KARACHI: With its 17,000 islands, white beaches, turquoise waters, deep jungles and active volcanoes, Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, also has a beautiful culture and traditions and, of course, delicious cuisine.

To get a chance to taste some of the country`s most popular and traditional dishes, the Karachi Marriott Hotel in collaboration with the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia organised the Indonesian Gastronomy Week, which opened here at the hotel`s Nami Zumi restaurant over the weekend and will conclude later this week.

Some of the things served, or rather the way they were served, also reminded one of Pakistani food.

Take, for instance, the Soto Madura Soup, which was served with condiments such as hard boiled eggs, fried onions, juicy limes cut into halves, sabudana fryums that resembled jalebi or amarti, if you may, though tasted like poppadoms.

There was the white rice and Nasi Gorengfried rice along with fried noodles to serve as a base for whatever you would want to pour over it.

For that you had Udang Bakar Jimbaran or prawns, Ayam Baker Bekakek or whole roasted chicken, Sate Kambing or mutton pieces served on skewers, Rendang Daging or tender caramelised meat, mix vegetables, Ayam Bakar Bunbu Rijak or spicy chicken with lots of salads, fruits and desserts for having on the side, ranging from desi Pakistani desserts such as kheer, as well as continentalsuch as puddings,pastries,etc.

Now a bit of advice when trying Indonesian food. They like spicy food. Those green bits in your Nasi Goreng fried rice are not green onions but thinly sliced small green chillies. If you are not used to spicy food, also avoid the various sauces because then even the fire brigade won`t be able to put out the fire that has started in your mouth.

Chef Abidin of Indonesia, meanwhile, beamed and smiled even more than your grandmother for trying his wholesome Soto Madura Soup. He encouraged the guests, who also included friends from various consulates and well-known socialites as well as government office holders, like Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori and Karachi Commissioner Mohammed Iqbal Memon, to try it with the condiments.

Speaking to Dawn, Chef Abidin, who had specially flown in from the United Arab Emirates for the Gastronomy Week, said that he was very happy to have found a great team of chefs to work with him in preparing the various dishes.

`They were all so enthusiastic and willing to learn from me,` he said. `I really want our food to get popular all over the world,` he added.

The Consul General of Indonesia, Dr June Kuncoro, also said that he was happy to see people enjoying delicacies from his country.

`We have several Pakistani restaurants in Indonesia but sadly there are no Indonesian restaurants here. The two that used to be in Karachi have also shut down long ago,` he shared with the hope of seeing the revival of Indonesian food in Pakistan.

Finally, dressed in traditional festive attire and headdresses, female students from Indonesia, who have been conducting research at the University of Karachi here, performed a folk dance.