We first had a good version of this dish in a hawker stand in Singapore and it blew my socks off (actually it was way too hot to be wearing socks but you get the idea). For me it is the perfect stewed beef, rich, spicy and totally addictive. Its history is Indonesian in origin but it is popular throughout many of the neighbouring Southeast Asian countries and likely has roots in the cuisine of 15th century travelling Indian merchants. Rendang shares many of the same ingredients as a Massaman Tha