A coffee-styled Balinese Dinner at St. Ali

OK so this was another surprise evening at St. Ali. The brilliant chef - Ben Cooper ex-Long Grain, put on a real performance. Mo and I turned up, we didn't know what to expect. The usual ambience that's so easy and comfortable to slide into, hang on - it looks like a lab experiment is underway! Nope, it's Toshi Yuki Ishiwata, grand master of the siphon. (A siphon! Isn't that found in a toilet?). With an array of wild bubbling glass tubes, crucibles, back lit by amber lights (heating lamp) and an oh so complex, deft mad-scientist inspired performance, Toshi (who doesn't, or rather isn't inclined towards conversation) delivers some smooth, light, airy coffee. Voilá siphon. The video clip - Toshi + test-tubes - is here below.





We were seated around several shared large tables scattered about, Salvatore was as effusive and welcoming as ever. That chap has advanced, finely tuned people skills.
I kept dashing over to the kitchen to see Ben and his team crank out his magic. It smelt wonderful. The kitchen clip is here below.



Salvatore, behind the scenes, literally....

St. Ali's chef, Ben Cooper







Kris, our maitre de, suggessted a light, fruity Piñot Gris from New Zealand - I can only remember it's name sounded like you're clearing your throat. Must be a Maori thing.
This was the Menu for that evening:
- Tumeric Caramel Fricasee of egg (how's that, Ben?)
- Coconut soup of pumpkin and almonds with bean sprouts and chili
- Salad of crisp Asian vegetables with sweet vinegar and grilled squid
- chicken sate with peanut sauce and coconut rice
- Balinese style curry with young broccoli, salmon and dried shrimp dumpling
- twice cooked tumeric spiced pork belly
- roast duck with chili and coffee sambal wrapped in banana leaf
- babnana fritters with caramel and vanilla sugar

Of course, we had coffee - selected from Bali & Sumatra, and designed to complement our courses.
Iced siphon coffee
Bali Kintamani
Sumatra Blue Batak
Java Affogato








We had a few couples sharing our table, here are some of them...