Boy ‘n’ Cow on Raya Kerobokan, is not just a steakhouse, although it is a very good one, it also does breakfast. You can go healthy with the Dragon Bowl [dragon fruit, banana blossom, raspberry puree, honey, milk, granola and fresh fruits] or Smashed Avocado on Toast [avocado with poached egg, pickled onion, cucumber, feta cheese and burnt lemon. exotic with Smoked Salmon on Sourdough [with lemon whipped cream cheese, capers and shallots], more normal with Pancakes, Spanish Omelette, Benedict or Steak & Eggs. Then there is the traditional; eggs, bacon, sausage, potato, etc in the Big Boy [single] or the Big Boy Platter for two, with the lot. My pick is called the Breakfast Run, a dry aged black Angus beef patty topped with bacon, egg and a lemon emulsion. All the steaks here are either grain or grass fed and imported from either the USA or Australia, dry aged on the premises [which you can see at their various stages of aging in the glass fronted room just inside the entrance] for up to 28 days; striploin, rib eye, tenderloin, porterhouse or just left still on the rib bone. Great coffee too!
Blanco par Mandif continues to amaze at their impressive ‘hanging off the cliff’ restaurant under the car park of the Antonio Blanco Museum, Tjampuhan, Ubud. Fine dining options with 7 and 9 course degustation menus that are also available with wine pairing. The undoubted kitchen skills of chef Mandif are on display with exotic dishes such as the Yellow Curry of Calf Brain and Tiger Prawns with cassava leaves or the 21 day aged Peking Duck. Finish with the Coconut Tart [with cinnamon custard, raisins and rum] An experience to remember.
Layang Layang is beachfront at The Fairmont, Sanur [Jln. Kesumasari]. Their Sunday Lobster Brunch has become the type of event that people travel for from afar. It is a buffet but with other courses that can be ordered off the menu [all inclusive price].
Warung Bule & Susy is simple and popular. Found on Jln. Pintas Slligita, Nusa Dua, it serves cheap food without any fuss. They serve Indonesian cuisine, eaten mainly by non-Indonesians. Sup Kepala Ikan is hot and spicy. The soup that many go here for, normally made from fish head but can also be ordered made from fish fillet. Many seafood options including a Fish Curry that is also very popular, as is the Red Rice.
Warung Chef Bagus, hidden away on Jln. Bakung Sari, in Kuta, specialises in Ribs. It is a busy little place, good value with excellent service. The Ribs are usually excellent but a word of warning about Ribs in general, Ribs are now such an integral part of so many menus in Bali that product supply is a major problem and as a result product quality can vary from day to day at the same place.
Kilo Bali is making its way on Jln, Drupadi, Seminyak, a seemingly difficult street for restaurants [judging by the many failures of even good restaurants to survive here over recent years]. Kilo Bali is an outpost for the highly successful KiIo in Kallang, Singapore. Though Kilo is quite unique as the owner is not Singaporean but from Puerto Rico which accounts for the intriguing menu. Divided into unusual sections the RAW includes a Wasabi Tuna Tartare [with avocado, sesame, shallots and chives], Spicy Salmon Sashimi [chilli flakes, mint and toasted rice], and Salmon Sushi Roll [crisp chicken skin, spiced mayonnaise, sesame, chives]. WARM includes a Chilli Prawn Pizza [tiger prawns, chilli padi and basil] Prawn Ravioli [with Sake butter cream] and Zucchini Pancakes [with goat cheese, parmesan and a balsamic glaze]. The COMFORT section of the menu has Pork Belly cooked for 24 hours served with a sweet purple potato mash and spring onions, Baked Salmon [wasabi mash, mushrooms, sesame and asparagus], Salt-Crusted Snapper [in a Saffron sauce] and a Wagyu steak for the meat lovers. VEG sides include a Roasted Beetroot Salad, Grilled Baby Romaine [quince and aged Parmesan] and Furikake Corn [nori, bonito, sesame and wasabi mayonnaise]. The final section SWEETS has Strawberries, marinated and served with basil ice cream. Pistacchio Cake with crème fraiche and lemon. Something completely different!
Cocoon, Jln. Double Six at Blue Ocean Beach, Legian, is already taking bookings for their special Melbourne Cup Day function for November 6, Cup Day in Australia. The 3 course lunch [with quite a choice of course options available] is priced at $A 110 p.p. [all prices at Cocoon are net of tax and service] and this includes free flow beverages for 3 hours from 11.00 a.m. till 2.00 p.m. There are prizes for the Best Dressed Lady and Gent and Sweepstakes, of course! All races are on the TV’s. Bookings to info@cocoon-beach.com.
Crumb and Coaster is a glass house on Jln. Benesari. Popular for breakfast, which is served all day, as it should be. Great Corn Fritters served with an avocado salsa and baby spinach, Thai sweet chilli, add bacon and/or scrambled eggs. There is a healthy Yoga Breakfast and a half healthy Big ‘Surfer’ Breakfast, a traditional Eggs Benedict and a super healthy Avocado Mash with tomato and feta on sourdough. The main menu includes many snacks; a crunchy Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich with coleslaw on sourdough, Baguette stuffed with pulled pork [cooked 6 hours] in tangy BBQ sauce and Tuna Melt Croissants. The Lunch/Dinner menu includes a Chinese style Beef in Black Bean, from Singapore a Seafood Laksa, and the English staple, Fish & Chips. From Italy a Ravioli stuffed with spinach and ricotta, sage butter sauce and sprinkled with Parmesan. Local cuisine can be curries, rendang and sate. A big range of juices, smoothies and coffees.
Gerry Williams
For more information see our website:
www.balieats.com