Flavor, Local Food, Cravings & Insights: Eating Local Internationally

This page is dedicated to eating locally outside the U.S.

Best Balinese Meal or at least one of the best!

Ibu Oka's Suckling pig! Nasi Babi Guling

In 2010 my husband and I traveled to Bali to eat our hearts out. Ibu Oka was literally our first stop when we arrived in Ubud; having traveled away from the beaches. Well, we stopped at the hotel to drop our bags in the lobby of our Monkey Forest hotel since Ibu's doesn't open until 11am.

So what is so special about suckling pig? You can get that at home right?!
There is something to be said about heat and humidity so stifling that you are sweating standing still in the shade! Add the idea of squeezing into an open air cafe to sit on the floor among others elbow to elbow to enjoy HOT, fresh pork, mangosteens (purple fruit in photo above) and cold beer!
What I just described your typical Fourth of July family party?

What really makes this a special treat is the way the pork is served, its accompaniments if your order the "special."

Special means xtra skin! My husband's favorite part.

The meat, sausage and skin is served over top coconut rice and spicy chopped green beans.
My question is what is that magic sauce on top the pork?

It is spicy but not habanero hot. There are shredded pieces of galangal, ginger, garlic and possibly lemon grass. As for the rest of the spice paste?????

If anyone out there knows the recipe - would love to have it.

I will admit were addicted like all other tourists in the warung. We came back at least one other time to repeat the experience. I claimed it was because they had the juiciest mangosteens but who am I fooling it was for the crispy skin!