Savor Authentic Balinese Cuisine at Hilton Manila with the Four Hands Culinary Series at Kusina Sea Kitchens

One of Southeast Asia's premier destinations, the captivating and enchanting allure and charm of Bali's sights, culture and cuisine continues to attract visitors from around the world. But you don't have to fly to experience authentic Balinese flavors, it's all here at Hilton Manila's Kusina... 

The Four Hands Culinary Series returns to Hilton Manila with the Balinese Food Festival at Kusina Sea Kitchens from June 16 to 30, 2023. Executive Sous Chef Wayan Juni Ardhana of Hilton Bali shares his own recipes in a sumptuous buffet spread of Balinese flavors for a unique dining experience. And for two lucky diners, a chance to win a four day, three night stay at Hilton Bali with roundtrip tickets to Denpasar from Cebu Pacific awaits. So pick your date and book your table for the Balinese Food Festival at Kusina Sea Kitchens. Ready to take your palate on a culinary journey to the Island of a Thousand Temples? 

Located at the third level of Hilton Manila, Kusina Sea Kitchens is the property's all-day dining outlet with its impressive buffet spread featuring both local and global cuisine (for more on Kusina Sea Kitchens at Hilton Manila, see my previous post #SeasonalProduce: Come Home to Filipino Flavors with Kusina Kultura Day at Hilton Manila's Kusina Sea Kitchens from three years ago). This June, authentic Balinese cuisine takes the spotlight prepared by guest chef Wayan Juni Ardhana from Hilton Bali.

Food, they say, can transport you to a different far-off place or time. At Kusina Sea Kitchens, Executive Sous Chef Wayan Juni Ardhana takes you to the idyllic Island of a Thousand Temples with an impressive selection of authentic Balinese flavors. A part of the ongoing Four Hands Culinary Series at Kusina Sea Kitchens, Hilton Manila celebrates global flavors with the unique series allowing your palate to experience different cuisines and cultures one plate and dish at a time. For the month of June, Executive Sous Chef Wayan Juni Ardhana brings over 22 years of experience in the F&B scene with his buffet spread of cherished Balinese recipes.

"The Four Hands Culinary Series at Kusina Sea Kitchens is an extraordinary opportunity for food enthusiasts to savor the authentic flavors of Bali," explained General Manager John Lucas. "We are thrilled to bring Chef Juni to Manila as he will take our guests on a culinary journey though Bali's rich gastronomic culture."

At the Balinese section of Kusina Sea Kitchens, station chefs execute the final touches for the dinner service... 

...bannered by traditional and authentic Balinese cuisine. Classic Balinese staples featured that day include an assortment of savory dishes from duck, pork, seafood and beef. The right ingredients, proper execution and authenticity are key to any memorable culinary journey. And you get nothing less, straight from Executive Sous Chef Wayan Juni Ardhana's tested recipes of Hilton Bali at Kusina Sea Kitchens.

At the grill, skewers of Chicken and Pork Satay are romanced by the grill...

...for tasty bites before the main courses. Served with traditional peanut sauce, the juicy and richly seasoned chicken and pork skewers deliver a burst of savory notes with each bite followed by subtle smoky hints from the grill. The flavors are completed by the nutty richness of the traditional peanut sauce. 

The uniquely Indonesian Gado-Gado Salad with an assortment of raw, slightly boiled, blanched or steamed vegetables with boiled egg, potatoes, tempeh and fried tofu slathered in thick peanut sauce and topped with crisp shallots opens up the palate with its fresh and mildly sweet notes. Chicken and Pork Satay and Gado-Gado Salad are the perfect start to your Balinese journey of authentic flavors by Executive Sous Chef Wayan Juni Ardhana at Kusina Sea Kitchens. 

Need a little help in plating your Gado-Gado Salad? No problem. Executive Chef Wayan Juni Ardhana shows how it's done...

...for that perfect start at the Balinese Food Festival. 

A hearty and comforting bowl of soup is up next on your culinary journey to Bali, and the station chefs will gladly prepare your steaming hot bowl a la minute...

...and served to your table. The Gareng Asep Seafood Soup is a richly flavored dish with succulent seafood and a lingering yet comforting heat from the spices and fiery sambal...

...while the Soto Ayam or Indonesian Chicken Noodle Soup offers milder, soothing yet deeper notes like a comforting hug to the palate. You just can't go wrong with chicken soup, right? 

And now for the Balinese main courses at Kusina Sea Kitchens...

Enjoy the sweet briny notes of succulent stir-fried spiced prawns simmered in spicy sambal with the Sambal Udang...

...followed by the bold and savory notes of the classic Beef Rendang with Executive Sous Chef Wayan Juni Ardhana's Sumatran style beef stew enriched with coconut cream. You'll want some extra rice with this one.

The blend of spices round out the flavors with all of Chef Juni's dishes, adding depth and that solid flavorful punch with each satisfying bite.

The traditional slow-cooked Balinese whole duck, Bebek Betutu, is another must try at the Balinese Food Festival in Kusina Sea Kitchens. The richness of the duck is tempered by the blend of aromatics and spices for bold notes. 

Extra rice? Absolutely. The Nasi Goreng is just what you need for the next round of savory dishes by Executive Sous Chef Wayan Juni Ardhana.

The Pepes Ikan or baked whole fish wrapped in banana leaves offers gentler notes for fresh and clean flavors...

...while the Babi Guling Samsam or roasted Balinese pork belly is my personal pick for round two at Kusina Sea Kitchens. A generous slather of spicy sambal cuts through the savory richness of the pork belly for that balanced and flavor-packed finish. 

At the buffet spread, you'll find other dishes as well including popular Italian, Indian, Japanese and Filipino staples too.  

Another plate and another round completes your journey deep into the heart of Balinese cuisine prepared and recreated by Executive Sous Chef Wayan Juni Ardhana. The Four Hands Culinary Series at Hilton Manila is the perfect escape without leaving the metro. 

"We believe that our Four Hands Culinary Series in Kusina Sea Kitchens is the perfect opportunity for Manila residents to experience for themselves the vibrant culture and flavors of Bali, without having to travel far," shared John Lucas. "We invite everyone to join us for this remarkable journey."

Hilton Manila's Kusina Sea Kitchens will be offering the Balinese Food Festival for Lunch from 12:00nn to 2:30pm and Dinner from 5:30pm to 9:30pm until the end of June. The Balinese Food Festival at Kusina Sea Kitchens is priced at P 2,500++ for lunch and P 2,800++ for dinner. Plus, you get a chance to fly off to Denpasar via Cebu Pacific and enjoy a four day, three night stay at Hilton Bali. Now that's not a bad deal. 

We've all dreamed of flying off to distant destinations and dive deep into an exotic culture. Executive Sous Chef Wayan Juni Ardhana brings the flavors of Bali to your table at Hilton Manila's Kusina Sea Kitchens so you don't even have to leave the city. Ready for an authentic taste of Bali? Book your table now (see links below)...

Kusina is located at the 3rd Level of Hilton Manila, 1 Newport Boulevard, Pasay, Metro Manila. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 7239 7788 or send an email to MNLPH_F&Binquiries@hilton.com. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at @hiltonmanila for more updates.

Dude for Food is now on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, check out these social media accounts for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and "Follow" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB and IG widgets on the right sidebar.