One of Kuta’s best kept secrets can be found at The ANVAYA Beach Resort Bali on the quiet end of Kuta Beach. With elements of ancient Bali Aga, mystical Hindu Bali and Modern Bali combined with contemporary facilities and services, this family-friendly resort is a treasure trove of delights, as well as being home to Pastry Chef Yuyun Mardojo.
Passionate and talented, Chef Yuyun creates all the sweets, desserts and chocolates in the restaurants, for events and the turn-down service, as well as serving two delectable afternoon tea sets – one is a classic western style that includes perfect, unmissable English scones, while the other presents local treats.
Determined to make Indonesian flavours irresistible for international guests, Chef Yuyun’s traditional sweets are as pretty as French pastries, while retaining the original taste, while others marry flavours like pandan with bananas and chocolate, or kaffir lime with coconut for creations that tempt all nationalities. Found at Kunyit, Sands and on the ocean-facing decks, don’t miss this excellence, and look out for the liquor ice creams too.
E: Can you tell us about your concepts behind the desserts and sweets at The ANVAYA Beach Resort Bali?
Yuyun: I’ve worked with chefs from around the world, as well as in Thailand, and gathered experience and recipes not only from them, but also seen what people from different countries like. It’s important as a chef to put aside your ego and focus on your market. Here, the resort promotes the beauty of local art and culture, so I use local flavours in my creations.
E: What are your top three desserts or cakes at the resort?
Y: The top seller is the Pandan Banana Chocolate cake at Sands. Pandan has a lovely fragrance and is widely used in Indonesia, so I use a layer of pandan, topped with lightly caramelised bananas in custard, then chocolate mousse, all wrapped in chocolate, then decorate it so it’s on trend.
Our assorted traditional snacks are also very popular and I love making them look good to trigger curiosity and tempt our foreign guests. Another creation is a lighter version of a very traditional Balinese sweet, Batun Bedil, which is rice flour dumplings in palm sugar syrup, but I add coconut and kaffir lime sorbet, which maintains the traditional flavours, but makes it more acceptable to guests today, both local and foreign.
E: If you could only have one dessert for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Y: Actually, although I can make any dessert, I love vanilla pudding made with agar-agar. It’s so soothing, cooling and easy to digest.
MUST TRY
- Traditional Sweets
- Pandan Banana Chocolate cake
- Batun Bedil
The ANVAYA Beach Resort Bali
Jalan Kartika Plaza, Tuban, Kuta
Bali 80361, Indonesia
T: (+62) 361759991
E: reservation@theanvayabali.com
Exquisite Taste March – May 2020
