The Mooncake, a Symbol of Mid-Autumn Celebration

Every fifteenth day of the eight lunisolar month of the Chinese calendar, which falls on September 27 this year, the Chinese people celebrate the Mid-autumn celebration and a two day holiday. This celebration has such and importance in the Chinese history and dates back to over 3,000 years ago. The Chinese people believe a full moon is a symbol of peace, prosperity, and family reunion. On Mid-Autumn Festival night the moon is supposed to be the brightest and fullest, which is why the festival is also known as the “Day of Reunion” and the “Moon Festival”.

During the festival, it is customary to eat a reunion dinner, light up and fly some lanterns, and marvel the moon while enjoying some typical autumn food such as pumpkin, orange, occasionally roast duck, and most importantly, the mooncake.

Considered the symbol of the moon festival, the mooncake has a round shaped pastry, like the moon, with really thick paste-like filling traditionally made out of red bean, lotus paste filling, or other mix of beans. In some cases and the more luxurious types of mooncakes would also contain the yolk of a salted duck egg. And the traditional way of enjoying this dense cake is by cutting it in several wedges, and to have it over a pot of Chinese tea.

Today, there are endless creations of mooncakes around the world. Although still predominantly spread around Asia and Southeast Asia and during the moon festival especially, we now can see different kinds and colours of mooncakes, with just about anything that can be turned into a paste! Another popular rendition is the ‘snow skin’ moon cakes originating from Hong Kong, which uses glutinuous rice as the crust instead of the traditional pastry. The texture is similar to Mochi, and also commonly tinted to beautiful pastel or bright colors.

To try some of the latest mooncake creations this year, the Shangri-La Jakarta brings out pretty mooncakes with Green Tea Ganache, Sichuan Pepper Chocolate, Caramel and Ginger to the king of tropical fruits, the Durian.

In addition to the all-time classics of Double Yolk White Lotus, Pandan Seed Paste and Read Bean White Lotus, Pullman Jakarta also has some snow skin creations in their Makaron bakeshop.

Grand City Chinese Restaurant Sunlake Hotel & Merlynn Park Hotel brings out varieties choices of lotus seed paste, white lotus seed, red lotus seed, green bean & Nut and even Durian!

For gifts to your colleague and loved ones, we recommend taking one from The Dharmawangsa’s mooncake gift sets, encased in a vibrant red exclusive box adorned with beautiful blossoms motifs that makes a great gift for this special celebration.

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Tailor recommendation in Jakarta

Hi Lara and Tina,

Can you recommend a couple of tailors in Jakarta who can make women’s clothes from a picture and who have reasonable English?
Also do you know somewhere where you can find fabrics for women’s clothes that are more for day wear? I’ve found lots of fabrics for evening wear but not for day time.
Thank you so much for your help.
Kind regards,
Ros

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Hi Ros.
Thank you for your inquiry.
For seamstress:
Yanny is great for all things formal. You can find her at Jl Nipah 12 No. 2B, Kebayoran Baru at 7253 835.

Pupun has been around for many years. I myself have used her for over 13 years. You should provide your own fabric. Her shop is located in Kemang at Jl Pejaten Barat I/37. Ph: 719 6810. It’s a small side street but you will see her sign and will need to walk in from the street.

One final tip: If you have a deadline for items you are having made, add about a 1-2 week advance window to that date depending on the complexity of the clothing. This will avoid any last minute disasters.

For fabric shopping:
Did you check out
Mayestik? Alta Moda on Fatmawati near Lotto or Tanah Abang?
Mayestik: Jl Tebah III Los AKS Gunung, Kebayoran Baru.
Alta Moda: Plasa Golden Komplek, Block B 1-2 / http://ift.tt/1DMcwqY This store does cater more to high end fabrics but some shops around in the same Kompleks have a variety of every day material.
Tanah Abang: Jl KH Mas Mansyur, Jakarta PUsat

Hope all of the above tips are useful.

Lara Vaccar-Nemalceff
Senior Orientation Coordinator / Inbound Consultant
Santa Fe Relocation Services Indonesia
Email: lara.vaccar@santaferelo.com

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Rental services for party in Jakarta

Hi,

I am looking to rent some glasses/small plates and a large tent /canopy for my back yard for a party we are having. Any suggestions to what company may be able to help with that please.

Thank you, Cathy

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Dear Cathy,
I usually use Catelia decoration.
15 Jl. Ampera raya (beside Rock and roll cafe?)
Tel: 021-7802349 or 081311139994
Email; cateliadecoration@yahoo.co.id
They can speak some English too. I suggest that you visit their shop. You can see their supplies which are not expensive as well their album which have photos of their tents and past events photos for samples.

Or you can use catering company, check this listing – http://ift.tt/1O7xlTo

Goodluck!
Tina

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Wellness, Detox, Rejuvenation nearby Jakarta

Hay ladies,

I have twice been on five and seven day retreats for weight loss, detox, some spiritual rejuvenation and total cleansing. No food seven days, purely hydration, colon cleansing etc, resulting in dramatic weight loss and good conditioning. But Ione was in Ubud and one in Thailand and I just didnt have the time to travel.
Is there anywhere maybe like Bandung or nearer where a five day retreat is possible?

Please let me know if you have any ideas

Thanks.

