Bali, the Paradise to Eat, Pray, Love

Welcome to Bali!

Bali was the last location (after Italy and India) for the shooting of “Eat, Pray, Love” (EPL) a major Hollywood motion picture starring Oscar winner Julia Roberts, based on a best-selling travel and personal growth memoir of  Elizabeth Gilbert. The story is about a year of change in Gilbert’s life, from divorce and depression in America, to pleasure in Italy, finding God in an India and Love in Bali.

During the shooting, Eat Pray Love fever swept over Bali. One restaurant (Naughty Nuri’s) has come up with a quirky “Eat Pay Leave” T-shirt using the same font and print as appears on the cover of the best-selling book.

One Ubud institution has remained relatively EPL-free, though not entirely by choice. Ubud Writers and Readers Festival founder Janet de Neefe says that they've invited Elizabeth Gilbert several times but conflicts have prevented her from attending. This year's seventh festival, running from October 6-10, has no explicitly EPL-themed events, though de Neefe, a restaurateur and cookbook author, says, "We do explore eating with culinary programs, and praying, including a program with a healer, and, of course, love and romance are central to literature."



With a land area of only 2,174 square miles, Bali sits in the middle of the Indonesian archipelago. Despite its small size, the island has great diversity - the beaches on the circumference, the inland artistic/cultural center in Ubud, the northern volcanic chain, as well as the beach development around the airport and the one major city of Denpasar.

There are many things famous from Bali, the beaches, the temples and also the Balinese people. But one thing you will not forget is the traditional Balinese foods. Like many other places in Indonesia, Bali has wide range of traditional foods, made from traditional ingredients, bringing you a delight taste as one of culture of Indonesia.

The Food of Bali

The staple food of Bali is white, polished rice. Nowadays cooked rice (nasi) is of the fast growing "green-revolution" variety found everywhere in Asia. The traditional Balinese rice (beras Bali) tastes better, but is restricted to a few areas and is now mainly used as a ritual food.

Though they form a major part of the diet, vegetables are considered low-status; high status foods are rice and meat. Because it expensive, however, meat is reserved for ritual occasions. Surprisingly, fish plays a relatively minor role as a source of protein. Though the seas surrounding Bali are rich, the Balinese are not avid fishermen, as the sea is considered dangerous and impure.

 
 
Snacking as a Way of Life


Although they eat meals only twice a day, the Balinese are always snacking. Women rush from the family compound into the street the minute a passing food vendor twangs the metal chime on his push cart; men stop off at their local waning shop for a coffee on the way home from the paddy fields, while school children cannot resist crisp fried crackers (krupuk) or a plate of rujak, sliced sour fruit with a sweet and pungent sauce. There are innumerable options for a quick snack: salted peanuts, huge savoury rempeyek or rice-flour biscuits with peanuts, id cakes, sweetbread rolls, candies, krupuk and many more…...

Balinese Traditional Foods

The famous traditional Balinese foods are made from chikcen, pork and duck. It is hard to find beef menu here since cow is a symbol of holiest animal in Bali. The traditional foods are all served with steam rice and some with vegetables. Most of Balinese food are made for ceremonies, but since everyone wants to taste, the foods are easily to found either in small Warungs or restaurants.

 
Ayam Betutu

Ayam Betutu is a famous Balinese dish of steamed or roasted chicken. It is a popular dish because it is highly seasoned and spiced. An even spicier version is available using extra-spicy sauce made from uncooked (raw) onion slices mixed with red chili peppers and coconut oil.



It can be found in the menu of luxury hotels or restaurants in Bali as well as in traditional 'warung makan' (food stall). It takes at least 24 hours to cook. Many travelers from other regions of Indonesia brought Betutu dishes as Balinese-gift for their families.

Babi Guling

Babi Guling or roasted Suckling Pig is a whole pig rubbed down and stuffed with bumbu bali or a mixture of chopped Balinese spices including shallots, garlic, ginger, turmeric, galangal, pepper coriander, candlenuts, chilies, and lemongrass before being roasted over an open fire for up to 5 hours. The pig is continuously turned slowly to ensure even cooking so that the meat ends up tender and juicy.


And the must-visit babi guling place in Bali is Ibu Oka’s in Ubud (which was recommended and featured by Anthony Bourdain in his show ‘No Reservation (running on cable on the Travel & Living Channel or Discovery Channel).

I have never failed to go there if I’m in the area as it’s rated best in Bali, based on word-of-mouth reviews. Even the locals flock there to get their hands on some porky goodness. in fact, when asked, most of the balinese folks will mention Ibu Oka as being the best there is.


A portion of Nasi Babi Guling Special consists of steaming hot rice, with a huge chunk of tender, succulent, melt in your mouth pork, along with its crunchy skin with other accompanying side dishes on a wax paper lined wicker basket. The flesh is so tender that it can be pulled from the bone and made all the more tasty and flavorful by the secret blend of Balinese spices. Definitely one of the best meals in Bali.


Bebek Bengil (Dirty Duck)

Wonder what “Dirty Duck” in Ubud Bali is? For tourists who are visiting the beautiful island of Indonesia, Bali, should not miss to eat “Dirty Duck”. “Dirty Duck” (famously known as “Bebek Bengil”) is actually a restaurant name in Ubud, Bali. It is very well-known for its crispy fried duck served with Indonesian vegetables and delicate sambal (chili). How does “Bebek Bengil” taste? Tasty, yummy, crispy, delicious and mouth-watering! Well at least that’s the comments from our people who recently visited Bali and tried the food.

Many said “Bebek Bengil” actually came from a secret family recipe, but they eventually shared it. The mystery behind the crispiness of the ducks is that they are marinated for 36 long hours in Indonesian herbs and spices including bay leaves, lime, ginger, galangal, coriander. Why take such long 36 hours? Well, that’s part of the secrets. Once marinated, they are steamed and then deep-fried in palm oil to get the crispy touch, then voila! The famous Bebek Bengil crispy duck is born.

 
Lawar

Lawar is very famous in Bali, with chopped of meat, vegetable, spices and coconut mixed together

Nasi Campur Bali

Nasi Campur means Mix Rice in English. Nasi Campur is one of Balinese famous food and it is easy to find everywhere. It contains a bowl of steamed rice, mix with tofu (tahu) tempe, chicken, beef , fish, peanuts and a wide selection of cooked vegetables including water spinach (kangkung) and string beans sometimes cooked with garlic and chili. Hot sambal might be added to the side of the plate, so treat any red sauce with care. Newcomers to Bali can get a decent idea of what nasi campur is like by visiting Warung Made which does a good one for IDR 25,000 (around US $ 3).

Sate lilit

Sate lilit is always connected to Bali religious ceremonies because there’s a great philosophy behind sate lilit. Lilit came from the word “kilit” or “iket” which means string or connected which means the Balinese people expect to be united forever and cannot be separated by any kind of challenge.


References:
 
- 99Bali.com
- The Food of Bali by Heinz von Holzen and Lother Arsana
- Baliguide.com
- Jakarta Post