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Ramadan special: Turkish-style iftar at Al Fanous pop-up restaurant
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Pop-up restaurant: Open only during Ramadan, Al Fanous presents selections of Middle Eastern and Indonesian-inspired dishes in a Ramadan tent with Turkish decorations. (JP/Risty Nurraisa) (JP/Risty Nurraisa)
Al Fanous’ Turkish-inspired Ramadan tent welcomes guests to break their fast with Middle Eastern dishes in a fitting ambiance.
Located on the ground floor of The Westin Jakarta on Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, West Java, Al Fanous pop-up restaurant offers an exclusive culinary experience, available during Ramadan. The dining venue, set in a tent decorated in Turkish style, serves selections of Middle Eastern and Indonesian-inspired dishes for guests to break their fast.
“Ramadan tent is familiar in the Middle East. We hope guests can enjoy iftar (the sunset meal to break the daily fast of Ramadan) with their family, friends and colleagues,” stated general manager Samit Ganguly on the opening night on April 4, which The Jakarta Post joined with selected media and other guests.
Approaching iftar time, warm Turkish tea with rock sugar is served. The food is also prepared on the buffet bar -- from starters such as falafels and lahmacu (Turkish pizza) to main courses, like tavuk sis (marinated grilled chicken kebab) and suttee balik (baked sea bass). Spiced lamb kebab, lamb chop and lamb carvings are also available.
These Middle Eastern delights are the result of the collaboration between the hotel’s executive chef Daniel Kuser and Turkish specialty chef Mustafa Oman, a guest chef from Oman.
“We try to keep [the dishes] as original and unique as possible,” stated chef Daniel Kuser to the Post, adding that some of the ingredients are sourced straight from the Middle East.
As for desserts, pastry chef Enggie Anggakusumah shared to the Post that he has personally “selected popular [sweet delights] in Turkey”, such as baklava and umali (Turkish bread pudding).
Meanwhile, the Indonesian station offers choices of satay along with fried rice and ayam Taliwang (Taliwang chicken). Assorted fritters are available for appetizers, while local sweets are also presented on the dessert bar.
Some of the dishes, as chef Daniel added, “will stay while some will be rotated” throughout Ramadan.
The sound of bedug (a large double-headed drum), which is standing at one of the corners of the restaurant, marks iftar time, followed by adzan (call to prayer). Guests who want to do maghrib (dusk) prayer can go to the prayer room on the upper level.
Don’t forget to enjoy a shisha session on the conjoining outdoor terrace for a complete Turkish night.
Al Fanous is exclusively open from 6 to 9 pm until May 2. Iftar at Al Fanous is available at Rp465,000++ (US$31.34). Contact through WhatsApp for reservations.
