Savoring authentic Balinese food at Bumbu Bali

Savoring authentic Balinese food at Bumbu Bali

Wahyuni Kamah, Contributor, Denpasar, Bali

Bali can spoil the taste buds of foreign tourists visiting the
island.

Italian, Chinese, German, Spanish and Japanese cuisines are
among those available in restaurants and cafes across main
tourist spots, not to mention the scores of restaurants in
upmarket hotels offering international food prepared by reputable
chefs.

Sadly, finding authentic Balinese food served in an elegant
atmosphere is not easy. Most of the time, when wanting to taste
Balinese food, one ends up in sidewalk cafes in traditional pasar
senggol (night markets), most of them specializing in babi guling
(suckling pig).

Bali boasts plenty of original cuisine, and Bumbu Bali
restaurant is one of the few place to enjoy a wide selection of
true Balinese dishes in an excellent atmosphere.

Location: Situated in Tanjung Benoa, the restaurant is far
from the hustle and bustle of the tourist areas. It can be found
on Jl. Pratama, Matahari Terbit Bungalow, Tanjung Benoa, Nusa
Dua. Phone: 0361-774 502

Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Look: The restaurant has a real Balinese atmosphere. It is
furnished just like a traditional Balinese house, down to the two
umbrellas standing on either side of the entrance.

The restaurant has four open pavilions, with pillars half
covered in black and white-checked poleng cloth. It also has an
outdoor section where diners can watch chefs prepare their food
in a traditional Balinese-style kitchen.

What's it got: All types of Balinese food, from appetizers,
soups and main dishes to dessert.

The restaurant might be the best place to find genuine
Balinese food, since the owner and chef, Heinz von Holzen, who is
the author of the Food of Bali, seems to have an inventory of
Balinese dishes so that no authentic cuisine of the island is
overlooked on the menu.

On the appetizer list you have sambal be tongkol (tuna salad),
ayam pelalah (shredded chicken with chilies and lime), satay
bebek (minced duck satay with coconut and garlic). For the soups,
you'll find soto ayam (chicken soup), gedang mekuah (green papaya
soup with seafood) and jukut ares (duck soup with banana stems).

Those who like spicy food might feel challenged by the
restaurant's varied selection. There is ayam betutu (roast
chicken in banana leaf), satay lilit (minced seafood satay on
lemongrass), kambing mekuah (lamb stew in coconut milk), hasil
laut bumbu kuning (assorted seafood in yellow coconut sauce) and
much more.

The true Balinese dessert is fruit, such as seasonal Bali
fruits. But at Bumbu Bali, the desserts are sweet dishes, known
among Balinese as jaja, like bubuh injin (black rice pudding),
jaja batun bedil (sticky rice cake in palm sugar sauce) and lak
lak (rice flour cakes with grated coconut and palm sugar syrup).

To drink, there is everything from coffee to liqueur.

Taste factor: The dishes are stylishly presented in beautiful
ceramic bowls or plates, and the chef does not try to change the
authentic Balinese taste to satisfy Western taste buds. The taste
remains genuine, similar to what you get with food cooked in a
traditional Balinese kitchen. And all of food is spicy, without
being too glaringly hot.

The tuna salad is made with fresh tuna, and if you want to
taste banana stem, try jukut ares.

The aromatic satay lilit molded on lemongrass is delicate, and
then there is the delightful kambing mekuah.

Though the desserts are similar to those found in a
traditional market, beautiful presentation tempts the appetite.
But those who like something sweet will not find the desserts as
sweet as they should be.

Price points: The food is pricey but worth it for the taste,
presentation and service. The appetizers cost from Rp 25,000 to
Rp 29,000, while the most expensive soup is Rp 28,000. The main
dishes are around Rp 40,000, with the most expensive one at Rp
90,000.

And there are the Balinese Risjttafel and Balinese Seafood
Dinners, with set menus of appetizers, soup, various main dishes,
several desserts and coffee or tea. The Balinese Risjttafel and
Balinese Seafood Dinner costs Rp 125,000. The price of the drinks
depends on your selection.

Major credit cards are accepted and prices are subject to 10
percent service charge and tax.

Verdict: It's safe to say that Bumbu Bali is the right spot to
taste authentic Balinese food. Dinner is the best time to enjoy
the restaurant, as you can dine in an open atmosphere and, on
certain days, be entertained by a cultural performance. The
location, however, is a bit secluded for those coming from
Denpasar.