If You Only Try One Restaurant in Bali, Make it This One. [Migrated Post]

Pardon my phone camera pictures, but I just had to share this. This is one neat restaurant that’s greatly impressed me in a really long while. Why? Scroll all the way down for the superb details. In the meantime, enjoy the unmatched quality of Restaurant Locavore‘s food as seen from my non high-definition camera lens, hehe.

The chefs preparing their specialties, viewed from the steps outside the restaurant

From where we sat

What’s cooking this month

When the waitress saw me taking pictures of everything in sight, she kindly provided me with a handy separate menu that I can bring home. One of the many attentive and thoughtful things the staff has done during our visit …

As much as I was attracted to the Herbivore menu, I was more curious about the dishes on the Locavore menu (‘snails cooked in garlic butter’, anyone?). There are a couple of dishes on it we wanted to opt out for the night, so we each went for the 5-course dinner, sans the beverage pairing.

From here onwards, you’ll see just what defines generosity, excellence, and ultimate hospitality …

Appetizers

(complimentary)

Minty green leaf tempura reminiscent of the Japanese shiso – real crisp.

Vegetal with a kick of crunch

Herbaceous, floral, yet smooth, moist, and fatty with a sweet finish

The supplest and juiciest shiitake mushrooms I’ve ever tasted~

Turns out this vanity plant that’s been sitting on our table was meant to be eaten all along! The waitress brought salt and vinegar on the wooden serving plate, then helped me arrange the bulbous vase to take this picture.

Fresh tomatoes, tomato sorbet, tomato vinagraitte, and tomato jus all jumbled into one~ For someone who doesn’t normally enjoy any other form of tomatoes besides tomato sauce, this one is a biggie.

Grainy and mushy …

Sourdough with delicious dressings: Citrusy coconut oil, basil pesto, and chicken foie gras. The last one totally melts in your mouth T___T

Having downed all that, and we haven’t even gotten to anything on the menu yet …

Main courses

(on menu)

BEEF: Short ribs (from Malang, Java) served raw, wasabi leaf mayonnaise, bawang goreng, pickled shallots, shaved radishes, herbed brioche crouton, melting beef lard

Them pretty radishes!!! This is hubby’s dish that I personally opted myself out of, and the beef itself was a lot like carpaccio … since we both don’t particularly enjoy bawang goreng, the radish, shallots, crouton and beef were very bland. It was a great meat quality though, you can tell the cattles weren’t raised in some slaughterhouse farm.

Now I must point out something here … throughout the day, hubby has not been feeling well. His digestion is going a bit crazy, and the last thing he wanted was cold-cut meat. I guess his stomach was so uneasy it compromised his attention while reading the lengthy 7-course menu, and that it’s pure fat he’ll be getting for the night. When the waitress came to ask how was the food so far for us (one of the many times she and the manager approached our table throughout the night), hubby told her he couldn’t honestly comment on the beef dish because he’s unwell at the moment. And you know what? Without a second of hesitation, she came back to serve him a complimentary set of lemongrass-ginger tea for him to soothe his stomach. You already know how much I love tea … and together, we were utterly impressed. This is a fine dining restaurant, and judging from the dining experience we usually get from the same class of F&B businesses in Jakarta, humility and hospitality is rare.

Moving on …

MACKEREL: Mackerel (from Jimbaran, South Bali) pan-fried on pickled sour dough, cherry tomato varieties, smoked mackerel mayonnaise, basil leaves, borage flower

Not the best dish of the night … fish was too thin and dry, and flavors could’ve been better integrated.

INTO THE SAWAH … Risotto made from hi-grade rice (from Jatih Luwih, Central Bali), snails cooked in garlic butter, 64 degrees C duck egg, catfish abon, dehydrated fern tips, wild flowers

The star of our night. This is SOOOOOOOOOO friggin’ good! The most delicious risotto I’ve probably eaten in my entire life, and I suspect it’s all because those rice grains didn’t travel far from shipping and whatnot to reach Locavore’s kitchen. And the egg … I’ve never seen a half-done egg so perfectly cooked. Only through foreign eyes can we locals see, feel, and taste the true value of our local roots, and this one’s a masterpiece.

