In its efforts to popularize the original chili flavors, Bali province is now holding the so-called "Chili Festival Bali Safari (Chibari)-III 2011", featuring more than 300 kinds of original chili flavors from all parts of Bali.
The festival which takes place from August 7 through September 7, 2011 is aimed at preserving the regional cultural treasures, said Bali Safari & Marine Park (BSMP) general manager Hans Manangsang in Denpasar on Sunday (Aug 7).
"We express gratitude for the appreciation and enthusiasm of participants from various sub-districts in Bali in this festival," he said.
Hans Manansang who is also the festival organizing committee chairman said the spicy foods have become part of Indonesia`s culinary menus.
According to him, the visitors are eager to taste hundreds of chili dishes served at the festival.
The chili flavors which were served including the locally called "sambal beruk, sambal kencur dan sambal coco pete," he said.
The chili festival conducted by the Bali Safari & Marine Park annually is one of efforts to conserve the culinary culture, Manansang said, explaining that promo prices are given to the Balinese ID card holders in order that they can enjoy hundreds of the chili flavors.
In the meantime, Bengkulu has special dish locally called "Bagar Hiu" or shark curry which is mainly obtained during the fasting month of Ramadhan.
"Although this dish is a typical food of Bengkulu, but it is relatively difficult to be found except in the fasting month," Titi, one of the Bagar Hiu sellers in a market said here last week.
Titi said it is not easy to make the shark curry, because there is a special trick to remove the shark sting smell.
The shark stench, according to her, should be cleaned with lemon and add a lot of spices to the shark.
The shark curry looks similar to the West Sumatra`s beef "rendang", but this cuisine does not use coconut milk, but roasted coconut and shark meat instead of beef.
In a bid to get a plate of shark curry, several cookings should be used such as galangal, turmeric, nutmeg, lemon grass, cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, onion, tamarind and garlic, Titi said, adding that she could sell five kilograms of the shark curry a day.
Apart from that, in West Sumatra`s town of Pariaman, among the traditional snacks which attract many buyers is the Sala Lauak, Kacemuih, Lamang Sipuluik and Lompong Sagu, said Umi Neni, a snack seller.
"Sala Lauak", the round fried yellow food is one of the Pariaman traditional snacks, made from rice flour flavored with sliced turmeric leaves ​​mixed with minced fish meat and chili.
The Sala Lauk as part of the fast breaking meals are sold in several markets in Pariaman.
In addition, among the wellknown traditional snacks in Aceh province are Timphan and Bika Aceh.
Meanwhile, in Jambi provincial district of Kerinci, one of the popular meals is "Dendeng batokok" which is made from beef.
The Dendeng Batokok is made from a soft fried veal and mashed with a stone until flat and mixed with red chili.
Kerinci has also another meal locally called Dadeh which is made from buffalo fresh milk and packed in bamboo tubes.
In South Kalimantan capital of Banjarmasin, one of the popular traditional snacks for the fast breaking is Bingka, sold in the Wandai market, which is organized by the city administration.
The Wandai market is located in front of the Banjarmasin Sabilal Muhtadin grand mosque.
Bingka is the South Kalimantan Banjar tribe typical cake, which is made from eggs, sugar and rice flour like flowers in shape.
Along with the development of the age, bingka cake now is produced in many flavors such as "tape" or sweet fermented cassava, jackfruit and potatoes.
Most visitors of the Banjarmasin Wandai market buy the Bingka cake for the fast breaking due to its sweetness believed to be efficacious to restore power quickly after fasting.
More than ten stalls at the Ramadan Wadai market sell Bingka cake with prices ranging from Rp10,000 - Rp28,000 each.
Meanwhile, in West Java provincial city of Cirebon, Kamir cake originating from the Middle Eastern country, is a highly desired meal for the fast breaking.
According to Fuad, one of the Kamir cake sellers, the kamir cake with the taste of chocolate is sold only Rp1,000 each, the kamir cake with the taste of cheese is Rp1,500 each, while kamir cake with special flavor of chocolate with cheese is Rp2,000 each.
Aside from that, Anwar Haseem, an Arab descent merchant of various snacks in Cirebon said the sale of various special Arabian snacks here during the fasting month of Ramadhan is much higher than in the other months.
In addition, the South Sumatra capital city of Palembang offers
"Ragit Palembang". It is a kind of bread from wheat flour and is eaten with curry sauce.
Ragit which is made from a mixture of flour and eggs are cooked thin and has savory taste, said Riswanti, one of the Ragit sellers in Palembang.
Ragit Palembang has become a special menu for fast breaking in this city.
(T.B003/HAJM/H-YH)
Reporter: by Bustanuddin
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
