When I stepped into Mertasari, a local restaurant in Klungkung, East Bali, I felt the comforting familiarity of traditional Balinese dining. The open building with its traditional Balinese typical places to sit at the restaurant. People sat cross-legged on bed-like platforms, sharing food in the middle, a true communal dining experience.
My friend had already found us a spot and was sipping on some soup when I arrived. "How does it taste?" I asked him. "Oh, it's quite spicy," he replied. Intrigued, I took a sip myself.
The moment the soup touched my throat, I felt something had kicked me. Then I was raised high on the air, and micro seconds later I was smacked down and fell flat on the floor.
Sorry, I got carried away a bit😅.But the heat was immediate and intense, with chili peppers visibly floating in the broth.
We were served a variety of traditional Balinese seafood dishes. There was pepes, fish wrapped in banana leaves and grilled with spices, satay lilit made from minced fish mixed with herbs, and urab, a mixed vegetable dish with a unique Balinese sauce. And then there was the sambal matah—sliced shallots and chilies mixed with coconut oil and salt, which was also incredibly hot.
As I struggled with the spiciness, I noticed a girl nearby with her boyfriend. Her face showed she was both enjoying and enduring the heat. I understood her struggle as soon as I took my first sip of that spicy soup, but the rest of the food was just as spicy as the soup.
Despite the heat, I enjoyed the meal. I mixed the vegetables with rice, added satay and sambal matah, and kept sipping the soup. Occasionally, I had to eat more rice to neutralize the spiciness, but overall, I liked the combination of flavors.
However, in the back of my mind, I worried about how my stomach would handle all the spice. Yet, the experience was worth every fiery bite.
