RUZAIK FAROOK
COLOMBO – Colombo’s dining scene is getting a taste of Indonesia as Hilton Colombo hosts the Indonesia Food Festival which was inaugurated on 8th October and it will be continuing till 17th October from 7 pm to 10.30 pm at Graze bringing the flavours, traditions and culinary diversity of the Indonesian archipelago to Sri Lanka.
Organised in collaboration with the Embassy of Indonesia in Colombo, the festival features guest chefs Chef Rendy of DoubleTree by Hilton Jakarta – Bintaro Jaya and Chef Shandi of DoubleTree by Hilton Jakarta – Diponegoro. The chefs bring their expertise in Indonesian cuisine to Colombo, presenting a selection of traditional favourites alongside the international buffet offerings of Graze Kitchen.
The festival showcases the diversity of Indonesian gastronomy, shaped by the country’s many regional cultures, local ingredients and distinctive cooking traditions. Guests can explore a variety of dishes, including satay, rendang, martabak, lumpia, traditional Indonesian sambals, nasi goreng, nasi kuning, Soto Betawi and sop buntut. Traditional sweets and desserts, such as klepon, jenang and es teler, offer a further introduction to Indonesia’s culinary heritage.
The opening evening brought together members of the diplomatic community and invited guests for a special dinner hosted by ui Mrs. Dewi Gustina Tobing, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
In her remarks, the Ambassador highlighted Indonesia’s rich culinary traditions and the value of cultural exchange in bringing people closer together. She emphasised the role of food in fostering mutual understanding and strengthening the longstanding friendship between Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
The festival also reflects the growing importance of culinary diplomacy as a way of introducing a country’s culture to international audiences. Through its regional dishes, distinctive spices and traditional recipes, Indonesian cuisine offers visitors an insight into the archipelago’s cultural richness and diversity.
The Embassy of Indonesia expressed its appreciation to Hilton Colombo, its management and culinary teams, and the two guest chefs for their collaboration in presenting Indonesian cuisine to local diners and the international community in Colombo.
