UBUD, Bali (BPN) – The Ubud Hotels Association (UHA) celebrated its 20th anniversary with latte art and cooking competitions featuring participants from member hotels.
According to Putu Surya Arisoma, Chairman of UHA, approximately 27 junior chefs participated in the cooking competition.
They were required to create a contemporary version of a traditional Balinese dish, Sate Perangkat Pemade.
In Bali, Sate Perangkat is typically prepared for special occasions, and in this competition, participants had to craft a Sate Perangkat “pemade” consisting of 12 types of satay with a contemporary twist, along with side dishes made from pork, eel, octopus, and marlin, plus seven vegetable ingredients.
“They have to create all the dishes based on the Balinese traditional Sate Perangkat pemade concept, but with an international touch, as the goal is to serve this menu in restaurants,” he explained during the competition held at Bale Udang, Ubud, on Friday, November 29, 2024.
Surya added that the competition aimed to introduce Sate Perangkat and preserve the tradition, ensuring it can be served in restaurants in the future.
“In this competition, participants presented the dishes in unique and meaningful ways, enhancing the value of the menu. This way, we preserve the culture and its story, which helps us achieve sustainability,” he stated.
After a day filled with culinary creativity and passion, the junior chef from Tejaprana Bisma was announced as the winner of the UHA Ubud Chef Competition 2024, with junior chefs from Goya Boutique Resort and Sakti Garden Resort & Spa taking second and third place, respectively.
Meanwhile, the latte art competition attracted 32 baristas, aiming to enhance the creativity of baristas from hotels in Ubud.
“The winner of the UHA Ubud Latte Art Competition 2024 is the barista from The Royal Pita Maha, followed by baristas from Goya Boutique Resort and Plataran Resort Ubud,” Surya noted.
All winners will receive their awards at the UHA Anniversary Celebration on December 6, 2024, at The Jungle Club Ubud.
Regarding Ubud tourism, Surya remains optimistic about positive growth in 2025. He explained that while the market will still be dominated by Europeans, other markets are also developing as expected.
However, Surya emphasized that Ubud tourism’s biggest challenge in 2025 will be infrastructure, particularly the roads.
“We hope all stakeholders can find a solution for the traffic issues. We don’t need wider roads, but at least better traffic regulations, especially regarding Ubud entry points and one-way streets. We have proposed some recommendations and are currently awaiting a response from the government,” he concluded.
