Fried Dragonflys, anyone?
In Thailand you are constantly walking past heaped trays of fried grasshoppers, as you twist your way through the hoards of street food vendors. They are wok-fried, and are supposedly crunchy and delicious, but I have never been tempted. Maybe one day?
Having just returned from Bangkok I half expected to see Fried Dragonflys on the menu of this quaintly named newcomer to Ubud. I was relieved to discover that they were not on the menu, so I did not have to try them after all.
Whilst the menu at Dragonfly does have many Asian touches it is really best described as modern International.
Dragonfly is now open for breakfast with a healthy Muesli [yoghurt and honey], Egg Dishes [Scrambled with home fries or a Benedict with smoked salmon], American Pancakes [banana and blueberries, banana and pecans or plain blueberry] and Vegetarian, a Tofu Veggie Scramble.
The entrees at Dragonfly take you on a gastronomic journey around the world. A Mezze plate from Greece [hummus, tabouleh, falafel, cucumber salad and pita bread], Fresh Vietnamese Paper Rolls [prawns wrapped in fresh damp rice paper along with those fragrant mint leaves, coriander and basil thrown in for good measure], from Mexico [via America] Quesadilla [tortillas covered with melted cheese, salsa and guacamole] with or without chicken pieces, and Nachos [corn chips, guacamole, beans, melted cheese and salsa], Martabak from Muslim Asia [vegetables sautéed with herbs between layers of egg pastry] and Japanese Endamame Dumplings [steamed soy bean and spinach dumplings].
The Avocado Prawns are very International, as the Spicy Chicken Wings. An Asian Tasting Plate combines four small tastes. For something different to pick at whilst sipping your drink try the Deli Plate, selecting from 6 different cheeses, 3 varieties of olives, caperberries, anchovies and sun-dried tomato.
The soups at Dragonfly include a real Spanish Gazpacho, a traditional Indonesian Soto Ayam [chicken with glass noodles and herbs] and a Thai inspired Pumpkin [coconut milk and ginger].
No menu today seems to be able to escape the Caesar, and this one is no exception. However, their Pomelo and Prawn Salad has all the tastes of Thai [hot, sour, sweet and salty], and all in one dish. Very refreshing! A Vietnamese Chicken Salad combiners shredded chicken with cabbage and herbs,
The list of Mains is small but varied, and includes a few interesting dishes, both Indonesian and International in origin. Ayam Taliwang must be Lombok?s most famous export. There are many versions but I seem to like them all, including this one. The Chef?s Curry combines vegetables [white eggplant, broccoli and capsicum] with your choice of chicken or tempeh [which provides another Vegetarian main along with the Skewered Vegetables [which combines eggplant, mushrooms and red capsicum, doused in a herb vinaigrette].
Pumpkin Gnocchi is served with a sauce that has the distinctive taste of Italy?s gorgonzola cheese. Rosemary Chicken is breast meat coated with that pungent herb, the perfect combination, although you can also have your chicken barbecued if you prefer [two large plump chicken drumsticks].
A Seafood Laksa is full of noodles and a variety of seafood in a well-spiced coconut curried broth. Grilled Prawns are threaded on sticks of lemongrass, and Dragonfly?s Seafood Platter [called Ubud on the Beach Grill] includes prawns, white fish and calamari, served with yellow rice, kangkung pelecing and sambals.
The dessert options are rather limited [chocolate mousse, mocha tiramisu and ice creams of many flavours], and the wine list is small but all are available by the glass. Being a new restaurant the owners have sensibly opted for a limited initial offering, growing it as the staff adapt to their requirements. So expect some menu tweaking in coming months as well as extended hours to capitalize on the restaurant location in Ubud?s popular Coffee Street.
The friendly but professional waitpersons actually seem happy to be working there and that always rubs off on the customers as well. Very reasonable prices make this another welcome spoke in the wheel of Ubud?s ever-increasing dining options. There are so many professionally-run good-value restaurants in Ubud now that the place is seriously challenging the Seminyak-Kerobokan area as Bali?s best restaurant area. It always had the top-end quality restaurants but now it is getting the good value places as well.
And the only Dragonfly is on the logo!
