Despite its’ beautiful and aesthetic Instagram spots, Kynd Community is lacking of kindness in terms of handling the locals.
It was during one morning when I decided to head North in search of a nice breakfast spot. After a good half an hour of browsing through Zomato, I decided to give Kynd Community a chance despite the distance that it took to get there from where I’m living.
When I arrived, I was awestruck with how pink and beautiful the place was. It has this tropical vibe going on and it is definitely the home base of a bunch of VSCO girls from around the world. I placed myself at this seat right at the corner, that has a wall with leafs and words painted on it, which is the number one spot to take pictures to. One of the waitress was slightly reluctant in giving me the seat, maybe because I was just by myself that morning, but she eventually gave in.
I was in the mood of having beautiful food so that I could take pictures of it and post it in my Instagram, so I opted for a DIY Gourmet Toast. I ordered a piece of guten-free bread with avocado, scrambled tofu, beet hummus, and asparagus for my toppings. I know, there was too much toppings going on on my piece of toast, but I didn’t mind. As for the drink, I got myself a Pink Latte, that consisted of beetroot, cacao, vanilla, and cinnamon. Ten minutes in and my meal was served.
The bread has this sourdough-like texture - with all its’ holes on its’ surface, not to mention the brick-like, yet crispy, crusts. It was savory and chewy, and I enjoyed it very much. The toppings that I ordered came in a small plate each, which was generously filled to the brim. I got give sticks of fat asparagus that was, probably, grilled nicely with oil and garlic. Combine all these toppings and you got yourself an Instagram food.
Too bad, despite its’ delicious food and artistic scenery, the service at Kynd Community was off. Well, at least for me, because I was the only local dinning in that morning. Other tables were occupied with tourists from the US, Australia, Korea, Japan, and they were all treated with full attention and in a very friendly manner. Unlike me, who had to came up to the counter to get myself another piece of toast because I was left hanging as I waved my hand to call one of the waitresses. Another thing was that they way they talked to me was rather upsetting - no smiles, eyebrows frowning, and the tone was a bit unfriendly.
To the waitresses at Kynd Community, please treat your guests equally. I know, the place was maybe designated for international tourists, but when a local girl needs her aesthetic needs fulfilled she ought to comply.
Beautiful delicious food, interior design that lives up to my aesthetic needs, and a warm yet hearty atmosphere are the three main reasons that makes me keep coming back to the Shelter every time I got the chance. True, they can charge an awful lot of money for tax and service, and the fact that the breezy rooftop garden doesn’t provide any parking lot for those who bring their personal vehicles to dine in adds up some minuses to the points, but I don’t mind as long as I have my food and that my food is served with some edible flowers on it. One thing that I notice though, which is a shameful thing to do, is how the staff treat us locals differently than the foreigners. But that’s another story I’ll tell in the future. In the mean time, let’s go for the food!
Finishing my Blue Moon on the go!
Mr. Waffles - 75K
I stumbled upon this salad dish that I instantly love. It goes by the name Soul Fuel Bowl. Consisted of a mix of shredded beetroot, carrot, and purple cabbage, garnished with cucumber swirls and a dollop of hummus with toasted seeds on top. Complete with a handful of organic quinoa and avocado on the sides, and it also comes with three okay pieces of homemade falafels. Finally, the salad from the garden is served with three house dressings that will definitely tingle your tastebud. Boy, when I first ordered this dish, I didn’t know what was coming - all I expected was a petite bowl of greens. But then, after 15 minutes of waiting, I was presented a humungous bowl of rainbow that looks as festive as a tumpeng. Gulp.
It took me a while to figure how to devour this heavy breakfast. Things were all over the place and my bowl was very much occupied for me to mix them all up without having quinoa flying across the table. The three dressings were sweet, creamy and sour, and savory. I tried each dressings with my salad, then mix them all together in one bite as well, but my favorite among the three was the sweet one. Combined with the hummus and toasted seeds, the flavor quickly escalated and, the next thing I know, I was halfway through my salad.
Soul Fuel Bowl - 85K
Blue Moon - 75K
The creamy and juicy Soul Fuel Bowl goes very well with this vegan smoothie named Blue Moon, a blue colored smoothie that resembles a beautiful unicorn. The blue color emerges when the chef adds a spoonful of Blue Majik Spirulina into the frozen banana and frozen white dragon fruit mixture. Add some vanilla cashew cream, a touch of lemon, and some dates, then mix them all together in a blender. Finally, garnish the top of the cold vegan beverage with sliced banana, blueberries, strawberries, and shredded coconut, and voila!
