Exotic taste adds spice to capital’s St. Regis hotel

Chef Made Karyasa from The Ritz-Carlton, Bali, presented delicacies at The St. Regis Beijing during the Flavors of Indonesian Spices event, which was launched on Monday night.

Working with the Indonesian embassy in Beijing, the culinary event will last until Sunday. In addition to feasts with an exotic flair, the event introduces a group of tourism destinations across the Southeast Asian country to guests.

Bali Island in Indonesia has long been one of the most popular holiday resorts among Chinese travelers. On Monday night, guests had the chance to win a two-night stay at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Bali.

Indonesia is not only famous for its more than 6,000 islands but has also been reputed as a kingdom of spices since the Middle Ages, said Djauhari Oratmangun, Indonesian ambassador to China.

Every island produces an original strain of spices, which makes Indonesian cuisine so unique and colorful, Oratmangun said.

Karyasa was born in Itamani, a mountainous area in the north of Bali. He has been working in kitchens for 20 years. Nowadays, he is recognized as one of the top chefs in Indonesia, according to the Beijing hotel.

During his week in Beijing, Karyasa will provide Chinese gourmets with dishes in an authentic Indonesian cooking style.

“The essence of Bali food, different from the other ones in Indonesia, is its reconciliation of different flavors,” Karyasa said. “When dealing with so many different spices, my secret is to stay in a free style and let it fit every guest’s tongue.”