Food is more than what we find on our plates. Behind every dish are the ingredients, the people who grow them, and the many hands that bring them together.
This was at the heart of Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy (WIG) 2026, a programme by Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism that brings together the people shaping the country’s culinary landscape. From local food producers and artisan brands to chefs and culinary businesses, the event celebrates the richness of Indonesian gastronomy and the stories rooted in its local ingredients.
For Kaze Rice, being part of this gathering was an honour. We were grateful for the opportunity to stand alongside fellow businesses and industry professionals who share a role in bringing Indonesia’s food heritage to more people.
Sharing Our Rice and the Story Behind It
Throughout the event, our booth welcomed visitors from different backgrounds, including chefs, food and beverage professionals, students, and curious food enthusiasts. Many stopped to discover our rice varieties, ask questions about our products, and learn more about how our rice is cultivated.
We were especially encouraged by the response from culinary professionals who sampled our rice and shared their feedback. Our Bali Red received some lovely reviews, while our Brown Rice and Black Rice sparked curiosity among visitors interested in exploring different rice varieties and their uses in the kitchen.
These conversations were meaningful to us because they allowed people to experience our rice firsthand, beyond what they might see on a package or read in a product description.
They also gave us an opportunity to share what Kaze Rice stands for: locally cultivated artisanal rice, responsible farming practices, and long-term partnerships with the farmers who help bring each harvest to life. We believe that the story of Indonesian rice deserves to be better understood and appreciated, not only as an everyday staple but also as an important part of the country's culinary identity.
An Honour to Be Part of the Conversation
One of the highlights of our participation was the opportunity to welcome Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ni Luh Puspa, and Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Bendara (GKR Bendara), who visited our booth alongside those of other participating exhibitors.
We were grateful for the opportunity to introduce Kaze Rice and share our mission of cultivating Indonesian rice through responsible practices and lasting partnerships. It was a meaningful moment to bring our work into a wider conversation about the role of local ingredients and producers in Indonesia’s culinary and tourism industries.
What made the experience particularly special was being part of a community that recognises gastronomy as more than dining alone. It is also about the origins of our ingredients, the knowledge behind their production, and the people whose work makes every meal possible.
For us, this is an important part of Kaze Rice’s journey: continuing to build appreciation for Indonesian rice while strengthening the connection between the people who grow it and those who enjoy it.
Looking Ahead, Together
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy team for creating a space where local producers, culinary professionals, and industry partners could come together. We are equally grateful to everyone who visited our booth, sampled our rice, asked questions, and took the time to learn about our work.
We left the event encouraged by the conversations we had and the interest shown in our rice. More importantly, we were reminded that building recognition for local ingredients is a shared effort, made possible by the many people who care about Indonesia’s food culture.
We look forward to continuing these conversations, building new partnerships, and sharing more of Indonesia’s rice heritage with the world—one grain, one table, and one connection at a time.