Food in Bali, even for Vegans

Vegan food - just the starters - photo by Marie Bragg



The joys of eating on a trip
Photo by Marie
One of the joys of travel is the amazing food. The very last thing any traveler should do when traveling is to look for places that sell the same old food that you can get at home. I am particularly thinking of the fast food chain stores that are all over the world. If you do not taste the local food, you are seriously depriving yourself of one of the most enjoyable experiences when traveling! Indonesia and more particularly Bali is one of my wife's (Marie) and my favorite travel destinations. I have traveled a bit more extensively in Indonesia than Marie but we both really love Bali and the food in Bali.

When I travel for work, I am with local people and they really enjoy there food. I have had some wonderful experiences with them, eating the most exciting food. Very often, I am not really sure what I am eating, but it always has been fantastic. There will be a few more blogs on the food in Indonesia!

Vegan cakes
Marie and Natalie (our daughter-in-law) are both vegans so we had to look for places that offer vegan food. This was much less of a problem in Bali than in Bloemfontein. There are many vegan restaurants to choose from in the Ubud area. In fact, just across the road to our favorite hotel in all of Bali - the Bali Spirit Hotel and Spa - there is an "upmarket" vegan restaurant. I say "upmarket" in that it is a very nice place, with lovely decor, but there is a sign at the door saying, "shoes optional". I think it is more for the people who do not want to take their shoes off! They make the most delicious vegan cakes that I have ever eaten. In fact drop the "vegan". They were  the most delicious cakes I have eaten. So looking forward to going back there.


Of course, our all time favorite place to eat in Ubud is the "Three monkeys". We had eaten there on previous trips and it was a "must do" eating place on the recent wedding trip to Bali. Yes, Wedding trip! On 1 September, our son Hardy got married to Natalie in Bali. A most wonderful occasion and the topic of another blog or two. We were not disappointed by the Three Monkeys at all. The setting is just so great, looking out over a little rice field and the food is really great. Everything on the menu was fantastic and the two vegans in the party had no problem getting stuff to eat.

Vegan soup, spinach  and pumpkin,  at the Three Monkeys - photo by Marie Bragg
Photo by Marie
Another great place we found was in a shopping area in Badung in the area Benoa in Bali. The two vegans were very happy when we found that place. They even had a separate vegan menu. There was a vegan version of the Thai soup Tom Yum Koong , which was served in a young coconut. Oh yes - talking about young coconut - this is also a "must taste" thing where ever it is available. On a hot day, there is nothing quite as refreshing as the liquid found into a young coconut! 
Happy vegans

Young coconuts

Green pancake
Then, of course, there is another Indonesian special. This is the green pancakes. Yes, green pancakes! They are green because of the addition of Pandan extract which has been added. This adds a very unique and very pleasant flavour to the pancakes. Pandan is the vanilla of the East and is extracted pulp from the Pandan plant's leaf. Typically the pancakes are filled with a mixture of dried coconut mixed with palm sugar and there should be a source of caramelized  palm sugar as well. Just love it!

The Bliss Ubud Spa resort  - which I thought was the best kept secret in Bali - as it was a fantastic little hotel, tucked away in the rice fields at ridiculously cheap rates, had the most amazing breakfast options. Among the options was one which included green pancakes.   Having this with a good Bali coffee was just the perfect start to a great day in Bali.  

Who said vegan food in plain? photo by Marie Bragg
I can see that the food in Bali/Indonesia is going to grow into a few posts. There is just so much to talk about.

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