|
|
|
Eat Smart Culinary and Cultural Tour to Indonesia
Embark on a Tasting Adventure
with Co-Leaders Joan Peterson and William Wongso
Embark on a Tasting Adventure
with Co-Leaders Joan Peterson and William Wongso
Join us in getting to the heart of Indonesian culture through an exploration of her tantalizing cuisine. Sample the infinite variety of regional Indonesian specialties in their natural setting. Delve into the secrets of Indonesian dishes by participating in a cooking class. Also included will be talks on culinary topics and visits to bustling markets to learn about the herbs, spices and condiments that are prevalent in Indonesian cookery.
We will also see the major tourist sights, yet still have time to shop and relax along the way. You’ll come away with a knowledge of the culinary traditions of Indonesia and a deep appreciation of the magnitude of history and culture that this ancient archipelago possesses.
We will also see the major tourist sights, yet still have time to shop and relax along the way. You’ll come away with a knowledge of the culinary traditions of Indonesia and a deep appreciation of the magnitude of history and culture that this ancient archipelago possesses.
|
Sample from Previous Itinerary
Day 1 - Depart for Indonesia Day 2 - Arrive in Jakarta, Java At arrival, meet and greet your guide at the airport. Selamat datang di Jakarta! is the sentence we’ll be welcoming you with. It means “Welcome to Jakarta” in Bahasa Indonesia. Drive to hotel Grand Kemang Jakarta. Check in and relax before dinner. Welcome dinner at Namaaz Dining. Chef Andrian Ishak is a self-taught molecular gastronomy chef, expressing his love for the exquisite flavours of Indonesia. We will enjoy 15 small courses of Indonesian dishes. Beware of Namaaz Dining’s tagline : What You See is NOT What You Get! Curious about the menu? Not even their website www.namaazdining.com can help you. Because it’s all a surprise! Overnight at Hotel Grand Kemang Jakarta, a hip and trendy 4-star hotel in South Jakarta |
|
Day 3 - Jakarta to Medan, Sumatra
Morning flight from Jakarta - Medan 07:50 - 10:15 GA182 Breakfast: on plane or a breakfast box from hotel. One hour drive from airport to city. Lunch at Roma Batak Restaurant to experience the food of the Christian Batak ethnic group. Coffee after lunch at Macehat coffee. Coffee is an important export in Indonesia, and a favorite drink there. Macehat’s coffee beans are roasted to order from carefully selected Sumatran Mandailing beans. The beans are roasted only after your order is received. Check into Hotel Adimulia Medan and refresh. This elegant 4-star hotel is located in the heart of Medan’s business and shopping district. Late afternoon enjoy spring roll snacks at Popia Yose Rizal. Dinner- Enjoy dining indoors or pool side in the comfortable atmosphere at Kembang Fish Restaurant. There is a wide variety of local seafood and river fish dishes to tempt you. Overnight at Hotel Adimulia Medan, an elegant 4-star hotel located in the heart of Medan’s business and shopping district. |
|
|
Day 4 - Medan
Breakfast: depart at 8:00AM to have breakfast at two (!) different restaurants where you will sample a traditional dish at each location: Hock Seng Restaurant for Prawn Noodle, a favorite of the Chinese community in Medan. Sinar Pagi Restaurant for Soto Medan, a chicken or beef soup in a spiced-based broth, served with steamed white rice, a local specialty of Medan. Mid-morning coffee at Massa Kok Tong Coffee, a popular coffee house with several locations. Visit to old Medan Private Mansion Tjong A Fie. This Mansion, a register landmark, is a cultural heritage building and a museum. It is one of the most opulent buildings representative of the Peranakan culture in Indonesia. The Peranakans are an ethnic group descended from Chinese settlers. Bika Ambon Ratna at Ratna Bakery and Cake. Before lunch we will see how to make the popular cake called bika Ambon, a soft and chewy yeast cake originating in Medan, and enjoy a sample afterwards. Its main ingredients are tapioca flour, eggs, sugar, yeast, and coconut milk, and can have a variety of flavors. It is also called honeycomb cake because of its texture. Lunch at Peranakan Chinese Batak We will have a cooking demonstration of arsik Batak, a North Sumatran ceremonial dish of the Batak ethnic group. It is fried goldfish flavored with torch ginger, the aromatic flower buds of an herbaceous perennial plant, and andaliman, a wild Szechuan pepper with a lemony taste. Afternoon Coffee at Coffeenatics Chasiu Asan: late afternoon tasting of charsiu asan, roasted caramelized pork belly. Dinner at Taipan Chinese Restaurant, an Asian fusion restaurant. Overnight at Hotel Adimulia Medan |
