Gooseberry, Gang Pirta, skewers, tamarind clams, salad, vegetables, rice and sauces.Uluwatu, is high above Bngin Beach, and open for breakfast and lunch but it is dinner time when it excels most. Tasty appetisers you can enjoy with your pre-dinner martinis include their Salmon Rillettes [crisp wonton skin wrapped around cured salmon, spring onion sriracha mayonnaise and dill], or Halloumi cheese with sweet chilli, crushed chilli flakes and olive oil. Being seaside you expect many seafood dishes on the menu and there are. It can be simple [Fish & Chips, John Dory fillet in beer batter, mint pea puree, tartare and hand cut chips], strange [Prawn Caesar, grilled prawns tossed with crunchy lettuce with cured egg, herb croutons, capers and shaved parmesan] or standard [pan-seared Barramundi, herb-crusted seared Tuna] and seafood alternatives [Grilled Chicken Breast, Italian Tomato Meatballs or Gnocchi Tartufo]. Dine early, between 5.00 and 7.00, and save 15%, when happy hour prices also eist for some wine and cocktail items.
Locavore, Ubud’s famous restaurant is fast tracking the post COVID way of life, afer all members of their staff have received their 2nd vaccinations with a celebratory dinner. According to their international chef, Eelke Plasmeijer, their New Happiness 16-course Tasting Menu works the oceans, and with the land, Locavore’s farm suppliers during the dry season where there is less rain and lots of sunshine. The fruits are sweeter and the flowers brighter. Highlighting this, mangos, lobsters, passion fruits, and other products to create a menu that feels lighter and has more plant-driven flavors. Available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, the “New Happiness Menu” features animal proteins with vegetarian options available on request. The cost of all 16-courses is Rp. 1,250,000 per person, plus tax and service. The menu opens with an “edible bouquet” of crispy nasturtium leaves presented on a massive bed of wildflowers. Flower Power version 2.0 is served on a blue plate and is almost solely flowers. The varieties of wildflowers are presented in various ways – fresh, pickled, cooked, fried, kombucha, emulsion infusion, and more. This is followed by a harvest of fresh watermelon that has been slow-roasted in the oven overnight and paired with cherry tomatoes brined in tomato dashi. The result is an unexpectedly meaty, savory experience that still manages to resemble a watermelon. For the carnivores, carefully selected animal protein results in a ‘Schnitzel’ dish using beef heart, crusted in Localab koji and fried in its own fat.To further enliven the festivities, the Locavore Restaurant has been ‘vandalized with flowers’ and adorned with spray-painted accents to remind everyone that times are changing
Stardust is a popular Sanur bistro, open at the moement between 12.00 and 7.00 p.m. Mainly local cuisine with a sprinkling of international dishes as seen by the locals. All dishes are very budget-priced and are presented in innovative ways such as the Rendang Rice [braised beef cheek in a Sumatran rendang red curry sauce, fried eggs on top served on steamed rice]. As original is their Mongolian Beef Rice [stir-fried beef with scallions, red chilli and ginger also with fried eggs on top served on steamed rice]. The Sweet & Sour dish is your choice of chicken thigh, fish or pork with cucumber, paprika, onion, sesame seeds and a sweet and sour sauce, also with an egg on top of steamed rice. House special Lawar Cumi is a traditiojnal Balinese salad of squid and coconut served with jukut urab on rice. Oddballs are the Golden Fried Rice, Crispy Pork Fried Rice, Schezuan Chicken Noodle and an attempt at Thai, Pad Thai Gai [chicken].
Gracie Kelly’s is Bali’s one and only Irish Pub. It is inside the Vali Dynasty Hotel with its own special front entrance, Jln. Kartika Plazaa. Not content with just selling that special Irish drop, Guinness, they also have other beer specials [[buckets of Bintang, Prost buy one get one for free]. To eat whilst you sip they also offer a special Rp.50,000 Food Menu. Live Irish music every day from 5.00 till 9.00 only adds to the atmosphere. Beat the travel ban and visit Ireland!
Zest is Vegan, on Jln. Raya Penestenan. All dishes plant based. Sushi o, il, baRolls [Tempura Onion, Mushroom or Pumpkin], or Smoked Capsicum [with sweet potato crisp and broccoli], jackfruit [with avocado, capers and dill]. More substantial are their Burger style meals. The Teriyaki Jackfruit [pictured] is with lettuce, kim chi, tomato,crisp spinach, chipotle mayo and tartar sauce. A Schnitxel Burger is with caramelized pineapple, red cabbage, onion gravy and tartare. The Big Zest consists of a shiitake patty, iceberg lettuce, shallots and pickles, tomato sauce. They even offer Vegan Pizzas; The Thai and I [a spicy base topped with mushroom, cashew, pickled veggies, coriander, sesame oil], Naughty Napoli [notzarella, tomato, basil, garlic oil]. Mains include a Mushroom Schnitzel and a Jackfruit Steak. There are also many small snacks; Sweet Potato Wedges with a tomato sambal, BBQ Cauliflower Wings, Onion Soup and interesting breakfasts.
By Gerry Williams
For more information see our website: www.balieats.com