The perfect breakfast combination.
I love love love how the banana overpower the entire flavor wheel, yet managed to keep the zest of the lemon and the sweet dates alive. The mixture is very thick and heavy, but trust me, it goes so well with the Soul Fuel Bowl. Unfortunately, despite its’ awesomeness for being vegan, Mr. Waffle is not gluten free. I finally convince myself to declare that day as a cheat day only so that I can enjoy the vibrant desert without having to feel guilty of consuming carbs. Thank God I made the right decision.
15 minutes in. Suddenly, I heard a soft “ding” came from where the kitchen is and I spotted one of the staff carrying a plate of purple goodness. Of course, being the curious gastronomer that I am, I am familiar with how the waffle looks like, so I quickly assume that my order was going to be served in a few minutes.
“Permisi, Kak,” said the waitress, who paced her way to the side of my table, “satu Mr. Waffle, ya.” She placed the desert on the table and I could hear numerous “Ooooo!” and “Wow!” overleaping from where I was seated. The sight of the vegan desert was breathtakingly beautiful.
Grilled until it was slightly brownish in color, the Shelter’s Mr. Waffle is a one stack waffle garnished with what it seemed to me like a homemade vegan whipped cream in the color of purple on top, complete with a handful of various berries on the side, and came with a small cup of honey. It was definitely a sight for sore eyes. I sliced the waffle into four pieces and I could feel the crispiness of the edges as my knife slide through the grilled dough.
I took a big bite of one slice, complete with all the decoration provided on the place, and I was lost for words. I could definitely taste some genuine honey here and there, meaning that it was not artificial sugar with honey flavor, and a dash of cinnamon as well. The berries was very juicy and refreshing, a very nice neutralizer from all the sweet action I was getting from the cream.
The Snickers
The other day, I also had this other vegan desert from the Shelter named Snickers, which is basically a vegan version of a Snickers Cake. It looked like a regular ol’ cake, but I didn’t feel guilty after I devoured the whole thing. It was very creamy, sweet, and peanuty. The chocolate infused inside had a raw kick into it, while the crumbly bottom layer was actually crushed cashew that tasted like shortbread crumbs. Oh, and did I mention that the cake, other than being vegan, was gluten free?
Cauliflower Fries - 25K
Chill, guys, the Shelter is not a vegan cafe, so you meat eaters can still have some beef, bacon, and eggs for breakfast here. I highly recommend you to have the Shelter Big Burger with French Fries if you want to go for something tummy-filling and and heart-warming. They also have other healthy and delicious munchies, like Cauliflower Fries, plant based waffle, and vegan Chocolate Truffles. Just don’t forget to empty your stomach before visiting the Shelter because the terms “kenyang bego” applies here. I mean it!
Shelter Big Burger with French Fries - 99K
Shelter Cafe Bali Jl. Drupadi No. 2B Seminyak, Bali
Kali ini adalah dinas gue yang kedua di Bali. Saat itu, keadaan mulai membaik dan gue sudah mulai keluar dari zona nyaman gue. Pagi dihari ketiga gue dinas, gue memutuskan untuk sarapan di luar. Ada tempat makan di atas Nalu Bowl, di daerah Seminyak, yang cantik dan Instagramable banget, namanya Shelter. Waktu itu pernah gue mampir ke sana, tapi belum kesempatan untuk nyoba makanannya karena saat itu gue tengah tergila-gila sama yang namanya Smoothie Bowl. Nah, mumpung gue baru gajian dan lagi pingin-pinginnya makan sesuatu yang ada rotinya, pergilah gue ke Shelter dianterin Bapak.
Masih jam sembilan pagi ketika gue sampai, tapi tempatnya sudah ramai pengunjung, baik penduduk lokal maupun tamu dari negara lain. Gue langsung menempati salah satu tempat duduk yang menghadap keluar (gimana ya jelasinnya, bayangin kursi dan meja bar tapi nggak ada tembok untuk ditatap, melainkan langsung pemandangan luar. Nah, iya begitu!) dan memilah-milah buku menu. Gue sangat menikmati waktu me-time gue saat itu. Sampai lupa kapan terakhir gue bisa merasa tenang dengan pergi sendirian ke suatu tempat. "Mbak, saya mau Eggs Benedict extra Smoked Bacon, ya," ucap gue ke salah satu staff Shelter.
