Traverse Middle East in 30 Days at Sailendra Restaurant, JW Marriott Jakarta

It's that time of the year again, the Ramadhan month, during which, Muslims all across the globe would fast during the day and break the fast after sun down. Well, I don't observe fasting, but this Holy month actually has its perks (for non-Muslim foodie like me), for example the abundance of special Middle Eastern themed menus at various restaurants, cafes and hotels here. One perfect place to have delectable middle eastern iftar (fast-breaking) buffet is Sailendra Restaurant at JW Marriott Jakarta.

This year, for a solid 4 weeks, JW Marriott Jakarta would take diners to taste middle eastern cuisine from 4 countries: Morocco, Turkey, Lebanon and Pakistan. And besides that, during this period, there will be live marawis performance to complete your dining experience, makes you feel like a Sheik in the land of 1001 nights. So, if you wonder what's in store for each of the 4 weeks, here's what some of the dishes look like:

1st week: 17 - 25 June, Moroccan.

Some of the dishes you would find throughout this week are: Moroccan spiced lamb shank with preserved lemon & prunes, chicken tagine with preserved lemon green olives and thyme and Moroccan meatballs with tomato. The lamb shank is extremely tender, approach this dish with caution, as you still want to leave some space for other dishes served at the buffet spread ;)

Moroccan spiced lamb shank with preserved lemon & prunes

Couscous with chicken, lemon & raisin

Moroccan meatballs with tomato

2nd week: 26 June - 2 July, Turkish.

In the second week, there will be Assorted Mezze spread (Hummus, babaganoush, fatoush, tabbouleh, zabneh feta, mutabe, imam bayildi) with pita bread, falafel, samosas, as well as fish pilaki, or fish cooked in a sauce made out of onion, garlic, carrot, potato, tomato or tomato paste, sugar, and olive oil.

Mezze spread and complimentary dates for fast-breaking

zabneh feta (feta cheese in olive oil)

tabbouleh (vegetarian) made of tomatoes, finely chopped parsley, mint, bulgur and onion, seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice, and salt

3rd week: 3 - 9 July, Lebanese.

If you see this Eggplant & Tomatoes Lebanese Beef Makloubi, think no further, just get some of it onto your plate. Makloubi or maqluba as it is better known, is actually layered pot of meat, vegetables and pilaf rice, with raisin, almond and cashew nuts, cooked upside down (maqlubi after all, means upside down in Arabic).

Beef Makloubi

4th week: 10 - 16 July, Pakistani.

Of all the middle eastern countries, I am least familiar with Pakistan. Due to its geographical proximity with India, I tended to think their cuisines are practically the same, but turns out I was wrong. Pakistani cuisine, actually receive great influences from North India and Middle East, depending on which region of Pakistan. During this week, expect to find these dishes at the buffet: Chicken Karahi, boti kebab & chapli kebab, Pakistani beef kofta & chicken.

Pakistani chicken (roasted)

Pakistani Beef Kofte (spiced meatloaf)

Sorbat Addas - Lentil soup with Arabic crouton

As for middle eastern dessert, they tend to be very sweet and have sticky texture, not all of them though. As much as I am a sweet tooth, middle eastern sweets are probably my maximum limit, so at best, I could only eat little bit of the dessert. However, I could never say no to a bowl of warm um ali, or the middle east version of bread pudding, which uses rice in place of bread.

Left: Baklava (very sweet, compacted layers of filo pastry with chopped nuts and 'glued' with more syrup of honey)
Right: um ali (rice pudding)

Since I'm secretly a lover of middle eastern food (although I'd avoid lamb, unless it's very well done), I really can't tell you which week would be best to come, because I'm sure each weeks, the chefs at Sailendra would come up with equally scrumptious feast to soothe your hungry tummies after a long day of fasting. A well earned reward dinner indeed. 

Ramadhan Buffet Dinner Price: IDR 338,000++/person *)

Open hours: breakfast, lunch & dinner hours

*) Prices are subject to Service Charge & Government Tax

Sailendra Restaurant

JW Marriott Hotel Jakarta

Jl. DR. Ide Anak Agung Gde Agung Kav E.1.2 No 1&2

Kawasan Mega Kuningan

South Jakarta - 12950

Indonesia

Ph: +6221 57988809

Click here to open in Maps

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

For live and regular updates,

stalk my Instagram: @ellynatjohnardi