Hotels offer unique holiday hampers
The end of the year is always a busy time for office workers and businesspeople to start thinking about the gifts they will give to their colleagues and loved ones. Moreover, Idul Fitri also falls in December this year, and is sure to add to the headaches.
Despite the enjoyable pastime of shopping personally for gifts, some people are simply too busy to choose one from a department store or supermarket. They instead prefer to pick up a hamper of food or other goodies.
Many hotels in the capital have also gotten into the act and are creating a wide range of beautiful hampers. Some are specially designed for Idul Fitri, while others have hampers for Christmas and New Year's.
The Gran Melia Hotel in South Jakarta is one of the hotels with hampers on sale for the three year-end celebrations. The hotel has gathered together the best of the season for celebrating Idul Fitri with its traditional hampers packed with popular items, such as kaastengel (cheese cookies), nastar (small cookies with pineapple filling), cashew nuts, lapis legit and lapis Surabaya (traditional layered cakes), homemade jams, cheese biscuits and, of course, fresh dates, all for Rp 450,000++.
Its Christmas hamper includes German Christmas stollen, cookies, smoked salmon, English tea, a gingerbread Santa, chocolate truffles, Italian Panettone, plum pudding and a festive candle with Christmas socks for Rp 620,000++. You can also choose a hamper that comes with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne for Rp 990,000++. The hotel's El Bombon offers similar hampers for Rp 399,000++ or with a bottle of French wine, Rp 480,000,++.
Hotel Mulia Senayan in Central Jakarta is working together with the Metro department store to stage the Festive Gift Gallery from Nov. 25 to Dec. 26.
Various Idul Fitri and Christmas hampers as well as festive Christmas accessories can be found at the bazaar. It sells poinsettias in pots for Rp 70,000++ each, elegant designer flower arrangements from its Blossoms flower shop from Rp 300,000++ to Rp 900,000++ and a set of pillow cases from Rp 1,100,000++ to Rp 1,650,000++. At the same time, its cake shop is preparing interesting Idul Fitri and Christmas treats.
Hotel Aryaduta in Central Jakarta is also offering a wide range of Christmas cookies, imported chocolates, cakes and special gourmet items for family gatherings this season.
The gourmet hampers include a U.S. Butterball turkey, complete with stuffing, giblets and gravy, cranberry sauce, potato gratin and brussels sprouts for Rp 750,000++, roasted Australian prime rib weighing 4 kilograms to 5 kg, black peppercorn sauce, red wine glaze, potato gratin and vegetables for Rp 1,400,000++, and orange and coriander marinated Norwegian salmon with condiments and rye bread for Rp 40,000++ per 100 grams.
There are also three different hampers with a classic Christmas stollen, large English fruit cake, Illy coffee and George Simpson plum pudding. A more expensive hamper includes Veuvee de Vernay champagne and luscious Lindt chocolates. Prices for hampers range from Rp 600,000++ to Rp 1,000,000++.
With so many hampers on offer -- from delicious cakes, flower arrangements and other items -- people will have lots of choices to choose from for that perfect gift.
-- Maria Endah Hulupi