A slice of Bali arrives in Colombo as Hilton Colombo Residencies hosts its Balinese Food Festival from 7 to 21 February 2025 to journey to the heart of Bali. The Festival, curated by Chefs Ed and Ray from Hilton Bali Resort, is an exclusive buffet that showcases the bold, vibrant and aromatic flavours of Balinese cuisine with slow-cooked stews, grilled meats, indulgent desserts and free-flow of house cocktails and mocktails.

Diners at the Festival can start their culinary journey with a selection of appetizers reflecting Bali’s rich culinary traditions. The Soto Ayam, a fragrant chicken soup is a delicate broth infused with aromatic spices, rice noodles, and a perfectly boiled egg. The Pencok Jagung, a sweet corn salad with a chilli-coriander dressing, balances sweetness with a gentle heat, while the Tongkol Sambal Matah, a grilled tuna loin paired with crisp long beans and a zesty raw sambal matah, delivers a fiery kick.

The Gado Gado, a well-loved Indonesian classic, is a colourful medley of steamed vegetables generously coated in a creamy peanut sauce. The Kalas Kacang Panjang, a long bean salad bathed in turmeric-infused coconut dressing and the Lawar Gedang, a young papaya salad with minced pork are interesting styles of preparation that are worth trying out.

For mains, the spread is nothing short of a Balinese feast. With carbs like Nasi Kuning (yellow rice) and Mie Goreng Kampung, a Balinese-style fried noodle dish tossed in chilli paste – the highlights are the proteins and the array of vegetarian-friendly dishes. The Ayam Sune Cekuh, stir-fried chicken infused with sune cekuh paste, is fragrant and tender, while the Beef Rendang, a slow-cooked Sumatran-style stew, is luxuriously rich, with the deep, aromatic notes of lemongrass, galangal, and chilli – a personal favourite of ours from the buffet.

The Ikan Mekukus, a delicately steamed whole barramundi, is light yet flavourful, enhanced by a fiery sambal dabu-dabu. Action stations come alive at the buffet with offerings like Ikan Bakar, a freshly grilled fish fillet coated in Balinese spice sauce, and chicken and beef satays, skewered and grilled, paired with a creamy and slightly sweet peanut sauce.

Vegetarians will find plenty to enjoy as well. The Tumis Buncis Tahu, a stir-fry of string beans and tofu and Ubi Goreng, deep-fried sweet potato coated in sun cekuh paste offer subtle flavours while the Gulai Nangka, a braised young jackfruit dish cooked in coconut cream, is a deliciously tender, akin to our own Sri Lankan style preparation.

Dessert also put the spotlight on Balinese delicacies with Banana and Chocolate Chip Pudding, Dadar Gulung, a Balinese-style crepe, which is delicate and thin, rolled around a sweet coconut and palm sugar filling, Bubur Kacang Hijau, a mung bean porridge cooked in coconut milk, Pisang Rai, poached bananas coated in grated coconut and drizzled with palm sugar syrup, Bubur Injin, a black rice porridge served with tender jackfruit and crushed peanuts, and  Es Kendal, a cooling, silky dessert made of rice jelly with coconut sugar syrup which was a crowd favourite.  

The Balinese Food Festival is a must-visit for foodies and travellers alike. With its authentic flavours and curated dishes, it’s an escape to Bali—right here in Colombo.  

The Balinese Food Festival runs from 7 to 21 February 2025, from 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM, at Rs. 7,800 nett per person.
 

Pics by Samantha Perera