|
Day 5 - Medan
8:00 Breakfast at Bihun Bebek Asie for their featured Medan specialty: Asian herbal duck soup rice vermicelli. Visit to Petisah Traditional Market for food, household goods, and much more, including traditional handicrafts of North Sumatra including wooden statues, woven bags, embroidery, and jewelry such as necklaces and bracelets. Mid-morning visit to the State Museum of North Sumatra (Gedung Arca Museum), the largest museum in North Sumatra, which includes exhibits of the cultural heritage of Indonesia, as well as art and crafts from various ethnic groups in North Sumatra. Lunch at Padang Sidempuan Restaurant for Batak Muslim Food After lunch visit to learn about Batak ulos handwoven textiles Afternoon Coffee at Warung Kopi Srikandi Dinner: Babi Panggang Tesalonika Restaurant for Batak Grilled pork andaliman Overnight at Hotel Adimulia Medan |
|
|
Day 6 - Medan - Bali
8:00 Breakfast at Dimsum Ayong Babura Restaurant 9:30 Depart for Kuala Namu Airport. Flight GA 12:25 - 19:30 Lunch on plane. Dinner at Warung Sunset for BBQ Pork Ribs made by esteemed Balinese chef, Jro Yudi. After dinner, check into Puri Santrian Beach Resort Hotel, a 4-star hotel located along the elegant Sanur coast on the tranquil southeastern end of the island. |
|
Day 7 - Bali
Early breakfast at the hotel. We will not be staying at this hotel tonight, but will return again tomorrow night. All luggage you won’t need for the day can be put in storage. 7:00 Depart for the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Jatiluwih Rice Paddies (about a 2 hour drive) You will be astounded at the beauty of the lush green paddies that cascade in terraces from the upper reaches of volcanoes down to the deep valleys below, following along the slopes of the mountain sides. The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are the best example of Bali's outstanding picturesque rice fields. Lunch at Warung Bali Tasik in Desa Les. Enjoy the view of the Tejakula traditional salt farm along the seaside in front of the warung. After lunch, enjoy a cooking class at Warung Bali Tasik where you will make three dishes. After the cooking class, check into hotel and relax until dinner. Dinner at Warung Bali Mula accompanied by the traditional music instrument tingklik, the bamboo xylophone. Overnight at Villa Pondok Ardi, a private guesthouse in Tejakula |
|
|
Day 8 - Bali
7:00 Balinese Breakfast at Restaurant Bali Mula. 8:00 Depart for Klepon Village Gianyar, after making a stop at Batur Mountain and Batur Lake on the way. The layout of this traditional village dates back to the 16th century. The homes are on either side of a long walkway. Today many of the dwellings house either small restaurants or shops. Closeby is a bamboo forest and a waterfall. Batur Mountain, an ancient volcano that is still active, is a popular hiking destination for tourists, especially at sunrise. Lake Batur is a crater lake, inside the caldera, the cauldron-like hollow that forms after a volcanic eruption of an active volcano. Late morning visit to the Puppet Museum (Setia Darma) in Ubud. Since 2006, this museum has displayed masks and puppets from different regions in Indonesia, as well as from around the world. The property is surrounded by a traditional Balinese village and rice fields. Lunch at Megibung Pak Darta and demo of making lawar, a traditional Balinese dish containing minced meat, finely chopped vegetables, fruits, grated coconut, and spices. Afternoon visit to Seniman Kopi, thee place to find good quality coffee in Ubud, no questions asked. It was founded in 2010 by Rodney Glick and David Sullivan, 2 passionate men whose backgrounds have nothing to do with coffee. Seniman (means “artist” in Bahasa Indonesia). The shop has its own artisan coffee roaster and is located on a secluded street in Ubud. Sip your perfect cup of coffee while enjoying the warm ambiance that Seniman Kopi has to offer. Leisure time for shopping in Ubud Dinner at Nusantara by Locavore Nusantara, Indonesian for archipelago, serves traditional Indonesian dishes from all over the country, and in particular, less-known regional dishes. Balinese chef Puto and his sous chefs from West Java, Medan, and North Sumatra change dishes often to keep the menu fresh. Check back into the Puri Santrian Beach Resort Hotel |
