IMAGE
Part 16
Michael Taylor is currently in Bali, Indonesia, where he is spending three weeks exploring the sights, sampling the food, learning about the culture, and checking out what’s hot and what’s not in one of Southeast Asia’s most exciting travel destinations.
Most of the hotels that Michael is staying at during his three weeks in Bali – and he is staying in a total of 10 of them! – serve breakfast buffets. Only a couple of the boutique properties allowed guests to order ala carte.
Much of a Muchness
Breakfast buffets are much of a muchness if you ask me, and to be totally honest, I’m not overly fond of them. Generally speaking, I prefer ordering ala carte.
But there are always exceptions, and on this trip, the exception is the Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali in Kuta.
I liked the breakfast buffet at Palms, the hotel’s all day dining restaurant, for two simple reasons: the Belgian waffles and the pork sausages.
Belgium Waffles as I Remember Them
During my extensive travels in Asia over the last several years, I have stayed at many hotels that serve waffles at breakfast. And yet, I have not once tried any that I was willing to waste my calories on. I always took one or two bites, and left the rest on the plate uneaten.
“Why did I used to like waffles so much?” I have often wondered.
The waffles at Palms reminded me why. Because when waffles are done correctly, they are absolutely delicious. And it’s NOT just about flavour. Getting the texture just right is also key. Waffles should not be soft and spongy. They should have just the right amount of crunch – and airiness.
Pork Sausages as I Remember Them
As for those pork sausages, all I can say is, “Wow!” Most of the sausages I’ve tasted at hotel buffets in Asia have been a huge disappointment.
The sausages at Palms did not disappoint. They reminded me of those yummy Italian sausages I used to buy when I was living in Brooklyn, New York, 30 years ago.
I think I ate about eight of them on my first morning at the Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali. I tried to exercise a bit more self control on the following two mornings, with only limited success.
