InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Traditional cuisine from Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province captured the attention of foreign diplomats during the Ambassadors' Dinner held at Tugu Kunstkring Paleis in Jakarta on Tuesday (June 23). Among the evening’s standout dishes was Fate Peri, a traditional bamboo worm delicacy from Bajawa, Flores, renowned locally as a rich source of natural protein.

The dinner formed part of the Weaving Wonders textile exhibition and the Kunstkring Dialogue on Restorative Economy, bringing together diplomats, government officials, academics, and indigenous communities to promote sustainable development and cultural preservation in NTT.

Prepared using bamboo worms harvested from native bamboo groves, Fate Peri is lightly roasted and seasoned with salt, showcasing the simplicity and authenticity of indigenous culinary traditions.

Singapore's Ambassador to Indonesia, Kwok Fook Seng, described the dish as an unexpectedly enjoyable culinary experience.

"I tried it, and the taste is certainly unique, but delicious," he said in a statement received by InfoSAWIT on Thursday (June 25).

British Ambassador to Indonesia Dominic Jermey also praised the dish, offering his compliments in fluent Indonesian to the women from Wogo Village who prepared the meal.

"To the Mama Wogo who prepared this wonderful dish, I have only one word: outstanding," he remarked.

The dinner was also attended by Egyptian Ambassador Yasser Elshemy, German Ambassador Ralf Beste, Italian Ambassador Roberto Colamine, and Laura Ferko, wife of the Slovak Ambassador.

Representing the Indonesian government were Deputy Minister for Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Veronica Tan, Deputy Minister of Tourism Ni Luh Puspa, Deputy Minister of Population and Family Development Isyana Bagoes Oka, and Deputy Minister of Public Works Diana Kusumastuti.

Mama Wogo Preserve Local Food Heritage

Every dish served during the event was prepared by Mama Wogo, a women's community from the traditional village of Wogo in Bajawa. The group has become widely recognized for its bamboo-based environmental conservation initiatives while also managing community food gardens that strengthen local food security.

Beyond producing nutritious local food, the women play a significant role in preserving NTT's culinary heritage amid increasing modernization.

Forum Highlights Women's Role in Rural Development

The dinner officially opened the Kunstkring Dialogue on Restorative Economy, held from June 24–26, featuring discussions on restorative economic development, renewable energy, sustainable tourism, women's leadership in environmental conservation, and strategies for strengthening rural economies.

According to Monica Tanuhandaru, Chair of the Yayasan Bambu Lingkungan Lestari (YBLL), the forum aims to foster cross-sector collaboration to empower rural women across NTT.

She noted that despite facing challenges such as poverty, limited access to education, child stunting, and domestic violence, many women in NTT continue to produce high-value products while safeguarding their cultural traditions.

Deputy Minister Veronica Tan added that inviting members of the diplomatic community was a strategic effort to expand international support for rural communities in NTT.

"The presence of ambassadors opens greater opportunities for the works of these women to gain international recognition and reach global markets," she said.

The Weaving Wonders exhibition and Kunstkring Dialogue are collaborative initiatives involving Yayasan Bambu Lingkungan Lestari (YBLL), Penabulu Oxfam, and Yayasan Uma Nusantara, organizations that have long supported rural communities in NTT through economic, social, and environmental empowerment programs. (T2)