Holidays in Bali always rejuvenate and refresh me. My latest trip was a particularly inspirational one as well, as I was paying close attention to the restaurants, their menus, as well as their food presentation and preparation, all as part of the second annual Bali Vegan Festival.
As I walked the streets of Ubud, soaking in the hustle and bustle, I made my way to the markets, finding myself admiring the brightly coloured flags and temples along the way. The Balinese women in their traditional Kebaya, the gorgeous figure hugging embroidered blouses with brightly coloured batik sarongs, and the little Balinese girls donning the same traditional dresses and pretty red lipstick was a beautiful cultural picture. It made me think how much joy colour brings to life. As I entered the markets once again I paid close attention visually, noting all the vibrantly coloured fruits, woven fabrics and handmade jewellery. A kaleidoscope of colour!
When I woke up the next morning, making my way to the beautiful buffet breakfast, I stopped to admire the fruit platters. Such care and love when preparing was evident. So much creativity and the edible flowers sprinkled as garnish looked so pretty! These blooms added more than just colour to the fruit. It is a well known fact that flowers have a quietening and unwinding impact on the psyche. They give a perfect protection against stress and mental anxiety. It got me thinking, I wanted to recreate my own fruit platter, using all colours of the rainbow, and a touch of my own flower cookery.
The preparation of my fruit platter and melon boat brought me so much joy. I gathered fruits and flowers of all colours on the rainbow spectrum, and found myself getting creative with geometric cutting shapes for that extra special visual effect. The stars, circles and spirals all added to the fun! Using melon as the base or boat, and adding my favourite locally sourced, seasonal fruits, it became a delicious work of art. For those of you wondering, the flowers commonly used for garnishing include nasturtiums, borage, also known as star flowers, broccolini and broccoli flowers, soursob or wood sorrel, pineapple sage, and chive blossoms. The summery, holiday, fruit vibe coupled with the delicate floral arrangement makes for the perfect fruit platter, be it for a fancy breakfast or brunch, a nutritious dessert or for any special occasion. The edible flower blossoms will work their magic, bringing a sense of calm and relaxation to the room, while the abundance of colour will without a doubt brighten up your day!