DUCK: Duck from Cyril (from Tabanon, West Bali) simply pan-fried & finished in the oven, mulberry sauce, roasted onion crème, caramelized shallots, red veined sorrel leaves

Dish so well-executed: Nothing in it was made vintage, but the combination of duck umami, deep berries, and sweet acidity brings the aroma reminiscent of a good ol’ wine to your senses.

LAMB: (We buy whole free-range lambs from Wonosobo (Central Java) and break them down ourselves. Each day we have a different cut available, cooked & served the way we like it best …) Lamb served medium-rare, neutral lamb jus, roasted Jerusalem artichokes, pickled bitter lettuce sauce, shaved bangkuang, dehydrated sea grapes

You know I don’t tolerate red meats well, but when they say neutral lamb they really meant neutral – not a hint of stink whatsoever. You only smell the mild vegetal freshness from the frothy condiment … which absorbs easily, making it a great pair with the crisp jicama and the rugged lamb meat.

Desserts

(on menu + complimentary)

CHOCOLATE: Jellied bitter chocolate ganache (made from Primo 80% chocolate), tarragon ice cream, homemade honeycomb, fresh seasonal pomelo, passionfruit curd, tarragon leaves, salty chocolate tuile

Anyone who loves a well-balanced combo of sweet grass, citrus, and chocolate would love this, not to mention so many textures in one plate!

CUCUMBER & MANGO: Mango panna cotta, pickled & compressed cucumber, white chocolate sorbet, harum manis mango, baby melon, cucamelon, mint leaves, sweet aloe vera, cucumber gel

You know how much I looooooove mangoes … so much so I don’t like it in any other form besides the fresh fruit. Yet this one’s a fresh and cooling take. The slight hint of acidity makes the minty freshness stand out. Also … such a velvety finish.

And here comes the first of the many following complimentary desserts … I don’t usually enjoy white chocolate, but this one’s thickened with pure yogurt a.k.a. the best form of dairy evahh. Just sweet enough, very tart, very comforting~

By the time this was served we thought it was all over. But more finger foods arrived at our table: Fresh rambutans, milk chocolate, and a very sugary pastry served with an even more sugary and butter-y dipping sauce (extra, extra creamy). So sinful. Personally, the chocos and cake was too sweet for me. Either that or I was already too full.

Doughnuts!! Aaahh~ They’re not as intoxicatingly sweet as they look, just the right kind of sweet, salty, and crisp.

Aaand finally … an elongated black sesame-flavored macaron~~~ I don’t like macarons, so this wasn’t really my cup of tea~

For someone who loves making stuff in the kitchen, I truly believe in the philosophy of starting with quality raw materials. Fruits, veggies, poultry, meat, and dairy products that didn’t waste days in ships and trucks to arrive at the market less fresh than it could’ve been. And speaking from my dining experience here, Restaurant Locavore is proof that the Locavore Movement is already in full gear, and a delicious and “indescribable *repeatedly shakes head*” one, in the words of an elderly bule who was waiting for his ride home with us outside.

Instead of relying on expensive imported ingredients, chefs Eelke Plasmeijer (Dutch) and Ray Adriansyah (Jakartan) decided early in 2013 to celebrate and support local producers by making homegrown ingredients central to their craft at Restaurant Locavore. Since then, they’ve celebrated countless milestones and take pride in the fact that they’re an integral part of the local community. By eating local, you can be sure the food served on your plate is chemical-free, ethically-fed, the freshest of the season and therefore, tastes the best.

