Helianti Hilman: Flavours of the Forgotten: Uncovering Indonesia’s Gastronomic Legends

Flavours of the Forgotten — In this powerful talk, Helianti Hilman takes us on a journey through Indonesia’s rich, diverse, and often overlooked gastronomic heritage. From plant-based salt forests in Papua to the ancient "relief-to-table" wisdom carved into the walls of Borobudur Temple, Helianti challenges our global obsession with convenience food and invites us to rediscover the ingredients, stories, and pride that lie at the heart of Indonesia’s 1,300 food cultures. She shares how rebranding traditional food isn’t just about preservation—it’s a bold, necessary move toward regenerative living, food security, and community dignity. With compelling stories, surprising ingredients (120-leaf river stew, anyone?), and grassroots experiments in "social gastronomy," this is a call to rethink what we value on our plates—and who we value in our food systems. Gastronomy as a tool for empowerment. Forgotten crops as a key to the future. Borobudur not just as a temple—but a food archive. Watch now to uncover the flavours, wisdom, and resilience of Indonesia’s living food legends.