Chocolate tradition for independence party<\/p>\n
By Mehru Jaffer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): It a long trek from the highlands of west
\nSumatra to the lobby of Jakarta's Shangri-La hotel.<\/p>\n
But it seems to have been worth the trouble -- the Rumah
\nGadang, the traditional house of the people of Minangkabau with
\nits distinctive saddle-back roof has had guests buzzing around it
\nlike bees to a hive ever since it was put on display at the hotel
\non Aug. 4.<\/p>\n
After all, this is no ordinary Rumah Gadang. It is not exactly
\nmade of honey but has been carved out of 200 kg of dark, milk and
\nwhite inedible chocolate by a team of six culinary experts from
\nthe hotel in celebration of the country's 55th Independence Day.<\/p>\n
And the only reason why less ants and more people are
\nattracted to it is because the entire made to scale structure is
\nbathed in a food spray that helps to keep the creepy-crawlies
\naway.<\/p>\n
Herry P. Torry, 44, one of the architects told The Jakarta
\nPost that the model of the rare Austronesian house is placed on a
\nbed of over 50 kg of cinnamon sticks. The rectangular structure,
\nelevated on posts, was seen as a sacred representation of man's
\nancestors and a replica of his imagination of the universe.<\/p>\n
Ever since the hotel opened in 1994, it has been commemorating
\nthe anniversary of the country's independence from colonial rule
\nwith lavish butter or compound chocolate sculptures.<\/p>\n
In 1995 a model of the entire archipelago along with all its
\nprovinces was created to mark half a century of Indonesia's unity
\nin diversity. All those who remember it still recall it as being
\nan amazing exhibit.<\/p>\n
However, Herry's favorite piece so far has been the Pinisi, a
\ntraditional boat of the Bugis people of South Sulawesi, chosen
\nfrom the scores of schooners docked at the old harbor of Sunda
\nKelapa that has been in continuous use since at least the 12th
\ncentury.<\/p>\n
It was on display in August 1996 and Herry remembered letting
\nhis imagination run wild in trying to capture all the hustle
\nbustle inside and around the magnificent, hand built boats that
\nstill line the city's northern-most docks.<\/p>\n
\"The idea is to introduce to our guests here in Jakarta a
\nlittle glimpse of interesting parts of the city and also sights
\nfrom other far flung corners of our country in a unique way,\"
\nsmiled Eka Resmiasih, communications officer.<\/p>\n
In honor of the Indonesian team participating in the Asian
\ngames in Thailand, life-sized figures of all the dozen
\nparticipants carved in butter and sugar were displayed that year
\nat the hotel.<\/p>\n
From the moment of its conception to its eventual display,
\neach project takes about two months to complete. But the actual
\nconstruction of the model is easily finished by the team of six
\nfood and beverages artistes within two weeks.<\/p>\n
Every month of Ramadan is welcomed with the model of a well
\nknown mosque from around the country. The first one to have
\nprovided inspiration was the Grand Mosque itself, at Mecca, Saudi
\nArabia.<\/p>\n
Since then mosques from Aceh, Ujung Padang and Jakarta have
\nalso held the place of pride.<\/p>\n
The model is invariably cut from styrofoam and melted
\nchocolate is used as paint while details are added in other
\nshapes and sizes either from blocks of compound chocolate or
\nbutter, along with sugar.<\/p>\n
The three dimensional human figures are always carved straight
\nfrom blocks of brown or white chocolate. Each year the models are
\nrecycled but it is not possible to eat any part of the chocolate
\nsculptures.<\/p>\n
Last year the model of the Bali Gate so impressed a guest that
\nhe was allowed to buy it.<\/p>\n
Herry who has been involved in this fascinating job for the
\npast 15 years says it is no big deal for him to make carvings
\neither of ice, butter or chocolate at any time. From a family of
\nbatik painters in Solo, Herry wanted to go modern with his art
\nunlike his father who died painting the traditional batiks.<\/p>\n
Now that he has put the last chocolate brick to the
\nmagnificent Rumah Gadang structure, his mind is already on the
\noldest Chinese mosque standing in Kota that he is expected to
\nreplicate during the coming month of Ramadan in November.<\/p>",
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