Local culinary delights rule at Jakarta Fashion and Food Festival

Local culinary delights such a variety of soto (soup) are on the menu at La Piazza open hall, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta during the 2009 Jakarta Fashion and Food Festival (JFFF) .

The City Tourism and Culture Agency and PT Summarecon Agung Tbk have held the annual festi-val, which will last until May 23, since 2003.

Seven kinds of soto, Chinese-Indonesian food, gado-gado, otak-otak and many other local dishes are on offer at dozens of food stalls and carts, as local food sellers and street vendors from Kelapa Gading area were invited to take part in this festival.

Visitors can also enjoy a wide selection of wine and cheeses from 10 countries until May 17.

Festival goers will experience a unique payment system, consisting of fake old bills they can use to pay for food or beverages in exchange for their real money.

"It's a lot of fun! I had to exchange my Rp 1,000 *less than US$0.1* bill for the fake Rp 1 to be able to buy food and drinks," said Nabila, a 12th-grader from a state high school.