Avenue. Those who enjoy Thai food will find Indonesian dishes somewhat similar, but with distinctive flavors and spices that should be experienced on their own.

If you have no prior experience with the food of this archipelago nation, a good appetizer to start with is an order of Gado-Gado. As prepared by Bali Nusa this is a truly a refreshing salad whose ingredients include avocado, sprouts, potato, lettuce and a chip called "krupuk" The salad is dressed with a delectable peanut sauce. Except for those previously exposed to Thai food, the use of peanut sauce as a salad dressing may seem exotic, but the result is truly appetizing.

For a main dish, all newcomers to Indonesian cuisine should try Nasi Goreng, a type of fried rice accompanied with several sticks of beef or chicken satay. While delicious on its own, the dish is enhanced even further if you order a side of peanut sauce and apply it liberally to both meat and rice.

One might also try dishes of Chicken or Beef Satay without the accompanying fried rice of the Nasi Goreng. Satay is a staple of Indonesian cuisine and is a kind of shish kabob in which chicken or beef is skewered through a stick. Accompanied by white rice and peanut sauce its taste is truly exquisite.

Another way to become quickly familiar with the variety of Indonesian cuisine is to order Bali Nusa's special priced at $23.95. This special is in essence a sampler which consists of a variety of meat dishes, including chicken satay, corn fritters with shrimp, and beef served in a variety of sauces. Served on a platter centered by white rice, the portions are quite generous and the price also includes a choice of drink. A similar vegetarian special is offered at a comparable price.

For dessert a diner should try another culinary staple of Indonesia, fried banana, accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Most New Yorkers would never think to heat a banana, but this is a truly appealing sweet dessert. It is also included in the special noted above.

The menu of Bali Nusa is quite extensive, with numerous meat, seafood, noodle and vegetarian dishes offered for the adventurous diner. The names of the dishes are given in Indonesian with accompanying explanations in English as to their ingredients. Prices are moderate ranging from $10.95 to $19.50 for virtually all dishes.

The restaurant is tastefully adorned with the artwork of Indonesia. The friendly waiters, many of whom appear to be from that country, wear batik and soft recorded gamelan music frequently plays in the background. Gamelan is a type of Indonesian folk music performed on native instruments. When played slowly, the music can be quite hypnotizing adding to the relaxed atmospheric ambiance of the restaurant.

After your meal, as you wave goodbye to the wait staff, you might say "Terimah Kasi" and "Salamat Malaam" ("Thank you" and "Good night" in Indonesian respectively). These are salutations our President very probably would have been familiar with as a child living in South East Asia and will almost certainly elicit an appreciative smile of the wait staff. For those diners wishing to experience globalization at its best and expand their culinary horizons, Bali Nusa is a winner.

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