LIWETAN TOGETHERNESS
A bright Sunday afternoon is the perfect moment to gather and relax with friends. This time, we decided to hold a liwetan event at Ka Astri's house located in Bekasi. Her warm and comfortable house is the ideal place for this simple yet meaningful event.
TRAVEL TO BEKASI
The trip started from Jakarta. I decided to use public transportation because the roads on weekends are usually quite crowded. From home, I took the TransJakarta to the Manggarai bus stop, then continued with the commuter line train to Bekasi. This trip took about an hour.
The train was crowded, but the atmosphere inside was quite warm with many passengers who looked excited to enjoy their weekend. From Bekasi station, I continued my journey by online motorcycle taxi to Ka Astri's house. The road to her housing complex was lined with rows of shady trees that were refreshing, providing a beautiful atmosphere amidst the hustle and bustle of the city.
When I arrived at Ka Astri's house, I was greeted with a big smile and the tempting aroma of cooking. Other friends have also started to arrive, bringing joy that makes the tiredness of the journey immediately disappear.
LIWETAN: A WARMING TRADITION
Liwetan is a tradition of eating together by serving food on banana leaves that are stretched out long. Not only just eating, liwetan is also a symbol of togetherness and intimacy. The menu served this time is very complete and appetizing.
DELICIOUS LIWETAN MENU
We started by preparing various dishes that would be part of liwetan. Here is a list of the menus served:
- Grilled chicken with special spices that are perfectly absorbed is the main dish. The meat is tender and the taste is rich in spices.
- Sweet and savory corn fritters with a crunchy texture on the outside and soft on the inside, are one of the dishes that are quickly finished.
- Fried fish that is crispy on the outside but remains soft on the inside. Served with shrimp paste chili sauce that adds to its deliciousness.
- Urap Fresh boiled vegetables mixed with spiced grated coconut, giving a fresh and healthy sensation.
- Oncom cooked with spicy-sweet spices is a favorite of many people. The taste is unique and typical of Sunda.
- Fried Tempeh Savory fried tempeh is the perfect complement to the main dish. Its crunchy texture makes it run out quickly.
- Anchovies and Peanuts The combination of fried anchovies and savory and crunchy peanuts is the perfect complement.
- Lalapan Not complete without lalapan! Celery leaves and fresh cucumber slices provide a balance of flavors among the other dishes.
- Sambal is an important element in this liwetan. The spicy and fragrant special terasi sambal provides the finishing touch that makes every mouthful more memorable. There is also a slightly sweet sambal bajak and a fresh sambal matah.
WARM AND FUN ATMOSPHERE
Once the food was served, we sat in a circle, ready to enjoy this tempting dish. The banana leaves used as a base for the food added a strong traditional feel. The atmosphere became even more lively with casual chats, laughter, and nostalgia for old stories.
Ka Astri, who was the host, also welcomed us warmly. She even helped prepare some of the mainstay menus such as grilled chicken and urap. Not to forget, Ka Astri's special chili paste was a complement that made all the menus feel more special.
After eating, we continued by playing traditional games such as congklak and ludo, adding to the excitement of the event. Laughter and jokes filled the room, making us forget the time until the sun began to set.
CONCLUSION
Liwetan at Ka Astri's house is not just about food, but also about togetherness and the warmth that is created. This simple tradition reminds us of how important it is to take the time to gather and enjoy moments with loved ones. The long journey from Jakarta to Bekasi felt worth the happiness felt.
Thank you, Ka Astri, for your hospitality! Hopefully we can repeat an event like this in the future. <3
Thank you for reading my blog, see you in the next post ~
Best Regards,
Tina K Harnis.
Who is Tina K Harnis?
Welcome to Tina K Harnis's little room. She is a girl who is learning to write. She likes to do new and interesting things. She likes traveling, singing and dancing. Lately she has started to love the world of cooking, trying new recipes and sharing it on social media. She is not a celebrity but she wants others to know her well.
If you like her content, don't forget to upvote and leave a comment to show some love. You can also reblog if you want to. Also, don't forget to follow her to be updated with her latest posts. Thank you.