REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed hope that Nusantara Fish Cuisine Competition 2017 could promote various delicacies and create new recipes on seafood products.
"The chefs are encouraged to unleash their ability, so that seafood cuisines could be more popular. Not just the clams, fishes, squids, and crabs, but all seafood products could be promoted," Jokowi stated while tasting various cuisines made by the finalists of the competition at Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Tuesday.
Jokowi also stated that marine products such as fishes are loaded with nutrition, and thus, people are encouraged to increase seafood consumption.
"We have a great potential for seafood; thus, we need to increase consumption significantly. With this event, we hope that people would increase seafood consumption to receive better nutrition," he noted.
Jokowi hoped that the seafood cuisine competition would make people realize the enormous fisheries potential of Indonesia.
"Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti has taken efforts to prevent illegal fishing and increase our marine potential in order to increase fish consumption," he revealed.
The president also hopes that this competition would serve as a means to introduce various methods of cooking marine products such as fishes, squids, clams, and crabs.
"Through this contest, we can introduce to the people that fishes can even be more nutrition and more affordable than meat, beef, and steaks," Jokowi explained.
He also expressed hopes that people could learn various methods of preparing fish through this competition and not just limit themselves to frying or grilling the fishes.
"Hence, it is not just fried or grilled, there are lots of options too. I have tried fish botok, tofu squids, fish cendol, fish burger, and many others. There are so much variations," he added.
He hoped that every city or area has its own fish recipes, and thus fish consumption could be increased.
"If this event would be held in every city, it would introduce various recipe to the people there," he revealed.
The Nusantara Seafood Cooking Competition was held to explain the benefits of seafood to the people during the 72nd Independence Day celebrations.
The competition was held in five cities, namely Batam, Gorontalo, Biak, Jakarta, and Pontianak, held in July 2017.
From the competition held in five cities, 10 finalists were selected to compete in Jakarta during the Taste of Indonesia event, which was held on Aug 11, 2017.
The champion was Abdul Kadir from Pontianak with his specialized menu, White Fish Botok.
The runner up was Ruben Jeremia from Jakarta, with his cuisine Gabus Pucung With Pete Chili. The third place was grabbed by Narti Buo from Gorontalo, with his cuisine Santan Goroho Fish.
Meanwhile, the other seven finalists were Anita Attu from Gorontalo, with Santan Goroho Fish; Endang SN from Batam, with Fish Cendol; Mathelda F Maryen from Biak, with Yellow Pumpkin Clams; Non Lahibu from Gorontalo, with Gabus Fish Yellow Bamboo; Sri Ekowati from Batam, with Mackarel Cassava; Sri Sudaryani from the same area, with Lawar Squid; and Syamsudin from Pontianak, with Fish Kribang Dressing and Grated Coconut.
The event was held by National Secretariat, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Presidential Staff Office, Ministry of Tourism along with Femina Group (Primarasa.co.id), and Masak.tv.
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