THE GOURMET GARAGE

On Saturday afternoon, we decided to drive around just to get familiar with the area.  As we are still living in the hotel while looking for a house, we wanted to see what the local delicatessen had to offer. In nearby Jimbaran, the Gourmet Garage hides behind the busy bypass off a small road, and caters to most of the expats who live in or around the Jimbaran-Nusa Dua-Uluwatu area.

The Gourmet Garage is actually a small supermarket that stocks fresh vaccum-packed meats, organic salads, dairy products, cheeses, select cereals and other imported ingredients.  There is also a small section in the back that has cooking utensils, pots, pans and even small appliances.  Near the entrance, is a makeshift cafe with a few tables, a cake counter, an ice cream counter and further in the back, a room filled with wines from all over the world.

On our first visit, we had a quick look around and then sat down for a snack - iced teas, steak sandwich and the garlic roast chicken.  The limited cafe menu has mostly sandwiches and salads as well as nachos and the very popular ice cream.  Steaks from the deli are also available to be eaten at the cafe for a small cooking charge (about 30,000 Rupiah).  When we were there, most clients coming in would get an ice cream cone (15,000 Rupiah) then sit outside on the benches to have it.  Service is friendly but a bit on the slow side so don't come in and expect to dine and dash.  This is more of a sit-around-and-have-a-coffee-and-cake kind of place.

The following day, after a morning spent at the beach, we went back again and had a quick lunch which was better than the day before.  The classic cheeseburger was very good while the chicken wrap was fine - stuffed with Tandoori chicken although served very cold.  A variety of coffee drinks are available as well as takeaway coffee beans and specialty teas from Caswells.  The food is fine but it's really more of a supermarket than a restaurant so it's perfect for a quick cup of coffee right before you do your weekly shopping.

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The Gourmet Garage

Bypass Ngurah Rai Street,

Gg. Tukad Melangi

(right behind Lotus Enterprises building on the bypass)

Jimbaran – Bali – Indonesia
Telephone: +62 361 701 650
Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

MORRISONS in Gibrltar

I sit on my terrace and enjoy the view of the Mediterranean with the rock of Gibraltar looming in the distance and used to wonder what it was like. After three years here, we'd finally made it to the famous limestone promontory on a Sunday a few weeks back just to have a look. On that day we crossed the border quickly, parked the car and stopped at a nondescript pub for a quick lunch then walked some more until we reached the large square at the end of main street where more restaurants and cafes were situated. We didn't have time to explore more and see the sights.

This time, our short trip to Gibraltar was all about heading to Morrisons and seeing for ourselves what i was like. The supermarket is quite large with a cafe and a petrol station (where it's supposedly 30% cheaper to fill up than in Spain). I had low expectations because of mixed reviews about Morrisons since most said that it was the same as shopping in the local supermarkets Hipercor and Supersol. I have to disagree. It isn't the same, it's way better and with the current favorable exchange making the Pound almost equal to the Euro, it's cheaper too.

Why is it better? Well, there's definitely more variety - fruits and vegetables (e.g young corn, sugar snap peas, fresh green chilies), fresh-baked bread (e.g. whole wheat buns and granary loaf), organic baby products (e.g. Hipp baby food, organic rusks), healthy lunchbox snacks (e.g. mini boxes of raisins and dried apricots), a fantastic assortment of ready meals (e.g. New Covent Garden Food Co. soups), crisps & chips (e.g. Kettle Chips, pretzels) and lots of English magazines and books at half the price. I've always been a bit skeptical about those who would cross over regularly to do their shopping in Gibraltar but now I see that I might have to do the same at least once every six weeks. In the end, it's only half an hour away (closer than Malaga) and with the range of food available plus the reasonable prices then it makes it worth the trip.

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Morrisons

Westside road, Gibraltar

Open daily:

Mondays to Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sundays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

* Check online as opening hours change on certain holidays