For the many positive notes I’ve mentioned and more to come below, you’re more likely to secure your table by reservation only. Just the fact that it’s nested in Ubud already suggests how intimate the setting at Restaurant Locavore is going to be, so you’re sure going cozy up with your loved one here. Other than the limited space (capacitates 30 pax), you’re going to spend at least 2 hours savoring their meticulously-prepared set meals and coming out of them above and beyond satisfied. So come here with great expectations and an open heart, as I’m sure they’re still going to push your standards.

Food: ★★★★★★★★☆☆

• Locally-sourced ingredients The freshest and most delicious stock, guaranteed.

• In season By being ingredients-driven, the creative team of chefs at Restaurant Locavore are constantly innovating on their craft per season. Menu changes every month, sometimes every few weeks.

Service: ★★★★★★★★★★

• Non-intimidating A fine-dining experience unlike any other in Indonesia … you’re serviced way more than you pay for and with the kindest treatment possible.

• The very definition of attentive Warm and inviting – staff friendliness was neither pushing nor intrusive. They’re watching over our table constantly but ultra-considerate when it comes to respecting our privacy, was genuinely open to receive feedback, the whole team is blatantly passionate about what they do, knows what they’re doing, and fellow food enthusiasts individually.

• Above and beyond helpful Very happy and open to share their culinary joy. When the dishes were served, the respective chef behind each would come out to elaborate what he’s done to the craft personally. Even the manager and the waiters were knowledgeable about each dish when inquired.

Ambience: ★★★★★★★★☆☆

• Non-smoking Just the fact that it’s a non-smoking restaurant itself won over my heart.

• Intimate setting Warm, soft, dim and romantic lighting to set the mood for good food. My only complaint as a shooter was that this particular lighting isn’t the best for photo-taking sesh … and it embarrasses me whenever I go to small eateries and take pictures like it’s nobody’s business.

• Modern contemporary This is just personal, but the interior reminds you of a little townhouse on some roadside out of the city. Eclectic, comfortable, and lovely.

Quality: ★★★★★★★★★☆

• High-end Top-notch through the roof – we were so impressed by their service, we left them IDR 100,000 as a tip! And we still think they deserve way more.

Tea And Company [Migrated Post]

Don’t know about you, but I grew up preferring having my cup of tea alone. Warm matcha with dark chocolate bits have been my most loyal and trustworthy companion ever since my high school days, to soothe me in the late afternoons of crying over boys and lift me up during the boring bits of trashy novels. Throughout those years I’ve grown this intimate relationship with the entire process of preparing tea. So to say the beverage is a non-living thing is almost a sin. Much more than it is a beverage to be drunk, it’s a sensation to be felt, and nothing else in the world can compare to experiencing tea at its essence.

Of the many factors that affect the volatile essence (and consequently taste) of tea, the presence of company is one that fascinates me the most. Two commentaries from the wide array of tea books published during the Ming Dynasty 明朝 took note of this almost sacred solitary act of brewing and steeping tea, both mentioned in Chapter 4, ‘The Taste of Tea’, of Warren Peltier’s The Ancient Art of Tea: Wisdom From the Old Chinese Tea Masters. Calligrapher-painter Chen Ji Ru 陈继儒 described in his Majestic Affairs on Cliff Couch:

In tasting tea, one person can taste tea’s essence;
two people can taste tea’s delight;
three people can taste tea’s flavor;
but six or seven people together can only be called
using (drinking) tea.

Scholar Zhang Yuan 张源 further elaborated on this commentary in Record of Tea later on, stating:

Drinking tea is most valued when there are few guests;
where there is a multitude of people there is clamor;
when there is clamor tasteful interest is lacking!
Solitary sipping is called peaceful;
two guests are called elegant;
three to four people are called a delight;
five to six people are called common;
seven to eight people are called depraved.

I find these commentaries to be very true – even three is sometimes a crowd when it comes to tea, as if with every additional company, its full flavor, color, and aroma gets diluted.

