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| di Mare Restaurant, Karma Kandara |
di Mare Restaurant, Karma Kandara, Bali, Indonesia
My eyes tear with pure pleasure and, my mind fills with thoughts of gratitude for such sublime beauty as we step into the cliff top restaurant, di Mare. Planted 85 metres above the sea on a rocky precipice, the open walled dining space affords dazzling views of the pristine seascape below and rugged coastline beyond. Breathing slows. I (she-who-never-decelerates) pause, pleading the moment to linger.
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| di Mare at Sunset |
The semi-circular area mirrors a yacht with its light shade cloth covering rippling towards the sea. White pebble walls suspend di Mare above a pale blue pool and a stone path leads the eye further down the cliff edge disappearing into a tangle of green. Simple white table dressings and minimum decoration allow the breathtaking vistas to be the stars of the show.
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| di Mare |
Daytime and early evening visits are rewarded with stunning and ever changing views. Bold blue skies and the glittering aquamarine sea contrast the untamed coastline during the day and, by late afternoon, the golden sun says its daily farewell, fingers of orange, yellow and purple streaking across the sky, as if bidding a final adieu. As the night approaches, water reflects a silvery grey and, the sound of waves creeping into the shore lull breathing to a downtempo.
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| Fireworks Viewed from di Mare |
The best place to start an unforgettable evening is at the Temple Lounge directly above the di Mare Restaurant, where buy-one-free-one happy hour runs from 6-7pm in perfect sync with sunset. Curved seating areas are softened with cushions in tones of pale blue and white. Large Moroccan lamps add a strip of colour between the bar and the sea, and low armchairs by the edge of the balcony offer the best spot for taking in the natural surrounds.
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| Temple Lounge |
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| Best Seat in Temple Lounge |
Deals run on signature cocktails, wine, beer, juices and soft drinks. We strongly feel the tropics deserve a mixed drink, so we’re hitting the 7 Chakras menu. The vodka based Root Chakra mixes lemongrass, organic local honey, strawberries and lime. A twist of ginger leaves a light tingle on the sides of the tongue in the finish. The Crown Chakra is one of the most unique cocktails I’ve consumed on the island. I love the local addition of white cacao to the Champagne base, which holds a firm grip on the palate for minutes after swallowing. While I don’t detect the beetroot infusion in my mouth it certainly produces a magnificent violet hue.
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| Happy Hour at Temple Lounge |
Not only are good drink deals and a chic ambience strong drawcards, happy hour followers are also gifted with complimentary canapés. Tomato and Mozzarella Sticks, Oyster Kilpatrick and Beef Skewers (which are surprisingly very tender) are a few steps above the all too common peanuts or chicken wings. Relaxed, with appetites whet, we make our way downstairs for dinner.
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| Complimentary Canapes |
An impressive wine cellar, Veritas, stocks over 3000 wines from around the world. Old world, new world, young, aged, reasonably priced, mid-range and fine wines – there’s something for every budget and taste. We delight in the selection and spend a pleasurable passage of time browsing the racks. After much deliberation, we can’t decide so leave the pairing to the knowledgeable maître d’, Frederic.
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| Poolside Dining |
Fresh, seasonal and local ingredients are given priority, with premium imports acting as supplements for the light Mediterranean inspired dishes of di Mare. Regional influence is evidenced throughout the menu with Pan-Asian tweaks arousing the palate. There’s so much to tempt us on the menu, and clearly we’re having trouble with making choices tonight so the waiter suggests we leave it in the hands of the chef and order the Surprise Menu. For IDR350, three courses are selected by the chef, and an additional IDR230 sees each dish paired with a different wine.
The Amuse Bouche arrives in the shape of a pinwheel. A pink swirl of smoked salmon centres the plate with three strips of smoked eel fanning outwards. The eel is soft and sweet and contrasts with salty, finely chopped beetroot and avocado, which is sprinkled in between. Salmon however is the strongest flavour and it’s fresh with an oily conclusion. Garden picked dill loiters on the palate and acts as a cleanser.
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| Amuse Bouche |
Service is attentive but not intrusive. Water is habitually topped and, the frequent appearance of wet lavender-scented towels is welcome.
Lobster with Cream Sauce turns out to be our starter. Juicy chunks of mushroom give additional texture to the creamy sauce. Verdant bok choy, and boiled beetroot side the plate with a wedge of yellow lemon providing further garnish and a light citrus zap to the crustacean. A caramelized balsamic vinegar zig zags the plate and tosses in a tart layer. We find the dish rich and, so the half lobster portion is perfectly satisfying. Tabali Viognier Chile 2012 (IDR150 per glass) accompanies the appetizer. It wafts minerals to the nose and its fresh crispness serves to slice through the cream sauce. It’s large enough in body to walk alongside this full-flavoured dish but not so strong to overpower the delicate flesh.
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| Lobster in Cream Sauce |
The main is meat, Wagyu from Australia, and is paired with a red, which hubby doesn’t drink. It’s no problem for our sommelier however. He quickly pairs it with an oaky chardonnay from Ashbook 2010 (IDR200), which is powerful enough to accompany the meat and keeps hubby happy. I’m content with the Parker Connawara Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Australia (IDR 280). Fruit and tannins balance each other, while an earthy undertone pairs well with the beef.
The round of beef is based with a potato crush and topped with leafy greens. Carrot sides the dish and a trio of asparagus sprigs wrapped in bacon leans against the potato and meat tower. Hubby’s medium done steak is pink in the middle and falls apart with a soft cut. Even mine, that’s cooked medium well, is tender and melts easily away from the knife. A pot of red wine gravy, with a blob of butter melted on the top, comes in a gravy boat ready to drench (or not) the tender flesh. I struggle to finish the slab as hubby enthusiastically eyes my defeat, scooping the last piece from my plate and into his mouth with a satisfied, “mmm.”
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| Wagyu |
We’re full, but have that amazingly, always open, pocket for some sweets. A Manjari Raspberry Moelluex completes the meal. The inside of the pudding is soft, but not liquid. It’s light and fluffy and hubby, who is not the devout chocolate fan that I am, finds this gentler version appealing, finishing off both his and mine. I have a predilection for intense and powerful flavours, so for my palate it doesn’t quiet pack enough punch. The raspberry sorbet that sides it is refreshing and I appreciate the macadamia crumble it sits on, which provides a contrast in texture to the icy ball. The dessert wine pairing, a Chilean Montes Late Harvest Gewurstraminer 2011 (half bottle 375ml IDR590) is right up my alley with is sticky syrupy-ness, and so it’s my turn to eagerly polish off my own and hubby’s glass.
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| Manjari Raspberry Moelleux |
Hubby describes the three-course Surprise Dinner as, “a bomb!” It’s pleasantly varied and the wine matching is done superbly. It’s just enough to fill, but not too much that we don’t appreciate each course.
We’ve also eaten breakfast at di Mare and praise the good standard of well-executed egg dishes and, highly recommend the Ricotta Hotcakes as a must order.
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| Ricotta Hotcakes |
While evenings or early mornings are cooler, we advocate arriving during daylight hours to take in the stunning views. For nighttime reservations, we suggest a 6pm arrival with a pre-dinner drink at Temple Lounge to truly experience the beautiful setting of di Mare Restaurant.
Reasons to visit:spectacular views; happy hour at Temple Lounge; comprehensive wine selection and expert pairing; Ricotta Hotcakes; fresh Mediterranean inspired cuisine.
di Mare Restaurant
Karma Kandara
Jalan Villa Kandara
Banjar Wijaya Kusuma
Ungasan, Bali, 80361
Indonesia
+62 361 848 2200