The team and philosophy
If I couldn’t see the Indian Ocean, if frangipani flowers weren’t falling on my head, if I wasn’t greeted with smiles at every turn and if it weren’t for the tropical weather, I would almost feel like I was in one of the Bvlgari hotels in Italy. Especially with the Italian trio of chefs from Niko Romito (Alessandro Mazzali, Stefano Nicodemo, Emilio Di Cristo) who were there for the grand opening, which I attended, to ensure everything got off to the right start.
The restaurant opened its doors under new management on May 19, and the style is the same as other Bvlgari restaurants: an expression of the richness and variety of Italian cuisine, through dishes that have become icons, but with interesting twists in which some Balinese flavors make up a very appealing menu. So, alongside the classics you will find in all the hotels, there are also recipes where Italy and Indonesia meet, as far as possible and in a thoughtful way. Above all, it is nice to see how the waiters approach the names of the Italian dishes served to the 24 guests, only at dinner.
“The Bvlgari Resort Bali is a place of unique beauty, nestled in extraordinary natural surroundings. The island offers many excellent products such as different varieties of pepper, the intensely fragrant Kintamani vanilla, and fish… but that’s not all: vegetables also find very fertile soil here, and we even found a cheese maker who uses Java milk to produce a delicate and creamy ricotta. We are increasingly seeking to enhance local products, transforming them according to Italian tastes.
Chef Alessandro Mazzali has been in Bali for over three years and knows the island and its best producers very well, which was fundamental in creating the menu. It was some of the island’s finest ingredients that inspired new dishes, such as red snapper tartare with green pepper, linguine with garlic, oil, chili pepper, and pink shrimp, and coral trout with asparagus, rosemary, and lemon sauce. The atmosphere of the restaurant overlooking the sea was certainly also a source of inspiration.
This is a project I believe in very much, which we have built together with Bvlgari, sharing values, goals, and the same need. Today, I am thrilled to see how it continues to develop, thanks to the indispensable support of a great team of young people who dedicate their commitment and passion to Il Ristorante – Niko Romito around the world,” says the enthusiastic chef from Abruzzo.
The resort and location
This is truly a breathtaking place, a resort that can only offer cuisine of the highest standard. We are in the most authentic and profound part of Bali, where the cliffs of Uluwatu embrace the sunsets. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean, the Bvlgari Resort in Bali is, in my opinion, one of the most captivating resorts I have ever seen in the world. It consists of 59 villas, all overlooking the sea and scattered throughout the lush greenery of the large property, with private pools and secluded tropical gardens.
I have never seen anything so beautiful. Lava stone and wood furnish the residences, everything feels welcoming in true Balinese style but with an unmistakable Italian touch. The restaurant is framed by a peaceful mirrored pool and illuminated by soft lighting, creating an atmosphere of rare pleasure.
The cuisine and dishes of Niko Romito’s restaurant in Bali
The menu at Il Ristorante – Niko Romito also offers charm on the plate, with a variety of options: two tasting menus with 4 or 7 courses and an à la carte menu that showcases fresh local fish and vegetables grown on the island, along with excellent meat, always in harmony with the seasons. “For a young chef, Bali is truly a source of inspiration. The island has a very expressive creative energy and is full of contrasts. There is a growing curiosity about gastronomy and a deep respect for detail. It is a place that constantly challenges you to grow.
I am delighted to be able to interpret Chef Niko’s culinary philosophy here. The approach is clear and essential: let the ingredients speak for themselves, eliminate the superfluous and focus on depth through simplicity. We have tried as much as possible to work with local products and to imagine a menu that also reflects the environment we find ourselves in,” says resident chef Alessandro Mazzali, who together with Romito has created eight signature dishes specially designed for the Bali restaurant, inspired by the island’s local ingredients, including scallops with thyme, marjoram and pink shrimp cream, cold tagliolini with sea urchins, parsley and chili pepper, red snapper tartare with green pepper, linguine with garlic, oil and chili pepper with pink shrimp, tortellini with duck, black summer truffle and Parmigiano Reggiano, and coral trout with asparagus, rosemary and lemon sauce.
The presence of elements from Balinese cuisine further enriches this gastronomic journey, thanks to the use of local delicacies such as fresh fish, fragrant vanilla from the island, different varieties of pepper, Plaga tomatoes, and numerous vegetables grown on the island. Many of these ingredients come from the best organic producers, while others, such as seasonal herbs, are grown in the Bvlgari Resort’s garden. Together with executive chef Stefano Nicodemo (formerly of the Bvlgari Hotel Beijing), two tasting menus have been created: ‘I Classici’, a four-course menu paying homage to iconic Italian dishes, a gastronomic journey through regional specialities and coastal flavours, and ‘La Degustazione’, a seven-course menu offering a journey through Chef Niko Romito’s latest creations that best represent his idea of cuisine.
“I think Bali was a bit like the union of two worlds in the true sense of the word. Chef Niko’s cuisine blended perfectly with the local cultures and ingredients, enhancing both. Bali is a spiritual and deeply inspiring place, which has given us and will certainly continue to give us great satisfaction,” says Emilio Di Cristo, another young and talented chef whom Romito wanted to be present at the opening in Bali before flying to Tokyo the following days.
The Bvlgari Resort in Bali is truly something special, worth every hour of flying time from Italy. A warm welcome and Balinese energy that no hotel school could ever teach. I would say it is the best of the restaurants designed by Niko Romito in the Bvlgari hotels around the world.
CONTACTS
Il Ristorante – Niko Romito at Bvlgari Resort Bali
Bvlgari Resort Bali, Jl. Goa Lempeh, Banjar Dinas Kangin, Uluwatu, Badung Regency, Bali 80364, Indonesia
Phone: +62 361 8471000
Website
Dining and Cooking