One of the best ways to understand a culture, in my opinion, is to embrace the food of the people, Indonesia is an amazing and exciting place made up of thousands of islands, each with its own distinct culture, food, and artwork. A fun way to connect with the locals and learn more about the culture is to take a cooking class, the added benefit is that you can share a part of our experience with family and friends when you get home.
A class I enjoyed was the Ketuts Bali Home Cooking Class, in the mountain town of Ubud. The city has long been a hot spot for food fans and has been featured on popular television shows, such as No Reservations. The class starts in the morning and you will need to plan on having an entire day set aside.
The class starts with the chef accompanying you to the traditional market in the town square, introducing you to the native fruits, vegetables, and spices that are used in Balinese cooking. After that market, you are taken on a guided tour of the local rice field to see the process of farming that Balinese farmers have been using for hundreds of years.
After returning from the farms you will be taken to a traditional Balinese house compound, which includes the family-owned restaurant, where the team of chefs will show you how to make traditional Balinese meals. Be expected to take part in an offering ceremony before getting started, it is a cultural tradition.
The traditional kitchen and restaurant lies on the banks of the Petanu River, providing a beautiful backdrop to enjoy a truly unique cooking class experience with the head Chef Ketut Budi. You will learn traditional Balinese cooking secrets passed down from his mother and refined in some of the top hotels and restaurants in Bali. Plus so you can take the experience home he will show you how to make dishes with ingredients common in the US and Europe.
By the time the lesson is over, you will have learned how to prepare an appetizer, a main course, and dessert, from recipes you will easily be able to duplicate your experience at home for your family and friends.
To book a cooking class contact the Ketuts Bali Home Cooking Class
Laplapan Village Ubud, Gianyar Bali - 80571 Indonesia
Website: KetutsBaliCookingClass.com
(Photos by Payuk Bali Home Cooking Class and Michael Satterfield)
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