The year 1945 refers to the year Indonesia declared independence and whilst there are a few restaurants still serving rijsttafel in Indonesia, this is the first restaurant to do so in Sydney. It's a step back in time to the Dutch East Indies tradition of rijsttafel or rice table, a time when the exotic spices of Indonesia were shown off in a decadent banquet that numbered forty small dishes or more. 'Our restaurant is run by three women,' Natasha explains, 'so we are all about girl power!'ġ945 is more than just girl power. Each year, her birthday is celebrated in a national public holiday.
The women is Raden Ayu Kartini, one of the first and foremost pioneers for the women's movement in Indonesia. 'Everyone thinks the woman in the painting is my grandma!' laughs 1945 head chef and co-owner, Natasha Roesli.
