Balinese Fruits
Tropical fruits are plentiful and delicious. Bali is known for
salak, which has a brown snakeskin covering three segments, two
of which contain a large brown seed. It tastes like a cross between
an apple and a walnut. Manggis (mangos teen) is pure heaven hidden
within a thick purple-brown cover. The juicy white segments almost
melt away. In season November to March.
Warung Bali (street Stalls of Bali)
Restaurant kitchens do not necessarily have healthier food preparation
procedures than roadside warung. The important thing at a warung
is to watch and judge whether or not the cooks inspire confidence.
Warung rarely have a supply of running water, so beware.
The first portion may not fill you up, so a second portion can
be ordered by saying 'Tambah separuh" (add half portion).
But only the price is halved. The amount of food is more like
three-quarters. Finish off with a banana and say 'Sudah"
(I've had plenty, thank you). The seller will total up the prices
of what was served you and ask you how many krupuk, tempe, etc.
you added; so keep track. The total will come to between Rp3000
and Rp7,500 (30 cent to $1.25).
Vegetarianism
Say "saya tidak makan daging" (I don't eat meat), "tidak
pakai ayam"(without chicken) or "tidak pakai daging"(without
meat). Dietary restrictions are very acceptable and common due
to the various religious and spiritual practices involving food.
However, finding food that truly has no animal products is a problem.
Often meals which appear to be made exclusively of vegetables
will have a chunk of beef or chicken in them to add that certain
oomph. Tempe (fermented soybean cakes) and tahu (tofu, soybean
curd) are excellent sources of protein). |
