Ekang Village Cooking Class By PONDOK MBAH KAKONG

Your culinary journey begins with a comfortable pick-up from our meeting point in Bintan Resort Area or Ferry Terminal, whisking you away from the city center and into the lush countryside.

A short, scenic drive through green villages brings you to the PONDOK MBAH KAKONG, where you are welcomed with a warm cup coffee or herbal tea. Now, the real farm-to-table experience begins.

Equipped with a bamboo basket and a harvest knife, you will join a guided tour of the organic estate. Your guide will explain the “logic” behind Bintan farming, showing you how we create organic natural pesticides and use local plants for medicinal purposes. You will get your hands dirty harvesting the very vegetables and spices—such as long beans, chilies, and lemongrass—that you will use in your cooking class moments later.

The cooking session takes place in our open-air kitchen, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the jungle. You will be paired up at a shared cooking station, ensuring a fun and collaborative atmosphere.

The lesson starts with the foundation of all Indonesia cuisine: Opor Ayam You will learn to grind and blend this traditional spice paste using a stone mortar, unlocking the aromas of galangal, turmeric, and ginger. Under the patient step-by-step guidance of our English-speaking chefs, you will prepare a complete 6-course menu, catering perfectly to both meat-eaters and vegans alike.

We believe food tastes best when it is fresh, which is why we follow a unique “Cook-Eat-Cook-Eat” style. Instead of waiting until the very end to eat a cold meal, we break the session into stages.

You will cook your appetizers and sit down to enjoy them immediately while they are hot and crispy, chatting with your new friends. Then, you return to the pot to prepare your main courses. This relaxed flow gives you plenty of time to ask questions about village life, savor the flavors you created, and enjoy a truly immersive dining experience before the shuttle returns you to your Resort.