Kerak Telor Goes to the Highest Bidder: Jakarta, Indonesia

There is just that little something that makes Indonesian omelettes so deliciously appetising. I have always been a great lover of eggs and so naturally I am a great devourer of any kind of Indonesian omelette.

In Jakarta I once tried kerak telor or traditional Betawi omelette. So, when I read about the biggest one ever made, my mouth was watering. At the Jakarta Fair recently the kerak telor was put up to the highest bidder for fundraising. Jakarta Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo bid the highest for the largest kerak telor made of duck eggs, at the city's month long Fair for the staggering price of Rp 100 million.

The 120-centimeter diameter omelette, around 100 times the normal size, served more than 50 people. The treats are usually sold for Rp 10,000 a portion. According to news portal detikcom the kerak telor was made with 479 eggs in accordance with Jakarta's 479th birthday, 20 coconuts, two kilograms of dried prawns, and seven kilograms of coconut milk, and needed 47 minutes over a coal stove.

Fauzi who has been nominated for Jakarta governor in the 2007 elections held his ground against the likes of other hungry bidders including singer Titiek Puspa and Murdaya Po, the husband of fair coordinator, Hartati Murdaya.

Titiek was prepared to pay Rp 25 million for the omelette while Murdaya was ready to let go Rp 35 million for the giant snack. Fauzi in his speech to the fair said the making of the kerak telor by four chefs showed what working together could achieve.