Balinese Food
There are 2 traditional Balinese dishes you should never miss: the Babi Guling – the crispy pieces and skin of grilled pig which is a speciality of the locals and the Bebek Betutu – a tasty duck speciality, baked in banana leaves with multiple herbs and spices.
By far the best place to try a wide range of authentic Balinese dishes is the Bumbu Bali Restaurant in Tanjan Benao, right next to Nusa Dua. This highly unique and comfy restaurant opened in December 1997 by Heinz Holzen, the author of the book ‘The Food of Bali’, a must read for everyone interested in exotic cuisines. Holzen is the former grand chef of the Grand Bali and Ritz Carlton Hotel and his new restaurant is a beautiful temple totally devoted to traditional Balinese cuisine.
Inside the famous Rumah Bali, Holzen alos opened the Balinese Village Centre – a specifically designed compound used to stage cultural shows for up to 400 guests, theme parties, art exhibitions or private dinners. And in most mornings, the Village Centre is the chosen venue of Holzen’s popular Balinese Cooking School where you can watch the distillation of and even taste the home-made Rice Wine and Arak.