As published in The Bali Advertiser, June 2006
In Thailand you are constantly walking past heaped trays of fried grasshoppers, as you twist your way through the hoards of street food vendors. They are wok-fried, and are supposedly crunchy and delicious, but I have never been tempted. Maybe one day?
Having just returned from Bangkok I half expected to see Fried Dragonflys on the menu of this quaintly named newcomer to Ubud. I was relieved to discover that they were not on the menu, so I did not have to try them after all.
Whilst the menu at Dragonfly does have many Asian touches it is really best described as modern International.
Dragonfly is now open for breakfast with a healthy Muesli [yoghurt and honey], Egg Dishes [Scrambled with home fries or a Benedict with smoked salmon], American Pancakes [banana and blueberries, banana and pecans or plain blueberry] and Vegetarian, a Tofu Veggie Scramble.
The entrees at Dragonfly take you on a gastronomic journey around the world. A Mezze plate from Greece [hummus, tabouleh, falafel, cucumber salad and pita bread], Fresh Vietnamese Paper Rolls [prawns wrapped in fresh damp rice paper along with those fragrant mint leaves, coriander and basil thrown in for good measure], from Mexico [via America] Quesadilla [tortillas covered with melted cheese, salsa and guacamole] with or without chicken pieces, and Nachos [corn chips, guacamole, beans, melted cheese and salsa], Martabak from Muslim Asia [vegetables sautéed with herbs between layers of egg pastry] and Japanese Endamame Dumplings [steamed soy bean and spinach dumplings].
The Avocado Prawns are very International, as the Spicy Chicken Wings. An Asian Tasting Plate combines four small tastes. For something different to pick at whilst sipping your drink try the Deli Plate, selecting from 6 different cheeses, 3 varieties of olives, caperberries, anchovies and sun-dried tomato.
The soups at Dragonfly include a real Spanish Gazpacho, a traditional Indonesian Soto Ayam [chicken with glass noodles and herbs] and a Thai inspired Pumpkin [coconut milk and ginger].
No menu today seems to be able to escape the Caesar, and this one is no exception. However, their Pomelo and Prawn Salad has all the tastes of Thai [hot, sour, sweet and salty], and all in one dish. Very refreshing! A Vietnamese Chicken Salad combiners shredded chicken with cabbage and herbs,
The list of Mains is small but varied, and includes a few interesting dishes, both Indonesian and International in origin. Ayam Taliwang must be Lombok?s most famous export. There are many versions but I seem to like them all, including this one. The Chef?s Curry combines vegetables [white eggplant, broccoli and capsicum] with your choice of chicken or tempeh [which provides another Vegetarian main along with the Skewered Vegetables [which combines eggplant, mushrooms and red capsicum, doused in a herb vinaigrette].
Pumpkin Gnocchi is served with a sauce that has the distinctive taste of Italy?s gorgonzola cheese. Rosemary Chicken is breast meat coated with that pungent herb, the perfect combination, although you can also have your chicken barbecued if you prefer [two large plump chicken drumsticks].
A Seafood Laksa is full of noodles and a variety of seafood in a well-spiced coconut curried broth. Grilled Prawns are threaded on sticks of lemongrass, and Dragonfly?s Seafood Platter [called Ubud on the Beach Grill] includes prawns, white fish and calamari, served with yellow rice, kangkung pelecing and sambals.
The dessert options are rather limited [chocolate mousse, mocha tiramisu and ice creams of many flavours], and the wine list is small but all are available by the glass. Being a new restaurant the owners have sensibly opted for a limited initial offering, growing it as the staff adapt to their requirements. So expect some menu tweaking in coming months as well as extended hours to capitalize on the restaurant location in Ubud?s popular Coffee Street.
The friendly but professional waitpersons actually seem happy to be working there and that always rubs off on the customers as well. Very reasonable prices make this another welcome spoke in the wheel of Ubud?s ever-increasing dining options. There are so many professionally-run good-value restaurants in Ubud now that the place is seriously challenging the Seminyak-Kerobokan area as Bali?s best restaurant area. It always had the top-end quality restaurants but now it is getting the good value places as well.
And the only Dragonfly is on the logo!
As published in The Bali Advertiser, June 2006