Hotels offer various dishes during Ramadhan
Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
During the holy fasting month of Ramadhan, people can break the fast either in an intimate way at home with other family members or at a friend's place.
However, there is always the other option of dining at the many hotels and restaurants in the capital, which are offering special programs especially for guests breaking their fast all through this month.
To maintain a classic, home-cooked menu, most hotels have prepared popular dishes like kolak pisang (banana cooked in coconut milk and palm sugar) and es cendol or other jajanan pasar (traditional snacks).
These programs not only offer delicious dishes but also a unique experience in breaking your fast.
At Shangri-La's Coffee Garden restaurant, people can savor popular traditional treats from across the country for breaking their fast for Rp 115,000++/per person from Sunday to Thursday and Rp 130,000++ on Friday and Saturday.
The hotel also offers a special experience with its Ngabuburit (waiting for the moment to break the fast) at the Ceria every Thursday and Friday and on national holidays during Ramadhan with a religious sermon being conducted during the meal.
This Ramadhan buffet is available for Rp 95,000++ to Rp 115,000++, and comprises different kinds of ta'jil (various sweet treats) and dates. Its Indonesian soups include soto Padang, oxtail soup and lamb soup while the main course comprises lapis daging (seasoned meat), black pepper beef and roasted chicken seasoned with dark soy sauce.
Guests can also marvel at a recently sculpted replica of Morocco's famous Hassan II, made of 150 kilograms of chocolate, on display at the hotel until Dec. 6. The replica, created by the hotel's kitchen artists team led by I Nyoman Sukardji and Heri Pujiantoro, took 20 days to complete.
Meanwhile, the Borobudur Hotel also offers the warmth of a Pasar Malam (night market) atmosphere for breaking the fast at its Singosari Poolside Restaurant. The restaurant serves different kinds of traditional dishes like soto kuali Solo (Surakarta style soup), nasi uduk (rice cooked in coconut milk served with side dishes), tongseng (lamb stirred in spicy coconut milk) and sate Padang at different traditional carts creating a night fair atmosphere at Rp 110,000++.
At Pendopo Lounge various ta'jil are being served for Rp 60,000++ every day from 5:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., while the Bogor Cafe has prepared a breaking the fast buffet for Rp 125,000++ and a set menu for sahur (early morning meal) for Rp 95,000++.
Apart from its Arabic Food Promotion happening all through Ramadhan, the JW Marriott Hotel is also offering traditional family favorite dishes, including opor ayam (chicken in coconut sauce) and sambal goreng hati (spicy fried liver) for Rp 108,000++. Both Arabic and traditional food are available at the Sailendra restaurant.
The Aryaduta Hotel Jakarta has created the Buka Puasa Bersama program, which offers a wide variety of Indonesian dishes, including jajanan pasar, soups and popular main courses for its family packages, available for Rp 85,000++. Its main course dishes include sambal goreng udang (spicy fried shrimp), ayam bumbu cabai hijau (chicken with green chili), ikan kuah kemangi (fish soup with basil) and lamb curry.
For the month of Ramadhan, the four-star Hotel Ciputra Jakarta has also come up with a special food and beverage offer consisting of both international and traditional cuisines for Rp 47,000++ at its Marble Court in the Lobby Lounge from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The hotel's international fare includes popular dishes, such as lamb kebab, cap cay (Chinese mixed vegetables), German-style potato salad and chicken terrine. Keeping close to home, soto sulung (traditional soup), gulai daging sapi (beef in spicy coconut soup), Javanese style fried rice and pepes ikan (seasoned steamed fish), are among the many items on its list of traditional dishes.