Tim
——————–
Dear Tim,

We can suggest you to try Javana Spa at Bandung http://javanaspa.co.id/

Have great trip,
Lara & Tina

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Entertainment Program at Plataran Dharmawangsa

Address:
Jl. Dharmawangsa Raya No.6
Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan 12160
Ph. +62 21 2904 4067
Fax. +62 21 2904 4169

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‘Glamping’ Grounds Around Jakarta

There are a lot of options to escape from the concrete jungle that is Jakarta and to find lush greenery and clean unpolluted air; within just a few hours by car, you can find plenty of areas, predominantly in West Java, to be an option for a refreshing weekend getaway with your family. But instead of staying the night in the conventional hotel, why not camp? That way you can be right in the middle of nature, have more exciting experience, and can do more outdoor activities.

If you don’t feel like purchasing or hauling a camping set, or actually making we recommend trying ‘glamping’ or glamorous camping; where you will get all the fun excitement of staying outdoor, but without all the fuss of regular camping. You don’t even need to cook, make the tent, or even make your own bed!

Here is a list of ‘glamping’ grounds you can try do over the weekend:

1. Sayang Heulang (Eagle Camp), Bandung

Sayang Heulang glamping ground is located within the Dusun Bambu Leisure Park which is home to the Kampung Layung Sundanese-style villa, Cafe Burangrang, Lutung Kasarung, and Purbasari restaurant, with the view of Mount Burangrang.

Adopting a premium camp concept, Sayang Heulang or Eagle Camp is equipped with modern facilities that allow guests to feel privileged when spending the night in the open. It’s an environmentally-friendly alternative to the common hotel concept and the perfect choice of location for individuals or group camping.

Location: Jl. Kolonel Masturi KM. 11 | Situ Lembang – Bandung Barat
Phone: 022 – 8278 2020 / 022 – 8278 2021
Marketing@dusunbambu.com
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2. Tanakita Camping Ground, Sukabumi

A camping ground located in the Gede Pangrango National Park, Sukabumi. With temperature ranging from 20° – 22° C during the day, Tanakita is an ideal location to camp. As with other glamping sites, Tanakita provides the necessary equipment for a worry free and convenient camping, from tent, warm matress, sleeping bags, even a toilet and bathroom with hot running water.

Run by Rakata, the outdoor activity planner, you can also do various outdoor activiries such as river tubing, high rope, etc. Price per person is Rp. 550,000/night, already includes 3 meals and 2 snacks.

Location:
Situgunung, Kadudampit, Cisaat, Sukabumi, Jawa Barat
Contact: Jl. Lamandau IV No.17, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan 12130
Phone +6221 7200469, Fax +6221 7269761
tanakita@rakata.co.id
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The ‘Super Tuscan Wine’ Ornellaia Arrives in Jakarta

The wine connoisseurs in Jakarta will have one more selection of fine wine to their hit list, with one of the most renowned Italian wine brand, Ornellaia, finally coming to Jakarta. A premium wine produced in limited quantity in the DOC Bolgheri in Toscana, Ornellaia is commonly nicknamed the “Super Tuscan”, as although produced in Tuscany, it uses the “Bordeaux” grape varieties instead, such as the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, instead of the usual Tuscan Sangiovese grape.

“Although using similar grapes to the Bordeaux wineries, the Ornellaia vineyards in Tuscany are exposed to more sun and are closer to the sea, which in the end gives the wine more refined elegance and finesse, and gives a special edge compared to the Bordeaux wines.” Explained Patrick Lachapèle, Ornellaia’s Asia Pacific Area Export Manager during Ornellaia’s Grand Launching at Gaia Ristorante, Altitude Jakarta, 1^st September 2015. Dimatique, a leading distributors of premium wine and liquor in Indonesia, will be the sole distributor of Ornellaia in Indonesia.

At the launching, three very distinctive Ornellaia’s red wines were introduced; La Volte dell’Ornellaia 2013, Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2012, and the crème de la crème, Ornellaia 2012.

The Le Volte dell’Ornellaia is a blend of 2 Bordeaux grape varieties (Merlot and Cabernet) and the Tuscan Sangiovese.  A very juicy and approachable wine, with hints of violet, Mediterranean pepper, and berries, or as Mr. Lachapele characterized it, a wine to drink now.

The Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia is a round and powerful Bordeaux blend dominated by Merlot, with aromas of dark fruits, liquorice, a nice sweetness balanced by freshness and acidity; a wine that can age another 15 years.

And last but not least, the ‘Ornellaia’ is the flagship wine of the Estate; a Bordeaux blend dominated by Cabernet, with a profound nose of dark fruits, pepper, tobacco notes, and an extremely smooth and delicate palate;  a wine that can age another 25 years.

With its increasing wine consumption and as a one of the trend setters for the rest of Indonesia and even Southeast Asia, Ornellaia sees the chance to introduce their wine to Jakarta and Bali.  “At Ornellaia the problem is not to find a partner, as every importer in town is happy to carry these wines, but to find the right importer – one that does things in great details, and with which we have full trust and understanding of what small production & luxury actually means, and with Dimatique we talk the same language.” Patrick explains.

The Ornellaia line of exclusive red wines will be available soon in select fine dining and exclusive establishment in Jakarta and Bali first, in limited quantities. For more information on other Dimatique wines, visit dimatique.com

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