Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore--these names make one yearn for a distant, fascinatingly different culinary world. Without doubt, the Asian cuisine is centered around rice, which in its purity seems almost ascetic. On the other hand, the dishes that are served alongside the rice are characterized by a beguiling variety and are very often artistically refined. Soy and tofu, herbs and spices, fruits, coconut, bean sprouts, manioc, yam, and sweet potato are just some of the ingredients used in Southeast Asian cuisine