Unscary treats at resto Halloween parties
Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Halloween night is supposed to be the scariest night of the year with children and adults dressing up like ghosts and goblins roaming the streets for trick or treat.
While "vampires" will leave their coffins to seek out their victims, Halloween party goers in Jakarta can go out to enjoy an "unusual" dinner, offered by several restaurants and cafes.
Halloween is a holiday to celebrate pagan rituals, like human sacrifice and midnight orgies in dark woods. In reality, the celebration of Halloween, which started as a harvest and fire festival among the Celts, has been co-opted by America, with its gift for mass-producing everything from food to holidays.
And even though many Indonesians are unfamiliar with the foreign tradition, the theme sells and in the past several years special events, marking the celebration have been held by a number of restaurants, hotels and entertainment centers in major cities. Front Row Sports Grill in Taman Ria Senayan recreational complex, Central Jakarta, is one of those promoting the festivity.
"It's still a surprise but the theme chosen is among the scariest so as to ensure that visitors joining the event will have goose bumps and, of course, fun," said Sofiya Irzandach, the restaurant's banquet sales coordinator.
The restaurant will celebrate Halloween night on Oct. 31, 2002, part of its 5th anniversary festivities, dubbed "5 years, 5 days, 50 percent off".
During the first three days until Oct. 29, the restaurant offered 50 percent off for food and beverages.
A day before Halloween, the restaurant will lure dinners with classic rock songs on its Classic Rock Night on Oct. 30, featuring the 7 Years Later band.
The festivity will be wrapped up with night of Halloween during which, guests will be served by scary-looking waiters, serving "unusual" treats.
There will also be a scary sexy dancer, a fortune teller, Jamaica Cafe Acapella and prizes. Guests can wear their scariest costumes.
The restaurant has created a special Halloween set menu that includes pumpkin soup and one of three main courses.
Although there is nothing unusual to be expected from the food presentation, the restaurant chefs have promised that the menu comprises vivid-colored food to match the Halloween theme.
Two other restaurants also in Taman Ria Senayan complex, Italian restaurant Italianni's and TGI Friday also offer special Halloween set menus.
The Halloween set menu at TGI Friday, which includes appetizer, dessert, free refill of soft drinks or a glass of beer and four main courses to chose from.