The best food in the world? According to a CNN survey it's Indonesian. #1 Rendang #2 Nasi Goreng and #14 Satay!

Indonesia's flavourful and colourful cuisine is front and centre at the inaugural “Taste of Indonesia” Food Festival at Café Mix, Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney from now to 12 August.

“Spicy, fragrant and colourful, an Indonesian meal, is a perfect way to create pre-holiday anticipation and excitement, or share memories after a trip.

Dishes from across the archipelago will excite the palate including Beef Rendang, Udang Bumbu Bali (Spicy Balinese Prawns), Soto Ayam (chicken soup) and Gado-Gado.

“We want Indonesia's flavour diversity to inspire exploration of undiscovered parts of the country – like Lombok Island, Flores Island or Yogyakarta in Central Java,” Ms. Tulevski adds.

“Sydney-siders are sophisticated diners and already familiar with “Asian” food, however, a limited supply of Indonesian restaurants in Sydney combined with Australia's preference for Bali means there are thousands of flavours that foodies won't have experienced and won't want to miss!

20 dishes from across the archipelago will be available at Taste of Indonesia and live gamelan – traditional Indonesian percussion – will play this Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Taste of Indonesia is presented by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts in partnership with Wonderful Indonesia and Garuda Indonesia.

Indonesian food is among the most varied in the world. The possibilities are infinite with over 17,000 islands, 350 ethnicities and among the world's greatest variety of exotic spices, plants and marine life.

Recent research undertaken by a leading Indonesian University suggests there are over 3,200 traditional Indonesian dishes.

“Taste of Indonesia” is available during the buffet lunch from noon to 2:30 p.m. at $55 per person. The buffet dinner is available from 6 to 10:30 p.m. at $85 per person. For bookings, call (02) 9250 6000 or send an email to dine.slsn@shangri-la.com.