Tango Your Taste Buds
"Guten Appetit," say the Germans. "Bon Appetit" is the French term... and have yourself some Spanish delights: "Buen Provecho!"
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Executive Chef Christian Josef Louis and Executive Chef Alejandro Jiminez Real in action. |
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The Sorrento Restaurant at Melia Bali Villas & Spa Resort celebrated the art of Mediterranean barbecue last month, prepared in an elegant setting with style by Chef Alejandro Jimenez. And now the fiesta continues with more summer holiday delights as Executive Chef Christian Josef Louis and Executive Chef Alejandro Jiminez Real unveil authentic flavors of Spain.
So far only the Melia Bali has two of the best in the tango of Spanish cuisine, namely Chef Christian Josef Louis and Chef Alejandro Jimenez Real. Although the former is originally French, both have a great deal of experience under their belts from tenures in various grand hotels in Spain.
Without a doubt these two are behind the amalgam of food that is stunning; a mixture of Italian and Spanish dishes such as the tapas selection for starters. The menu includes everything from scallops to turkey and there are two varieties of paella with the black Paella being the most fascinating. The wine list includes excellent Italian and Spanish wines, plus of course a variety of French, Australian and Chilean wines.
Sorrento signature dishes include Tapas, Truffle and Beef Salad, T Bone "Pissaladirre", Paella, and the Spaghetti Sorrentino. Guests may find themselves lucky as they can often get the opportunity to see the chefs demonstrate how to cook Paella and the resort's famous tapas.
The Sorrento Restaurant is designed with an elegant interior; gracefully decorated with light creamy drapery hanging loose over the glass windows, providing a fantastic view of the hotel's famed gardens, pools and lotus ponds. This fine dining serves Mediterranean cuisine with a wide selection of wine from the region. A set menu is prepared daily for convenience. Guests can choose to dine inside or outside in the garden setting facing the lotus ponds and bougainvillea blossoms. Sorrento is open for dinner from 7 to 11 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. A six-course set menu and an ala Carte menu is available. The 65-seat restaurant also serves breakfast daily for villa guests.
Separately, the Melia Bali Villas & Spa Resort finds pride in their Tapas Bar that serves up the style for tropical spice in a relaxed beachside atmosphere. Traditionally, Spanish tapas are enjoyed while standing at a "tapa" bar, where those imbibing in drinks would place their plates atop their beverage glass to eat, creating a "top" or "tapa" in order to protect drinks from flies. This evolved to little plates of food served with drinks and further translates to Bali's only five-star resort tapas bar, where generous servings are partnered with fair prices and great drinks... in a beachside setting.
Melia Bali Villas & Spa Resort takes tapas to a whole new level with an Asian Tapas menu. Combining the flavors of Asia with the convenience of tapas delicacies—sample the best of yakitori, tandoori or lilit—tasteful Asian infusions to traditional Spanish Tapas treats and relish in all.
Appreciated for its "a pie de playa" (kissing-the-beach) location, Melia Bali's Sateria whips up authentic dishes in relaxing surroundings for a great lunch, snack or dinner.
Sample the simple vegetable delicacies flavored with olive oil and spices—potatoes, pimientos and onions. Go for gems from the sea—shrimp, prawns, mussels and squid... each in its own succulent seasonings. Make for the "Brocheta de ternera", choosing succulent meaty bits on skewers.
Sateria is an open-air trattoria that whips up authentic pizzas, sandwiches and snacks for lunch and fresh fish and prime cuts for dinner. The relaxing gardens and coconut palms all make it refreshingly delightful. The dinner menu sees the addition of grilled BBQ of the freshest seafood, imported meat, and tempting homemade desserts.
"Guten Appetit," say the Germans. "Bon Appetit" is the French term... and of all the common phrases that you would hear at the dining table, one that probably has the most honest meaning is the Spanish, "Buen Provecho!" as Chef Alejandro and Chef Christian say, and present, with heart. ■ Text by Nyoman Ari Gunadi, courtesy photos
Melia Bali Villas & Spa Resort, Nusa Dua
(0361) 771-510; www.meliabali.com
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