Star hotels host Betawi food festival
JAKARTA (JP): There are no big celebrations this year to mark Jakarta's anniversary. There are no colorful banners decorating the city's main streets.
Jakarta turned 471 on Monday. But people are understandably not in the mood for a fiesta, neither the prolonged monetary crisis nor the political situation seems much closer to being resolved. What's more, many are still upset by the riots that rocked the capital last month.
The city administration has even decided to scale down the annual one-month-long Jakarta fair; the budget has been slashed and there will be far fewer participants. The event will take place from July 4 to Aug. 2.
In fact, there are practically no signs of festivity, except in isolated places, like star-rated hotels.
Most of the prestigious hotels of the former Batavia are hosting a Betawi food festival to highlight Jakarta's anniversary.
The Jakarta Hilton International organized its Festival Betawi from June 20 to June 22 at the Sriwedari Garden Restaurant. The promotion of traditional Jakarta food such as Gado-Gado (a traditional dish of steamed beans and vegetables accompanied with a spicy peanut sauce), Kerak Telor (glutinous rice and eggs shaped like an omelette) and other traditional cookies, was accompanied by traditional dancing and music.
Likewise, the Borobudur Inter-Continental held a Pasar Jajanan Betawi (Betawi Snacks Market) at the Bogor Cafe from June 19 to June 23. This lunch and dinner buffet featured original Betawi snacks and dishes which could also be purchased. The restaurant was decorated with traditional ornaments to create a true Betawi atmosphere.
From June 19 to June 21, the Sari Pan Pacific presented the Rona Betawi (Color of Betawi) at its Restoran Fiesta: Nasi Uduk (rice cooked in coconut milk), Soto Betawi (meat and vegetable stock), Asinan (vegetables with a sweet and sour hot sauce) were among the dishes featured.
Hotel Santika Jakarta held a Betawi night on Monday. There the guests were welcomed by an Ondel-ondel (not the Betawi puppet but a fruity beverage). They could also test the Sate Mentul Betawi which is a brochette of mixed meat, shrimp paste and fruit leaves or the Pesmol Ikan Gurame (poached fish in a hot turmeric sauce).
After appreciating the supple and angular gestures performed in the colorful Betawi dances, the guests did well to end the meal with traditional desserts: pastries, dried fruits with chocolate, candied papaya or mango or fresh fruits like pineapple, melon and papaya were all served.
If you missed the above offerings, do not worry; there is at least one hotel which is still running Betawi themes.
The Hotel Omni Batavia's celebration lasts through Friday. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can sample special menus including Urap (known as a Gado-gado with grated coconut), Perkedel which is a kind of fried potato and minced meat and Tempe Goreng (fried tempeh) at the Spice Market Restaurant. (Izabel Deuff)