Who would have thought that a kilometer trek, through a land of meticulously manicured green and lush rice fields, we would be led to a small paradise.
At Sari Organik, you are invited to pick your own vegetables in their organic veggie garden which they will then happily prepare for your lunch. If you are feeling less energetic, you can simply lounge under a Balinese coupola, accompanied by the local cats, to regale in the sumptuous menu offerings.
Sari Organik’s owners cannot promise that everything is organic on their menu but they are very particular about their suppliers and support the belief that local is the best way to go.
Kitchen waste is composted, plastic is almost non existant. Coconuts are sliced open and served at your table with a bamboo straw.
All fruit juices are prepared fresh and best of all, their bamboo straws are fully reusable.
They even sell them in packs of 10 with strict instructions on how to prepare them to last for more than one use.
They are dishwasher safe and should be stored in the freezer for best results. What a wonderful trend to introduce globally!
Now for the food…the menu is extensive and quite International in scope. Italian cuisine is the rage in Bali these days but that must be taken with a grain of salt or rice. Paul and Frederic each had the Bodag Pizza.
A signature pizza made with a rice flour base (light and crispy) and a selection of garden fresh veggies (variety changes daily depending on what is growing) and free-range chicken.
I decided to go the Balinese route… As a child, I grew up on a special treat called Nasi Gorang (a rice based Indonesian recipe) that Helena, our nanny, introduced to us. Since it was slightly spicy, we were able to replace our mealtime milk with ginger ale so Nasi Gorang was considered extra special. Sari Organik offers a Balinese Nasi Campur so I thought why not try it. I was not disappointed. It was a an explosion of sunset colours on my plate, reminiscent of the oranges and burnt ambers worn by the monks.
An array of vegetables and a bite size piece of chicken slathered in a green curry coconut sauce read like an astrological wheel. Each morsel inducing a new reaction with my taste buds. Every tasting was distinctive in flavour. All the items on the plate were served cold. The Urab, a salad of beans, carrots and spinach was one of my favorites though the chicken was also very tasty. The corn fritter had a distinct maize flavor and the two types of rice had a lovely, slightly crunchy texture.
After our filling lunch, we slowly meandered back down the path feeling totally satisfied and slightly guilty as we passed the many working women who were laden down with construction materials being transported up the path.
If you do ever find yourself in Bali, do as we did: listen to your friends when they give you advice on where to eat and thank them generously afterwards…thank you Kris and Geoff for a memorable find.
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