Bali Buddha Baked Goods

Asia has its own form of baked goods, but sometimes you miss that nice classic bakery item from the U.S. of A. or Europe. Guilt may take over as buttery, delicious baked goods and pastries are super caloric and will not contribute to deflating the tire around your waist when you hope to be prancing around the beaches of Indonesia and are already feeling bloated from the fried food. Again, the body is screaming for something healthy. Of if those indulgent pangs are still persistent, at least something deceivingly unhealthy. Bali Buddha in Ubud, Bali, has a cafe, home delivery, and store selling its freshly-baked goods, imported items, and other related products that was reminiscent of a Whole Foods aisle. The store is underneath the cafe, which is made of a lounge section (pictured) and a more formal dining loft area.

The menu is chock full of items that advertise a healthy lifestyle and matching the zen vibe of Bali. The portions are enough to make you 80% full. Lots of health tonics to choose from. Though if you are feeling really ill, it might be better to visit Wayan at her Traditional Balinese Healing Center, popularized by "that book" driving women to Bali in search of their eat, pray, and love.

An amazing feature of the Bali Buddha store is the day-old section in the towering shelves of baked goods. The items placed in this section are pre-packaged from the day before and are sold for half-price. Amazing! Unfortunately, Ubud is an early-rising town so you have to get to the store pretty early for the best selection. Otherwise, there are slim pickings or ::gasp:: none at all. The baked goods are placed in small baskets with a little net over them and you pick and choose what you want. The cinnamon buns were cooked all the way through, a little more dense than fluffy. I would say that the muffins were the best pick of the lot holding together well are light with just the right amount of blueberry or banana. The apple cake was full of shredded apple and had another component that bulked the filling (which was not totally apple, but I cannot put my finger on it). Each bite is satiating and full of fruity surprises. Also really tasty were the cardamom balls, which were a tad savory and not too sweet. The icing on the carrot cake was a little too thick for my taste, coming off the cake in a singular piece. The actual carrot cake part had more than just carrots - most likely pineapple pieces and other fruits as more complex carrot cake recipes do. There were just so many goods to try. The store also has imported and specialty items like locally made mozzarella cheese, herbs, and dried meats, but the baked goods that were a main source of fuel throughout the day is its highlight.

Bali Buddha Ubud Café, Shop & Home Delivery. Jalan Jembawan #1 (across from the Ubud Post Office), Ubud, Mas, Gianyar 80571, Bali, Indonesia. Tel. (0361) 976324 / 978963. www.balibuddha.com