Dinner for Jakarta social elite

The OASIS RESTAURANT is housed in a grand two-storey mansion built in 1928 as the private residence in the Dutch East Indies of the millionaire, F.Brandenburg van Oltsende; the owner of extensive tea, rubber and cinchona estates. Great teakwood beams span the ceilings of the room, high above a sweeping checkerboard of gleaming white and black tiles. The strong colors are softened by incandescent wall lamps and the flood of light from magnificent crystal chandeliers, and by an enormous backlit, stained-glass window designed by the Dutch artist Robert Deppe.

It depicts the Dutch humanist, Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466 - 1536), astride a horse, and the family coat of arms. With such opulence it is not surprising that the mansion was chosen by the last Governor General of the Dutch East Indies as his unofficial residence during World War II. It also became the post-war residence of the United States Naval Attache. The residence, with its beautiful garden, provided a glamorous setting for the annual Marine Ball. In 1970 the mansion gained a new lease of life as one of the finest restaurants in Indonesia. JL. Raden Saleh Raya no 47

LARA DJONGGRANG RESTAURANT is Inspired by the great 14^th century expeditions of Javanese king Hayam Wuruk and the mystical legend of Lara Djonggrang. This legend is now documented into a most uniquely romantic restaurant in Jakarta, the enthralling menu reads like a gastronomical map of the archipelago.

Every dish has its own history, and as the countless variations of rice specialties will attest, all are equally good. Artfully presented and masterfully prepared, even simple dishes such as soybean cake fried in turmeric, tamarind-marinated prawns, and Balinese fish satay get a new lease on life. Jl. Teuku Cik Di Tiro 4, Menteng, Jakarta

DAPUR BABAH ELITE is much more than merely a restaurant, it is a living museum that celebrates 'Babah' culture, the culture of the distinct group that emerged in the colonial era as result of marriages between Chinese migrants who settled in Java and the local women they took for their wives. While the newcomers retained elements of the culture of their ancestral homeland, they adapted to their local surroundings.
Jl Veteran I / 18, Jakarta Pusat 10110