bali: cooking class

My husband's annual work conference took place in Bali this year and once again my Mum offered to mind our children while we jetted off overseas. I just made it within the 36-week ok-to-fly bracket (returning at 35 weeks and 5 days) and we managed to be home before the volcanic ash grounded flights. I'm not sure how I would have come home if we'd been stranded or if I'd have had to wait and have the baby in Bali!


We stayed in the luxurious Alila Manggis in Manggis. Thankfully it was over an hours drive from Kuta which was a very different scene. It really was such a treat to be there and after a few days of rest I decided to join in a cooking class which involved a visit to the market. As with a pricey resort I expected to pay a bit for the experience, though I wasn't expecting it to be quite so expensive.

I'll follow up with a post about the cooking class itself. 

First thing in the morning we travelled by car to the markets at Klungkung (a fairly big city just off the highway towards Denpasar). The markets just seemed to go on forever. It was a public holiday due to a festival and many of the stalls were closed but of the ones that were open you could buy anything from fresh fruit and vegetables (mostly local, some imported); to cooked foods; packets of biscuits and noodles; live produce (ducks, chooks, piglets); cooking equipment (I'm kicking my self for not buying a large, shallow mortar and pestle for $6AUD; and freshly made offerings from flowers grown on local farms.

There's no guessing how snake-skin fruit get their name. These look similar to lychees when peeled but have a 

more astringent taste and firmer texture.

Eggs cooked in herbs.

This was a little confronting. These ducks were in for a bumpy ride home. 

They were alive when I took this  but wouldn't have been for much longer.

Anyone for suckling pig?

Miss May Blossom http://www.facebook.com/MissMayBlossom

North Narrabeen Markets

 

Do you frequent a local market? I'm making it a part of our weekly 'activity plan' (term to be used flexibly) and it's especially fun with 2yo P (while 4 yo B is a preschool). Our local market, at North Narrabeen is an organic market (with a few exceptions). Stall operators bring their produce which includes everything from buffalo yoghurt to baklava, nuts and dried fruit, breads, crafts and clothes, soaps and olive oils. I always bring a limited amount of cash and my own bags and have a few bucks at the ready to grab my caffeine first!

After P and I gather a few essentials - (coffee and) usually veggies - she gets to choose one of the three kids' activities - the jumping castle, a ride on a pony or a stint in the petting zoo The petting zoo is always her favourite and despite having our own guinea pigs and chooks she still loves grabbing them for a cuddle. Last Friday P insisted on wheeling her doll's pram around the market. We bought some gorgeous organic celery and I was just leaving the stall when I noticed P had grabbed some pak choy from the stand and shoved it under her pram. We had a laugh as I handed it back!

If we are still at the markets at lunch time I like to grab some street food from Rustic Flair. (check out their blog They are on FB too). The pork-wich is a favourite and the phở is good but I am still a fan of the fresh rice paper rolls. I had to cackle last Friday when I watched a lady ask for a 'salad sandwich.' She didn't know she was missing!! But it was made without hesitation.

I especially love the community feel of the markets. I love having a chat with the stall holders and finding out about their prodcts, their love of food and how they like the markets. There's a sense that custimers who visit the markets tend to engage with their meals and food making!