|
|
Day 9 - Bali
7:00 Breakfast at hotel 8:00 Cooking demo with Ibu Agung (chicken wrapped in coconut leaves slow-roasted overnight) Visit to Ubud Food Market Tour Morning Coffee and Balinese sweets at Manisan Ubud 12:30 Lunch at Pison Restaurant in the Alaya Hotel and Resort in Ubud Afternoon visit to Museum Neka The Neka Art Museum is unique because its collection of artworks by Balinese, other Indonesian, and foreign artists all were inspired by the natural beauty, life, and culture of Bali. Dinner at Babi Guling Ibu Suci Slingsing This restaurant is highly rated for its delicious babi guling, roast suckling pig, Bali’s most famous dish. Overnight at the Puri Santrian Beach Resort Hotel |
|
Day 10 - Bali - Lombok
Breakfast at hotel 8:30 Depart for Ngurah Rai Airport, 45 minutes 11:20 - 12:20 Bali - Lombok flight GA Lunch at Warung Sate Rembiga Bu Ririn to enjoy beef satay, marinated in sweet and spicy sauce before being grilled. It is served with bulayak, a type of rice cakes. Afternoon visit to Pura Lingsar (Lombok Hindu Temple) This temple, one of the best-known tourist attractions in Lombok, was built in 1714 by Balinese Hindus. Here the Hindu religious tradition is blended with Wektu Telu, a religion practiced by Lombok’s natives. People practicing Wektu Telu are Muslims but they are less orthodox since they do not follow many of the Muslim religious commandments and they have adopted other beliefs from Hinduism and Native animistic traditions. (Visitors to Pura Lingsar are expected to wear a sash or sarong to enter the temple. If you forget, there will be vendors outside happy to rent you appropriate clothing.) Warung Pepes Ibu Fatimah Lingsar This afternoon we will have a demo and tasting of pepes lingsar (grilled spicy fresh water fish in banana leaves) by Ibu Fatimah. Taman Narmada (option): This park was built in 1727 by the King of Mataram Lombok, Anak Agung Ngurah Karang Asem. It features a Balinese Hindu temple, tiered gardens, and a holy spring, believed to bring eternal youth to those who are devout to Lord Shiva. Taman Narmada is surrounded by rice paddies, a forest, and a lake. The park also has a swimming pool and a zip line available to guests. Before dinner, check into the Holiday Inn Resort Senggigi Beach, a tranquil 4-star property situated between tropical mountains and lovely beaches. Dinner at Ayam Taliwang Pak Udin for ayam Taliwang, grilled, butterflied chicken, which is a specialty of Lombok. Overnight at Holiday Inn Resort Senggigi Beach, a tranquil 4-star resort nestled on a pristine beach in Mangsit village. |
|
|
Day 11 - Lombok
Early Breakfast at The Holiday Inn Resort Senggigi Beach 8:00 Visit Pasar Kebon Roek, a traditional food market Morning coffee at Kopi Rinjani Lunch at Zaza Home Cooking After lunch about 1 hour drive to Pringgasela, a traditional weaving village to see various string weaving and songket (fabric embroidered with silver/gold thread) weaving. Weaving is an obligation to learn by the girls in the village. The weaving skill is part of the village’s cultural custom. Dinner at Warung Manega for BBQ seafood Overnight at Holiday Inn Resort Senggigi Beach |
|
|
Day 12 - Lombok - Jakarta
Breakfast at hotel. Visit Sade of Sasak, a traditional ethnic village on the way to the airport. 12:00 GA flight to Jakarta to catch our international flights home. |
Working closely with several Indonesian government ministries and embassies, Indonesian culinary expert William Wongso has been traveling around the world for 20 years with a sous chef and a team of cooks to showcase Indonesian cuisine. This is our second EAT SMART tour to Indonesia co-led by Mr. Wongso, who is considered one of Indonesia's national treasures. |
Joan Peterson is president of Ginkgo Press and the creator of the EAT SMART series of culinary travel guidebooks. To date she has written or co-written guides to the cuisines of Brazil, Turkey, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, Morocco, Sicily, India, Peru, Norway, and Portugal. She has traveled extensively for many years, and leads culinary tours to Turkey, Indonesia, India, Morocco, Norway, Peru, Sicily, Portugal, and Jordan. |