"We have coordinated with the operators of hotels, homestays, and other forms of accommodation regarding the kinds of traditional foods that would be introduced to the public," head of the office, Fathul Gani, said in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, on Monday.
Early reservations made by tourists give accommodation operators more time to plan traditional foods that can be introduced during their stay, with some options including the traditional main course, snacks, and drinks that can be offered to guests upon their arrival, he said.
"We need to adjust the food taste to suit European or non-Asian palates, but we will ensure that the food ingredients are available to help hotels modify the traditional foods' recipes," Gani informed.
He highlighted that in one case, the operator of Tetebatu tourism village in East Lombok District informed the agency during a recent visit that most foreign tourists visiting Tetebatu preferred traditional foods that the villagers served.
"If more tourists consume traditional foods, accommodation operators would find it easier to get the required food ingredients, since most of the ingredients for traditional foods are produced locally," the office head noted.
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Besides collaborating with accommodation operators, the agency has also readied an exhibition stand for March 18–20 for the MotoGP championship to introduce traditional foods to spectators, including foreign visitors, he said.
Gani informed out that the agency will introduce a banana blossom dish, locally known as Ares, to European audiences that know banana blossom only as a high-priced and healthy juice ingredient.
"We want MotoGP spectators from various regions and countries to know that West Nusa Tenggara has a lot of traditional foods. Besides the renowned taliwang chicken dish, spectators could also enjoy cerorot (a cone-shaped rice flour snack), nagasari cake (steamed rice flour and banana wrapped in leaves), as well as the famous banana blossom dish locally known as Ares," he said.
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Translator: Nur Imansyah, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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