Denpasar –
Lontong Cap Go Meh is a typical Chinese and Indonesian dish that is served during the Cap Go Meh celebration. Lontong Cap Go Meh has a deep philosophical.
Cap Go Meh comes from the word ‘cap go’ which means fifteen, and meh which means night. Simply put, Cap Go Meh can be interpreted as the fifteenth night after the Chinese New Year.
In commemorating Cap Go Meh, Chinese people usually spend time gathering with family and doing worship. The celebration that lasted fifteen days after the Chinese New Year was also required to include some typical Chinese culinary.
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One of the dishes that is usually eaten by the Indonesian Chinese family during the Cap Go Meh celebration is the Lontong Cap Go Meh.
History of Lontong Cap Go Meh
Lontong Cap Go Meh is a culinary dish that reflects the influence of reciprocity between Chinese cuisine and Indonesian culinary traditions, especially Javanese cuisine.
Along with the migration of the Chinese population to Java, there was a marriage between some of them and local women, creating a community of Chinese-Javanese descent, known as Chinese peranakan.
In this interaction, there is also a culinary adaptation that creates dishes such as Lontong Cap Go Meh.
Lontong Cap Go Meh Philosophy
Reporting from the Central Jakarta government, Lontong Cap Go Meh itself is actually no different from ordinary rice cake. The filling is similar, namely rice cake served with chicken opor, lodeh vegetables, liver fried chili, pickles, boiled eggs, koya powder, shredded beef, chili sauce, and do not forget crackers.
This food is usually served on Cap Go Meh as a symbol of happiness, success, and togetherness. It is also considered a carrier of luck.
Long lontong shape is considered to symbolize long life. While eggs symbolize luck, and coconut milk that is seasoned with golden turmeric sauce symbolizes gold and luck.
The golden yellow color in rice cake is considered a symbol of prosperity and wealth which is certainly like Chinese New Year, gold or yellow is a lucky color.
When serving Lontong Cap Go Meh, the plate that becomes a container must be fully charged, towering, with a variety of abundant side dishes and sauce indicates prayer and hope for abundant fortune. When presenting the GO MEH Lontong Cap, the plate that becomes a container must be filled, looming, soaring High, with a variety of abundant side dishes and sauce indicates prayer and hope for abundant fortune.
(NOR/NOR)
