Page 48 - Inzist Special Edition

B O N A P P É T I T

"You can't just eat good food. You've got to talk about it too."
- Anonymous

Out of the back catalogue of activities that I have grown fond of down the years in
Wellington, culinary promotion is definitely one in the top drawer. The stimulating
sense of appeal created by food in an event is always very peculiar yet compelling as it
creates conversations and builds shared comfort among the people taking part.

I am deeply thankful for the generous support extended by my wife, Dewi Yahya, in this
particular portion of diplomatic activities. We have hosted countless distinguished
guests on work-related or private functions both at the Embassy of Indonesia and at
our official residence.

Every single time the opportunity was presented, we made sure to travel the extra
mile. To use cooking terms, the secret ingredient for a successful culinary promotion
are presentation and backstory. If you manage to blend them together by adding the
right ingredients, the result will be, let’s just say, melt in one’s mouth or it makes you
say, "Mes compliments au chef.".

It is no secret that culinary promotion, also known as gastrodiplomacy, has always
been a strategic and inseparable form of soft diplomacy by most countries in the
world. It is an approach that is universally acceptable and profoundly impactful to
deepen understanding about a country or as I call it, a window to a country’s soul.

Conceptual thinking and impeccable presentation have always been my mantra.
Coming from a country where the choices of food is quite simply infinite, choosing one
then presenting it with an engaging backstory on top of its savory taste, has been a
challenge worth taking. We are proud to have been able to add that extra flavor to
Indonesia's gastrodiplomacy.

All in all, food promotion should be authentically flavored and aesthetically presented.
Au revoir.