Culinary fest blends food, art with flair

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 11/05/2009 9:58 AM  |  Headlines

The first ever Jakarta culinary festival kicks off today with a wink and a nod to the yummy, the beautiful and the quirky.

Several of the posh restaurants and galleries in City Plaza, South Jakarta, were invaded by giant sculptures of cascading milk and red apples, along with other various artworks depicting the gastronomic world.

At a fancy dining table decorated with red rose petals inside the square, sat a glamorous yet disenchanted looking lady decked in purple, a blanched infant, and an anaemic-looking gentleman sporting big spectacles and suspenders.

“Today’s theme is the museum of fine food and arts,” said Kiki Utara, the public relations head of the Ismaya Group, a long-standing player in the food and beverage industry that is behind the event.

Thus, not only did invited guests enjoy succulent treats on opening night, but also feasted their eyes on the works of several artists participating in the event.

The one-month festival features a series of events that will take place in a number of venues across the capital, such as Social House in Central Jakarta, Puro Ristorante e Bar, and Blowfish Kitchen & Bar.

The events include cooking classes, an industry session on winery practice, and a high tea event, to name a few. Christian Rijanto, the Ismaya group’s marketing director, said the event was a good chance to show the world what Jakarta could offer in terms of the culinary.

“Hopefully we can do something good for Jakarta and the country,” he said during the opening of the event.  

Several renowned chefs, such as Chris Salans, executive chef and owner of Mozaic, Bali,  The Age’s 2002 Australia Chef of The Year Paul Wilson, owner of Sarong, Bali, Will Meyrick, as well as wine expert Nick Stock, will showcase their skills during the festival. Aldo Volpi, executive chef of Social House, who will also partake in the event, said that he would introduce a menu he created after a recent visit to his hometown.

“I thought it would be a good idea to present a dish from Sicily,” he said. The recipe combines the taste of Sicily and Indonesia, Volpi said.

Guests can RSVP to attend the events and check the website www.jakartaculinaryfestival.com
for details. (dis)

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