Sari Organik, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

 

Ubud has been made famous by the best-seller Eat, Pray, Love and the subsequent movie with Julia Roberts. Still, when walking in the busy streets of central Ubud, or in the surrounding rice paddies, you are more likely to meet dogs, ducks, Balinese women carrying offerings or soccer shirts watching crops than Javier Bardem.

If not Javier Bardem, one thing you are sure to find in Ubud is fresh, organic food, with plenty of vegetarian alternatives. For those who also want to have a nice view while eating, Sari Organik, a popular warung hidden in the rice fields is a good bet.

However, if the twenty-minute walk in the rice paddies to Sari Organic is pleasant by day, at night I preferred to have my dinner delivered (most of local restaurants happen to offer a delivery service in Ubud) rather than taking the chance of being attacked by a rabid dog in the dark. I ordered a vegetarian Nasi Campur and was delighted by my choice. In addition to plain rice and sambal, I had potato cakes, fried marinated firm tofu, soft tofu curry, fried tempeh and stir-fried vegetables. Everything was cooked with fragant spices and had a gorgeous flavor that would convert anyone who considers tofu pointless.

Vegetarian nasi campur

Cost: IDR 40 000

Made's warung, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia

I have not been very adventurous during my Balinese trip and when it was time (or not) to eat, I followed the recommendations of my Lonely Planet guidebook. In the bling coastal city of Seminyak, Made's Warung is one of LP's top choices. I walked there from my guesthouse, and probably should have taken a taxi, to avoid the "Kuta Cowboys" asking me if I needed the services of a "strong driver". No thank you.

Made's Warung is a large venue with enough space to cater for large groups. I sat at a table next to the inner patio and had a carrot juice and some prawns crackers while waiting for my Nasi Campur special.

A Nasi Campur is not a specific dish. It simply means a meal of plain rice with different "sides". My Nasi Campur special included curried aubergines, green chicken curry, deep-fried tempeh, chili prawns, anchovies, cucumber salad, spinach, fried tofu, chili, curried fish, a sort of ratatouille and sambal. I may have forgotten some of the sides, but I remember how tasty and filling the whole dish was.

Nasi campur special

Cost: IDR 55 000 for the Nasi Campur special (~£4)