There is healing when you listen to waters ripple as they flow to your teacup; there is pleasure even just watching the tea leaves expand during steeping. But as I grow older, I found that the best tea experience is when you’re having the jade nectar with your favorite tea-loving friend, immersed deep in the most intimate conversations over a leisurely cup of delight.

What about you? Do you enjoy tea more during your private hours or with a friend?



Love, Stace

H - 10 [Migrated Post]

Your trophy, your pillar, my vow.

A favorite from all the photos I took during our final technical meeting in Bali before the wedding. Something I know I'll treasure during our golden anniversary. I can literally hear God saying, "Look at them. It was I who united them, in their powerlessness and in My strength."

I mean, it's 10 friggin' days left!!!!!! Had my last gown fitting earlier yesterday, just received our senior pastor's blessings personally, going to set up our bedroom later on this weekend. Me and hubs-to-be are completely freaking out right now. Like, facing each other, shaking the other's shoulders with both hands, saying, "OMG babe, we're getting married!!!" As if it's just dawning on us.

Trust me, you don't know where life can lead you the moment you surrender and let Love in.

The Perfect Image-Bearer [Migrated Post]

The Secret History of the World by Mark Booth, page 21

To today's most advanced thinkers, academics like Richard Dawkins, the Charles Simony Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford, and other militant materialists who regulate and maintain the scientific world-view, the mind of God' is no better than the idea of a white-haired old man up above the clouds. It is the same mistake, they say, that children and primitive tribes make when they assume God must be like them - the anthropomorphic fallacy. Even if we allowed that God might conceivably exist, they say, why on earth should 'He' be like us? Why should 'His' mind be in any way like ours? The fact is that they're right. Of course there is no reason at all ... unless it's the other way round. In other words, the only reason why God's mind might be like ours is if ours was made to be like His - that is, if God made us in His image.


The Sacred History by Jonathan Black, page 176

Elijah, the Buddha, Socrates and Apollonius brought spiritual awareness and understanding to the world - the knowledge that we are all interconnected, that we should show compassion to every living thing, that we must play our part in the world's evolving. They all knew on some level what was happening and what had to happen, but it was Jesus Christ who brought the power that made it happen. He had the power to turn history on its hinges. Elijah, Buddha, Pythagoras brought faith and hope, but Jesus Christ brought love.

How to Create Happy Memories [Migrated Post]

I Know How She Does It by Laura Vanderkam, page 127-128

Fortunately, being mindful of your time – making a commitment to be there physically and mentally and enjoy life while doing so – makes memories possible. We control a lot less about our children’s outcomes in life than we think. They are their own people. But one thing parents do shape is whether kids remember their childhoods as happy. Creating a happy home is a conscious choice, as is creating a happy marriage.

Last Thoughts of A Man In Love Before He Goes To Bed [Migrated Post]

Grey by E. L. James, page 529

Lying in my bed, I pray for a dreamless sleep . . . but if I am to dream, I want to dream of her.

Neko JaLaLa~ [Migrated Post]

While we were in Akihabara 秋葉原 district, otherwise known as otaku おたく town or the birthplace of the popular girl group AKB48, we visited one of the most enchanting cat cafes in Japan, Neko JaLaLa. Contrary to what you may think, the cat cafe niche didn’t originate from Japan. Taiwan started the whole hype, but was further popularized in Japan, with now over 40 cat cafes established in Tokyo alone.

While planning our itinerary, we found Neko JaLaLa on TripAdvisor, and it’s received one of the most positive reviews from visitors. We’ve been dying to go to one of these pet cafes just because our parents forbid us to own neither cats nor dogs since forever (but once we’re married, getting a dog is one of the first things to cross off on our to-do list). A slight off from topic here: Now as I’m writing this, I’m beginning to regret we didn’t list one of the most popular niche cafes in the country, Akiba Fukurou, on our itinerary. It’s an owl cafe also in Akihabara, where we can all pretend we’re attending Hogwarts. But if you’re interested in other animals, check out the complete list of petting places you can visit at animalcafes.com.

