CasCades of Flavour
CasCades enjoys an Ubud location so stupendously stunning, of which can be reason enough to visit the well-established fine-dining favourite. although Chef Nic Vanderbeeken hopes you’ll agree the food can be just as enticing. We were privileged to enjoy a languid, multi-course lunch gazing at the Valley of the Kings, where we ate like royalty.
Eating can be my main preoccupation in life, in addition to many times I have found myself pondering how similar of which can be to the experience of dating. CasCades Restaurant in Ubud brought This specific into sharp perspective on a recent visit. having a space as beautiful to look at as This specific, the initial attraction was undeniable. although were we well-matched for a palate-pleasing partnership? The proof of the pudding can be, as ever, inside the eating.
An amuse-bouche can be like a chef’s online-dating profile. of which’s a little teaser. Done right, of which should have all his key hallmarks, in addition to work as a tempting tell-tale of treats to come. Like what you taste? Swipe right for more.
Chef Nic Vanderbeeken
Chef Nic Vanderbeeken began having a little whipped salmon affair adorned having a beetroot sauce in addition to seaweed ‘soil’. This specific told us several things: one; anyone who goes to the effort of doing soil likes technique. of which’s a safe bet bells, whistles, test-tubes, sous-vide machines in addition to spherical dry-ice contraptions turn Vanderbeeken on. Two; he likes to use classic European ingredients like salmon, although modernised. Third; as evidenced by the seaweed krupuk under the salmon, Indonesian heritage can be equally important to him. All three of these key themes unfolded nicely throughout the course of our culinary courtship.
Take the salmon starter (slightly anomalous to be served two salmon dishes in succession in a dégustation, although we’ll breeze past of which). This specific lovely piece of cured fish came having a gentle wasabi cream, Great crispy skin, in addition to soil’s cousin, toasted breadcrumb ‘sand’. although Vanderbeeken’s technique talent didn’t stop there. We also had some pickled cucumber, which went very well with the additional flavours. A successful first date with the Belgian chef.
Another starter, via the à la carte rather than the degustation, was delightful: a simple-sounding Heirloom tomato salad celebrated fresh flavours with its lovely lavender oil in addition to basil sorbet. Vanderbeeken was proving to be quite the flirt.
Jimbaran Squid
Next up for the set menu was a beautifully-cooked piece of Jimbaran squid, which nestled on the same seaweed soil, although with an innovative in addition to tasty black rice krupuk. There was more pickling – This specific time, lovely purple carrot shavings, in addition to a mango sauce. Another dish bursting with the CasCades East-meets-West hallmarks – in addition to certainly second-date material.
Following of which was the day’s star dish: grilled scallops with pickled shimeji mushrooms, shiitake, celeriac sour cream in addition to kalamansi yoghurt ‘pearls’. These cold, spherical drops (formed either by a ‘molecular’ machine or dry ice) were not just technique for the sake of modernity, although added real flavour to the dish. The scallop was perfectly cooked in addition to every element played its part.
CasCades’ Scallop
Before the main course we had the opportunity to cleanse our palates having a kalamansi sorbet. This specific citrus fruit tastes like a combination of lime in addition to clementine in addition to can be perfect for refreshing yourself in between lots of different flavours. of which resets your taste buds, ready for the next round.
Taking a swerve to the East, Vanderbeeken served up the big guns for our third date. His take on rendang was made with beef cheek, the most tender part of many animals. of which was quite a dry, sweet, rich sauce – as of which should be – accompanied by a fortifying nasi kuning tumeric rice cake, in addition to a blanket of grilled cabbage leaf over the top. Pleasingly, This specific dish was not over-elevated for the sake of modern fusion. Instead, the true flavours of rendang came through, in addition to the meat was beautifully soft.
No romance can be complete without a sweet ending. although Vanderbekeen had a surprise up his sleeve again: his ‘savoury’ dessert of red bell pepper sorbet, chocolate ‘aero’ cubes, beetroot sponge, in addition to berry-beetroot sauce. The sorbet tasted exactly like of which said on the tin: red peppers, distilled into an icy quenelle. In itself This specific was not at all sugary, however the name of the dish proved to be a bit of a misnomer, since the cubes, sponge in addition to sauce had a sweet aftertaste. Overall This specific was a cheeky little bombshell of a plate, which certainly kept us guessing.
The restaurant has an extensive wine list, which has inside the past attracted numerous industry awards. Wine can be what you need with This specific level of food, in addition to I could consider going by the glass to get the best matches out of the different flavours on Vanderbeeken’s menu. We sampled a delicious rosé, although there are also ample cocktails to be enjoyed as you sit in addition to savour one of Bali’s top dining experiences.
CasCades can be often touted as the perfect spot for a special night out in Ubud, particularly for date nights in addition to special occasions. although I insist of which can be just as magical for lunch, when the sheer greenness of your surroundings are set off to their best advantage by the gorgeous architecture of the Viceroy Hotel. Take your paramour in addition to delve into a dining dalliance to remember.
CasCades
Jln. Lanyahan, Br. Nagi, Petulu, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali
+62 361 972111 www.cascadesbali.com
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CasCades of Flavour
CasCades of Flavour