Eggs Benedict ala Shelter ini dipresentasikan dengan cukup sederhana dan nggak neko-neko: dua buah english muffin yang dihias dengan danish ham dan telur rebus diatasnya, dilumuri saus hollandaise yang mengkilat dan ditaburi daun peterseli; dan tetap cantik! Di sisi piring ada dua lembar smoked bacon yang tadi gue pesan, dan ukurannya lumayan tebal dan panjang. Which is good!
Di mana-mana Eggs Benedict itu, pada intinya, adalah roti pakai telur rebus. Tapi, yang membuat Eggs Benedict Eggs Benedict adalah saud hollandaise-nya. Saus ini terbuat dari kuning telur dan air buah lemon yang diaduk sampai agak matang diatas panci kukus. Ngaduknya harus pas, nggak boleh terlalu kencang, nggak boleh terlalu pelan. Kalau salah ngaduk, sausnya bisa pecah, atau bisa juga terlalu encer, dan nggak akan kental dan cantik seperti foto di atas dan gif di bawah. Pernah sekali gue bikin Eggs Benedict di rumah dengan bahan seadanya, dan hasilnya ciamik.
Eggs Benedict dari Shelter tidak mengecewakan, cukup mengenyangkan, dan rasa saus hollandaisenya pun nggak jelek. Pilihan tepat adalah untuk menambahkan beberapa potong smoked bacon ke dalam sajian makanan gue, karena rasa gurih dari daging babi itu membuat keseluruhan sarapan gue menjadi lebih nendang.
Shelter Cafe Bali Jl. Drupadi No. 2B Seminyak, Bali
Pas kemarin di Bali, ada satu hari di mana gue dan Ibu gue jalan-jalan ke kota untuk belanja dan nonton film di bioskop. Karena rumah kami memang letaknya di desa, kanan kiri sawah semua dan kalau malam-malam gelapnya kayak lagi program Live In di pedalaman kampung, kami memang benar-benar harus ke kota kalau mau mencari hiburan. Perkebunan padi seketika berubah menjadi jalan raya yang diramaikan kendaraan berplat nomor DK. Gue pun menjadi semangat saat sampai tujuan karena udah lama nggak ngeliat papan reklame bulat berwarna hijau tua dengan tulisan Starbucks. "Bener-bener kayak orang desa main ke kota, ya," ucap Ibu gue.
Perjalanan dari Desa Pejeng ke Denpasar kurang lebih dua jam. Destinasi pertama kami adalah Mal Bali Galeria yang terletak di sisi Jalan By Pass. Dengan desain gedung yang sepertinya mengikuti gedung tradisional di Bali, Mal itu tampak beda dengan mall-mall lainnya yang pernah gue kunjungi. Hanya dua lantai, bangunannya luas dan tidak dihias dengan Air Conditioner di setiap sudutnya, dan dilengkapi dengan area berjalan yang hijau di tengah-tengahnya. Ibarat donat tapi dalam bentuk kotak dan adalah sebuah bangunan.
Siang itu, kami mampir ke bioskop yang ada di Mal Bali Galeria dan menikmatti indahnya nonton film keluaran terbaru dalam keadaan sepi. Belum pernah, seumur hidup gue, gue nonton film dengan keadaan sesepi dan sekosong itu. Cuma ada lima orang doang dalam satu studio!
Kami nonton Alien: Covenant. Gue penggemar berat seri film Alien karena itu adalah makanan sehari-hari gue saat gue masih berumur 4 tahun. Iya, sekecil itu gue udah nonton film garapan Ridley Scott dari yang pertama sampai yang keempat. Gue bahkan inget banget di suatu siang, saat gue masih TK dan sedang disuapin sama Ibu gue, gue lebih memilih nonton Alien ketimbang film Robin Hood karya Disney.
Tapi film itu pun yang menyebabkan gue takut setengah mati berenang di kolam, dan di laut. Pokoknya aktivitas apapun yang mengharuskan gue untuk berinteraksi dengan air, gue ogah, dan ketakutan ini berlangsung sampai gue kelas 3 SD. Akhirnya, setelah gue dipaksa ikut kursus dan berhasil berenang dari tepi kolam ke tepi seberangnya, dalam keadaan hujan badai yang membuat air kolamnya butek nggak karuan, atas dorongan Bapak gue, gue pun berhasil menghilangkan rasa takut dikejar-kejar Xenomorph di dalam air.
Selesai nonton film, gue kepingin makan yang berkuah karena, ternyata gue baru sadar bahwa makanan berkuah adalah comfort food buat gue, gue mendapat kabar yang nggak enakin. Jadi, ketimbang seharian mecucu dan menyebarkan hawa negatif ke seluruh penjuru Denpasar, gue memutuskan untuk makan Soto Betawi di Kafe Betawi.
