Balinese I Putu Dodik Sumarjana from Ubud's Nusantara by Locavore is one of the chefs highlighted at this year's Ubud Food Festival. What's the specialty that he brought to the event? What is it with him and banana tree?

Feeling undecided when he first received an offer to become the head chef at Nusantara by Locavore, I Putu Dodik Sumarjana decided on the answer by asking consideration from the people closest to him.

Now, he admits he doesn't regret his decision.

"I'm very grateful that I can level up and learn, explore more," he told SBS Indonesian.

Nusantara by Locavore's head chef, I Putu Dodik Sumarjana. Source: Nusantara by Locavore

Nusantara by Locavore is one of the restaurants participating in the annually held Ubud Food Festival 2022, which had been absent for two years due to the pandemic.

Listen to the full conversation here:

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This chef talks about Ubud Food Festival, banana tree, and his career

SBS Indonesian

06/07/202225:05

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Being the head chef at Nusantara by Locavore since its establishment in 2017, Chef Putu's journey with the mother restaurant and its founders - Ray Adriansyah and Eelke Plasmeijer - is way longer than that.

Chef Putu said he was grateful to be able to pursue a career together with the two people he considered as teacher and father figures.

"From having no knowledge about professional kitchen, [I was] taught from scratch, up to this point," said Chef Putu, referring to the roles of Chef Ray and Chef Eelke have in his career.

"I promise as long as they need me, I will stay with them."

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