A Winning New Spot

Buckhead can now add an Indonesian restaurant to its portfolio of upscale eateries. WIN (Wonderful Indonesia) Indonesian Grill & Gastrobar opened in the Peachtree Battle Condominiums in February. We chatted with co-founder Ivan Raintung to learn more.

How did you decide toopen an Indonesianrestaurant in Atlanta? Atlanta was chosen for the first WIN due to the fact that it’s the largest city in the Southeast and the headquarters for many Fortune 500 companies. We chose Buckhead specifically because it’s been a mecca for upscale eateries and new chef-driven concepts intermingled with Atlanta staples.

What flavors and ingredients are essential to Indonesian cuisine? It often demonstrates complex flavors, acquired from certain ingredients and bumbu dasar (basic seasoning). Indonesia has been famous for its spices for centuries. Indonesians love hot and spicy food, thus sambal, or chile paste, has in excess of 320 distinct kinds and is a crucial condiment to complement any Indonesian dish.

Tell us about the partnership between your restaurant and the Wonderful Indonesia tourism initiative. In an attempt to promote culinary tourism and achieve the target of attracting 20 million foreign tourists by 2019, the Indonesia Ministry of Tourism is collaborating with 100 diaspora restaurants across the globe through the Wonderful Indonesia co-branding program.