Mozaic, Ubud – A food lovers dream

Our friends had told us about a restaurant in Ubud, Bali, the best restaurant they’ve ever been to. Big praise from a successful couple who travel the world staying in some of the finest hotels and eating at the best restaurants. Hmmn, ok, well that will be far out of our budget I thought. But curiosity had me looking at their website anyway, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the prices are pretty reasonable considering Mozaic is in a league of it’s own.

The only menus available are tasting menus, you choose from the six or eight course, vegetarian, or surprise versions. You can pair two levels of wine with your meal, or choose to order from the extensive wine list, and as far as dinner goes, that is the end of your choosing. The menus are set degustation menus, made from fresh local produce, changing with availability and designed to highlight the quality and flavours of the ingredients which they do perfectly.

You enter the restaurant, stepping through the ornate wooden doors into a contemporary lounge area where we were introduced to the menu. I know I know, that sounds totally silly but when I thought about it that’s how it felt. The staff were all wonderfully attentive and explained the ethos around the menu.

After an aperitif we were led down and out into the main restaurant area, a hidden oasis surrounded by lush vegetation. It was dark when we arrived and the tables glittered with their shiny cutlery and glasses, all perfectly dressed.

We had chosen the six course menu and to continue drinking the sparkling chardonnay we had started with. The wine list is extensive and impressive, ranging from the affordable to the mind blowing. I love sparkling wine, I miss sparkling wine, well not really but given the opportunity I do like to drink it.

Following complimentary canapes in the lounge, our first course was an amuse bouche, a tiny wafer cornetto filled with salmon and a yuzo cream, three bites of perfection. What followed were six courses of wonder, really, it was such a culinary journey. Of course we liked some courses more than others but they were all perfectly prepared and presented and utterly enchanting. Yeah Yeah It’s only food, WONDERFUL GLORIOUS food it was. Seared Indian ocean prawns with pickled radish and fresh torch ginger flower followed by pan seared seabass, smoked corn puree, baby corn and aromatic ginger, and on it went until the final plate of petit fours arrived. At one point the supremely talented Chef, Benoit LaRochelle, a Quebecois national very kindly took the time to come and talk to our table of his fellow countrymen.

We had originally planned to dine alone, then our friends planned to join us. Unfortunately Mount Rinjani on Lombok had different ideas and spluttered out enough volcanic ash to require the closure of both Lombok and Bali airports for a few days. We arrived in Ubud and as we were checking in started chatting to a Canadian couple, Dave and Anita, who over the last week we have ventured out with several times. They are wonderful company, interesting and inspiring having travelled the world teaching. They had been due to leave, but just as our friends had been unable to arrive, they were unable to depart because of the airport closure, so happily became our new dining companions. It really was a fantastic evening with stimulating company and outstanding food.

We are lucky enough to be going back with our family when we are here again over Christmas and my mouth is already watering in anticipation Xx