REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian Tourism Affairs Ministry is now organizing a festival in Seoul, South Korea, showcasing culture and culinary arts of different Indonesian regions from May 23 to 30, 2016.

The festival is being jointly organized by Conrad Hotel in Bali and Grand Hilton Hotel in Seoul, aimed at attracting South Korean tourists to Indonesia, according to Tourism Affairs Minister Arief Yahya here on Saturday.

"The Indonesian culinary skills is the nation's cultural heritage," the minister pointed out.

He also explained that the United States President, Barack Obama, who once lived in the Menteng Dalam area of South Jakarta during his childhood, was very fond of eating fried rice, locally called "nasi goreng" baso (meatballs and noodles) as well as satay.

"Even President Obama very much loved Indonesian cuisine," the minister stated.

According to Arif Yahya, the Grand Hilton's General Manager Bernhard Brender prefers Indonesian foods since the menu is extensive and the taste unforgettable.

"That's the kind of excellence we do not have. The Korean people and our guests cannot forget Indonesia. They are happy, and while eating, they keep talking about Indonesia, missing the country," the minister said, citing people in the festival organizing committee.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), during his visit to Seoul last week, came to the hotel, he noted.

The festival featured a culinary menu that included satay, gado-gado, soup, ribs soup, fried rice and chicken curry.

In addition, Indonesian cakes were served, including the lapis legit, fritters, bubur sum-sum (porridge) and fried bananas.

The festival also featured a variety of typical dances of various regions in Indonesia.

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