30/05/2026
Day 3. What a cracker of a day Ubud Food Festival. The morning started with a little rehabilitation session at Ubud Fitness Center, followed by a quick hello to one of the resident feline fitness instructors, who appeared far more committed to recovery than I was. Curled into a perfect yoga pose on the lounge, this cat had clearly mastered relaxation.
From there it was straight to the lush tropical surrounds of Casa Luna for one of the festival's most anticipated events—the Long Table Lunch with Chef Koraag of Jakarta's acclaimed Mata Karanjang.
Our lunch celebrated the robust flavours of Manado and the Minahasa Highlands of North Sulawesi. Chef Jovan brought big energy, humour and deep cultural knowledge to every dish, sharing stories of his heritage while introducing guests to ingredients and cooking techniques rarely experienced outside the region.
The friendliest chef in town - other than me, of course!
One of the joys of the afternoon was reconnecting with fellow Gold Coast friends Wendy and Lach McGregor. There is something special about being overseas only to find yourself sharing a table, a laugh, plenty of bubbles and a feast with familiar faces from home. Lots of other Melbourne mates here too.
The family-style feast featured Pakoba (forest fruits fermented with saguer vinegar), Kinetor Bulu (Minahasa-style pork cooked in bamboo), Telur Ikan Woku wrapped in lontar leaves, earthy Pangi greens.
Next stop, day 4: Breakfast with Kate (a.k.a Speedy Reidy!) croissants, mahjong, dumplings, a curry smackdown and no doubt a piece of Pipit here on the island of the Gods.
Day 5? A lie down, no doubt!
Join us https://www.ubudfoodfestival.com/daily-schedule
