We've Found the World’s 2nd Best Rendang

(5/27/2012)

A survey conducted by CNN saw respondents from all over the world vote to name their favorite food. Winning that contest was Rendang – that succulent favorite that originates from West Sumatra in Indonesia involving chunks of beef simmered in coconut milk, galangal, garlic, ginger, chilies and Lemon grass.

Cooked for hours until the meat is tender and has absorbed all the accompanying spices, Rendang enjoys a nation-wide celebrity status as the centerpiece for every Indonesian celebratory feast.

By the way, the same CNN survey named as the second most popular dish another Indonesian mainstay – Nasi Goreng or fried rice.

Our search for the world’s second-best rendition of Rendang - the world’s favorite dish, recently brought us to the doorstep of Waroeng Bernadette – The Home of Rendang.

Located on Jalan Raya Mas on the southern outskirts of Ubud, the lady in charge is the talented Bernadette Gatenby who brings decades of Indonesian culinary expertise first gained in her Mother’s kitchen to her Ubud restaurant venture.

The menu is simple and extremely affordable. Soups or starters of Indonesian finger foods begin at Rp. 18,000 (US$1.95). Mains, including Gado-Gado, Nasi Goreng, Mie Goreng, Kwetiau Goreng and Ketropak Jakarta, are all equally priced at Rp. 29,000 (US$3.15).

But it's Rendang that enjoys pride-of-place at Waroeng Bernadette’s with Chicken Rendang, served with either rice of pasta, priced at just Rp. 45,000 (US$4.90). The more traditional form of Beef Rendang comes to the table for only Rp. 48.500 (US$5.27).

Delicious desserts include ice cream, fried bananas or carrot cake.

Drinks feature a range of freshly made juices, soft drinks and beer – including a brand of wheat beer - a beverage that conbines brilliantly with Indonesian Rendang.

The setting of Waroeng Bernadette is simple and gracious, with walls adorned with distinctive paintings by the Ubud-based artist Joe Mintardja, also offered for sale

The World's 2nd Best Rendang?

Why, you ask, a search for the world’s 2nd Best Rendang? Given Rendang’s acclamation as the world’s number one dish, any effort to find the "world’s best" anything suggests finding “the world's best Rendang” is achievable. Once found, thus would sadly end a delightfully delicious life-long journey of discovery.

Accordingly, our recent visit to Waroeng Bernadette has that restaurants’ versions of the world’s most preferred (Rendang) and second-most preferred (Nasi Goreng) dishes secure in our personal ranking as only the “second best” take on those two dishes.

While falling just short of absolute perfection, Waroeng Bernadette will do very nicely while we continue a lifetime, non-ending search for the world’s best Rendang and Nasi Goreng.

Waroeng Bernadette – The Home of Rendang
Jalan Raya Mas, Teges Yangloni
Ubud, Bali
Telephone ++62-(0)361-971852

[Facebook Page for Waroeng Bernadette] 

[Email for Bookings and Information]  

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