Local homemade meals still most popular

Local homemade meals still most popular

Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakartans still prefer Indonesian food and homemade meals to
break their fast, despite the many international restaurants and
thriving franchise eateries available across the city.

For some Muslim families, the breaking of the fast is
considered an important once-a-year occasion when they,
hopefully, can sit and enjoy their favorite meals together.

And yes, everything is special during Ramadhan -- the waiting,
the togetherness and even the chore of preparing the family's
favorite snacks, drinks and dinner a few hours before sundown.

Although each family has its own unique tradition, in this
multi-ethnic and culinary melting pot of Jakarta, the residents
have developed a more Indonesian-specific menu with various kinds
of jajanan pasar (traditional snacks), tajil (treats with sweet
sauces or sweet drinks) and elaborate dishes from different parts
of the country.

"In general, people break the fast with a couple of dates and
hot tea or cendol (sweet iced drink with agar) or kolak (palm-
sugar based drink with cassava, banana or sweet potato chunks) or
other traditional drinks," said chef Bambang Hindratno, who
specializes in Indonesian food at the Dharmawangsa Hotel, South
Jakarta.

For this year's Ramadhan, the hotel kitchen at the Lobby
Lounge of the executive Bimasena Club is dishing up a wide range
of popular Indonesian drinks, snacks and food for breaking the
fast. The hotel has created an Arabian ambience by pitching a
tall tent in the restaurant and also serves one or two Mideast
treats.

There is one popular jajanan pasar commonly served to break
the fast -- sweet dates.

Dates, Bambang explained, was a must-have item for most
Muslims.

The tradition of eating dates to break the fast can be traced
back to the era of the Prophet Muhammad. It is said this sweet
treat was the first food the Prophet had to break the fast.

"They are usually eaten plain, but nowadays one can find
various treats made of dates and it is also popular as an
ingredient in other delicacies," said Bambang, who is to hold an
Indonesian food festival from Dec. 1 to Dec. 17 in Dubai.

After a simple snack to restore energy and quench their thirst
after a long day of fasting, people observe the evening magrib
prayer along with their families, friends and colleagues before
heading back to the table for specially prepared heavier meals.

Many restaurants and hotels in the capital are also featuring
these popular Indonesian dishes on their Ramadhan menus, as are
small cafes in shopping centers.

"Dinner commonly consists of popular dishes from various parts
of the country and rendang (beef cooked in chili paste and
coconut milk) beef, lontong cap gomeh (rice cakes served with
meat and vegetable side dishes and hard-boiled egg), soto (soup),
gulai (chicken or lamb in curried sauce), opor ayam (chicken
cooked in thick coconut milk) are just a few of the most popular
dishes, often appearing on dinner tables at home and at hotel
restaurants," said Bambang.

"Enjoying popular Indonesian home-cooking have become a
popular way of breaking the fast in Jakarta. Serving two or three
dishes from different regions at one meal is also common."

Apart from spending the breaking of the fast with family,
Bambang said, Ramadhan is also a special time to be shared with
friends and neighbors to strengthen bonds. Having friends and
neighbors over to break the fast is also an established tradition
among Indonesian Muslims.

There is one Ramadhan tradition that is slowly dying out in
the bustling capital, forgotten by most of its residents whose
hectic lifestyle seems to absorb all their time and energy.
This tradition, however, is still alive and can be found in areas
where communal bonds and relationships are still strong.

"It is the tradition of breaking the fast at neighborhood
mosques, when locals gladly take turns preparing dishes to be
shared with street children and other underprivileged members of
society."