Casa Luna Cooking School Address: Jalan Bisma, UBUD, BALI

It is not very often you review a restaurant where you have to cook your own lunch, but this was the case when we recently attended a cooking class at Casa Luna in Ubud.

We chose the Thursday class, which started at 8.30am with a visit to the Ubud markets. Our guide took us into the fresh produce section of the market. Aromas from the fresh herbs and spices greet you on entry, the array of different fresh fruits and vegetables was amazing. Little red shallots, fresh chillies in every colour and size, crisp stalks of fresh lemon grass, fat juicy mangos, pineapples, small oval white egg plants and fresh ginger, turmeric and galangal. The selection of fresh produce is as vast as it is diverse. We were given the opportunity to taste, smell and also learn out how the Balinese combine these great fresh products into everyday dishes.

Following the market tour it is back to the Casa Luna Honeymoon guesthouse for the cooking school. You don your apron and start the preparations. Our fellow students were from a virtual United Nations of different countries. Borneo, Holland, The United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Germany. We were welcomed with ice cold hibiscus tea, made from red hibiscus flowers, water, sugar and lime juice (Delicious!) Our first job was to grind the ingredients for the spice base of the Kare Ayam (Chicken Curry) in a huge mortar and pestle that had been carved out of volcanic rock. Fresh garlic, chillies, ginger, shallots, candlenuts, tamarind, coriander and many other spices were ground to a smooth paste then lightly fried in a hot wok. Finally the chicken pieces and other ingredients were added, both the look and smell of our first dish was wonderful.

Over the next few hours we chopped, ground, sliced and diced our way to preparing a lunchtime feast, all under the guidance of our very knowledgable and patient tutors. Stir-fried eggplant, tofu fritters, bean and coconut salad and sambal. Once everything was ready and beautifully presented we took our places in the outdoor pavilion at a long table with our classmates who by now were all friends and commenced the most delicious lunch. All served with more Hibiscus tea and local rice wine. A sweet sago pudding made with palm sugar finished off the feast for those who still had some room left.

Certainly a lunch with a difference and very highly recommended not only for the quality of the food and the chance to learn how to prepare real Balinese food from the experts themselves, but for the joy of sharing good food with new friends. Also lazing and laughing the afternoon away swapping travel stories, shopping triumphs, and of course restaurant recommendations. A must do experience for your next Bali holiday .

Cooking Kare Ayam (Chicken Curry) at Casa Luna Cooking School.