Ditemani kerupuk oren yang rasanya terlalu bagus kalau dibandingin dengan kerupuk oren ala tukang ketoprak gerobakan, gue melahap Soto Betawi gue yang dihias dengan remahan emping dan bawang goreng. Rasanya nggak kayak Soto Betawi sama sekali, lebih kayak sayur lodeh. Terlalu banyak santan, terlalu manis, dan nggak ada gurih-gurihnya blas. Agak mengecewakan, tapi cukup untuk menghibur hati yang lagi gundah. Ditambahin sambel pun nggak ngaruh apa-apa karena rasanya tetap kayak sayur lodeh dan bukan rasa soto.
Sebelum meninggalkan Mal Bali Galieria, untuk ketemuan dengan Tante gue di daerah Seminyak, gue sempet mampir ke gerai Starbucks yang membuka cabangnya di mal tersebut dan membeli tumbler yang gue kepingin dari kapan tau. Sayangnya, desain tumbler yang gue mau udah nggak ada, karena udah lewat musimnya, jadinya gue pilih yang paling murah aja. Tadinya gue mau bayar pakai Starbucks Card, karena bisa dikasih diskon 10% untuk tumbler-nya dan dapat minuman gratis seukuran Tall, sayangnya mesin pengoperasian kartunya sedang error. Batal dapat diskon, deh. But I got me this tall-sized Iced Shaken Lemonade, with Passion Fruit Tea and less ice, so yay!
Yang tadinya mau ketemuan di Nalu Bowls harus diganti karena, saat itu, Nalu Bowls akan tutup dalam waktu satu jam. Akhirnya kami pindah haluan dan memutuskan untuk ketemuan di Earth Cafe yang terletak di sisi Jalan Kayu Aya.
Nggak susah kok untuk menemukan Earth Cafe ini karena terbantu dengan papan reklame warna hijau yang kemungkinannya kecil untuk kelewatan. Awalnya sempat bingung mau parkir di mana karena cafe ini mungil banget, tapi ternyata ada parkiran khusus di dalamnya yang bisa memuat mobil dalam hitungan jari dan beberapa motor.
Karena saat itu gue lagi sok-sokan mau menerapkan hidup hits dengan diet sehat, jadilah gue pesan chia pudding parfait ini yang nama aslinya gue lupa. Parfait ini terbuat dari chia seeds yang dicampur dengan almond milk hingga mengembang, yang kemudian dihias dengan potongan stroberi, potongan mangga, taburan kuaci dan goji berry, tumpahan pemanis alami yang terbuat dari kurma, sedikit yogurt, dan parutan kelapa kering. Wow, Kinan jadi vegan! Hidup vegan!
Gue nggak nyangka makanan sekecil ini ternyata semengenyangkan itu. Asli, gue kenyang banget makan beginian doang! Beberapa suap terakhir itu rasanya menyiksa, entah kenapa. Sebenarnya enak kok, meskipun kalau chia puddingnya dimakan sendiri aja akan terasa sangat hambar maka dari itu dikasih segala hiasan biar ada rasa sedikit, tapi lama-lama lidah gue bosen juga dengan makanan vegan dan organik ini. Gue sangat merekomendasikan parfait ini untuk kalian yang asli vegan dan yang sedang diet sehat.
Sementara itu, Ibu gue tengah sibuk dengan jamur goreng kriuk dan jus C4-nya yang terdiri dari wortel, timun, dan apel. Kenapa ya, rumput tetangga selalu kelihatan lebih hijau? Kayaknya enak banget Ibu gue ngunyah potongan-potongan jamur yang dibalut tepung garing nan gurih. Makannya pakai kecap asin pula, tambah enak kan jadinya!
Sudah, deh, setelah kenyang menyantap biji ngembang yang rasanya hambar itu, gue dan Ibu gue memutuskan untuk kembali ke Desa Pejeng. Sudah cukup jalan-jalannya di kota, besok-besok lagi kalau udah suntuk dengan sawah dan segala hutan belantaranya. Dan gue pun harus menyetir dalam posisi kekenyangan yang membuat gue agak mengantuk. Sip.
Kafe Betawi
Mal Bali Galeria
Jl. By Pass I Gusti Ngurah Rai
Opening Hours:
Monday - Sunday: 10AM - 10PM
Starbucks
Mal Bali Galeria
Jl. By Pass I Gusti Ngurah Rai