Anyway, back to cats. You’re at the right place when you find a wooden door fittingly decorated with pictures of cats.

To prevent escapes and protect new visitors, they have a second door once you step beyond this one. On your left there’s a lady behind a sliding bamboo cage who will take your reservations. Once it’s your turn, you will be called to enter the second door. Get ready to take off your shoes and place them on the shelving units on your right.

Several ground rules before you start playing with the kitties include not bringing your own cat(s), washing your hands before you touch them, making sure you don’t have any allergies, not being drunk or violent or smoking cigarettes, no camera flash and red-light effect, and many, many more. You can pretty much guess how much care and attention these diva kitties receive on a daily basis just before entering – staff takes feline welfare very seriously. Once they invite you into the second threshold, they’ll take your drink orders, then hand you an English booklet to guide how you can interact with the cats, where I learned cats like it if you pet them super gently from the head down while they’re napping.

Drink menu includes coffees, teas, and flavored teas. Since it’s a one-drink order system, you’ll be charged with a separate bill for your next order. Time slots for your stay start at 30 minutes – it’s the slot we took and it felt like time fled:

• 30 minutes: JPY 530
• 60 minutes: JPY 1,010 M-F, JPY 1,060 Sa-S + holidays
• 90 minutes: JPY 1,490 M-F, JPY 1,590 Sa-S + holidays
• 120 minutes: JPY 1,970 M-F, JPY 2,120 Sa-S + holidays

You can still stay longer if you’ve picked the 120-minute slot – you’ll be charged JPY 530 at every 30-minute increment.

Now, the cats …

You’ll be surprised just how gentle these humongous cats are. They all weigh an average 10kg, and they all look so primped and healthy and robust. You’ll slowly see more and more cats the further you go inside, spotting one hiding behind another coming out of furniture corners, underneath bean bags, on top of counters and elsewhere in the compact room.

There are 12 cats that I’ve snapped as they lounge and move and hop around, but there are, like, 15 more  that I didn’t get a chance to either see or snap, and I really, really, really wanna see Luca and Shee! Cats not in my pictures:

1. Lala ララ (Norwegian forest)
2. Chika チカ (Munchkin)
3. Anne アン (Abyssinian)
4. Taki タキ (Ragdoll)
5. Luca ルカ (Scottish Fold) (like Dr. Olivia Benson!)
6. Ragg ラグ (Ragdoll)
7. Bell ベル (Bengal)
8. Mari マリ(Somali)
9. Batt バト (American curl)
10. Shee シィ(Persian)
11. Brit ブリ(Maine Coon)
12. Moco モコ (Munchkin)
13. Miii ミィ(American curl)
14. Yuki ユキ (Mix: Persian + American curl)
15. Coco ココ (Maine Coon)

Without further ado, here are le kitties:

Rica リカ

Hina ヒナ

Rick リク

“Do I really need a pedicure?!”

Perr ペル

“Stop staring at me, you.”

Righ ライ

Linn-chan リン, my favorite little fuzzy cat~

Shia シア

“… ahh, so this is what the hoomans drink.”

Curl カル

“Don’t you take away my fishy from me!”

Cooo クウ

Caye カイ: “What are YOU looking at?”

Maye メイ

“Chillin’~”

Jack ジャック

Evidently, this place has some super kawaii 可愛い kitties!! Though I'm still more of a dog person. Judging by this 30-minute interaction with these feline buddies, I couldn’t be more patient caring for these divas in the long run. They’ll be kings/queens of the house, they won’t shower you with licks and love once you get home from work, and most of the time, they’ll just be busy doing their own thing (read: staring, scratching, napping) and remain coldly indifferent towards you, haha

But if you’ve got time to chill and a cat-loving date to impress, the best time of the day to come to Neko JaLaLa is between 10am to 2pm, when it’s not going to be least packed with visitors. I suggest making your reservations early, as the cafe can only fit 10 humans at a time.