An Evening on the Wild Side

Guests gathered on the immaculately groomed beachfront lawns around sunset and sipped Australian Sparkling; Ninth Island from Tasmania. Around 7.30pm, we were called into the main dining lobby, with two elegantly presented tables, sporting a dazzling display of antique candlesticks, laid up for 38 guests to enjoy. The Bailli Provincial de Bali, Frits Henskes, together with Bailli Delegue de Indonesie, Firdaus Siddik, welcomed the guests and introduced Dr. Helena Studdert and her husband Martin. And also our co-host and owner of Morabito Art Villa, Pascal and Marie-Eve Morabito, who had been so kind to let us use their magnificent artistic home for the evening.

The theme of an “Evening on the Wild Side” was created to introduce first of all the new Australian Ambassador to Indonesia H.E Paul Grigson, that was held in Jakarta two days before at His Excellency s residence, which we called the “Ambassadors Table” and at the same time the new appointed Consul General of Australia in Bali, Dr. Helena Studdert. It is also to introduce and showcase Australian Cuisine which has turned from a “BBQ meat eating Culture” into an amazing Gourmet destination. The new generation of chefs has been able to create menus combining Native and Fusion into their dishes that has become their “Signature” because of not only the variety but also the freshness of their local produce that cant be found anywhere else in the world. Not to mention the great wineries of “The New Word” with one of the first wineries from the Margaret River, Woodlands, that has generously provided us with the wines, and even allow us to taste from their private collection, the Watson Family Vineyard, and the Golden Award winning Woodlands Chardonnay that we cannot purchase in Indonesia.

Because of the bombing incidents in Jakarta, the Australian Chefs themselves were not able to travel and personally present the menu to us, but with the professionalism and the teamwork of two great Bali Avantgarde Chefs; Nic van der Beeken from Viceroy Ubud and Made Lugra from Ayung Resort Ubud we were able to recreate the dishes with their magic touches and presented with the same theme  “on The Wild Side” as follows;

Vive la Chaine!

La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs is the world’s oldest and most respected fine dining society, devoted to preserving and promoting camaraderie and pleasure at the dining table. The Bali chapter meets monthly and savours the many culinary offerings of the island together. Find out more at www.chaine-bali.org.