Rendang Among Top 15 Best Foods in the World

CNNGopublished an article last week that ranks the 50 most delectable eats on theplanet, and one of Indonesia's most popular dishes, rendang, made it onto thelist at number 11.

Unfortunately, neither nasi goreng, sate ayam nor Indomie made the culinaryhall of fame, with rendang being the spice-rich country's only native cuisineto make the cut.

The article, titled “World’s 50 Most Delicious Foods,” did not specify whatsort of criteria it used to compile the list. It only says, “we’ve scoured theplanet for what we think are 50 of the most delicious foods ever created.” Andby delicious, it suggested, “foods worth traveling the world to gorge on.”

The entry on rendang first introduces how to make the dish and what goes intoit, before explaining to the readers what rendang can do to food buffs.

“Beef is slowly simmered with coconut milk and a mixture of lemongrass,galangal, garlic, turmeric, ginger and chilies, then left to stew for a fewhours to create this dish of tender, flavorful bovine goodness.

I sure hope no vigilante group will declare war on Malaysia over this — and Ihope no Malaysians send CNN a letter claiming that rendang is actually theirs.Take this with a pinch of salt, please.

Topping the list is massaman curry from neighboring Thailand, which the articledescribes as “spicy, coconutty, sweet and savory, its combination of flavorshas more personality than a Thai election.”

Coming in at second and third place is Italy's Neapolitan pizza and Mexico'schocolate, respectively.

But the top 10 list suggests that, in the culinary world, Asian hegemonyprevails — Japan's sushi (4), China's Peking duck (5), Thai's tom yum goong (8)all made it to the top, as well as the laksa and curry.

Europe was represented by the pizza and Germany's famous hamburger, while theonly African cuisine joining the culinary elite is Gabon’s chicken muamba.

Fire Hazard from Fire Filling Portable Gas Can In vehichle

• In incidents reported to NIOSH in the US, firesspontaneously ignited when workers or others attempted to fill portablegasoline containers (gas cans) in the backs of pickup trucks equipped withplastic bed liners or in cars with carpeted surfaces. Serious skin burns andother injuries resulted.

• These fires result from the buildup ofstatic electricity. The insulating effect of the bed liner or carpetprevents the static charged generated by gasoline flowing into the container orother sources from grounding. The discharge of this buildup to the groundedgasoline dispenser nozzle may cause a spark and ignite the gasoline.

• Both ungrounded metal (most hazardous) and plastic gascontainers have been involved in these incidents, a NIOSH Hazard ID said.

Recommendations for prevention
Construction workers and others in small businesses who often work withgasoline powered equipment commonly use portable gas containers. Homeowners usegas cans for their landmowers and other equipment.

• Avoid the hazardouspractice of leaving the portable gas containers in trucks or cars whenrefueling

• Before filling, remove thecontainers from the vehicle and place them on the ground at a safe distancefrom the vehicle (provides path to dissipate static charge to ground)

• Touch the container withthe gas dispenser nozzle before removing the container lid (provides anotherpath to dissipate static charge to ground)

• Keep the nozzle in contactwith the container inlet when filling (to dissipate static charge buildup fromflow of gasoline)

Additional prevention measures include:

• Manufacturers or retailers- place a hazard label on all plastic liners being sold warning workers not tofill portable gas containers in the bed liner of the truck but always to placethe containers on the ground before filling

• Gas stations - display awarning notice near gas pumps to place all portable gas containers on theground before filling

• Manufacturers - build bedliners that can be grounded to the metal truck, thereby dissipating potentialelectrostatic charge