Star hotels host Betawi food festival

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)