A little taste of Indonesia, served in Sarawak

Some journeys begin in the kitchen, but grow far beyond it.

For Cuca, joining the World National & Asia Tapas Competition 2026 in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia was more than a chance to compete. It was an opportunity to represent Indonesia on an international stage through the language we know best: food.

Representing us was Chef Heri, one of our Chefs de Cuisine, who has been part of Cuca for 11 years. Beyond leading the kitchen, he also plays an important role in hygiene training and mentoring our interns. This competition was a well-deserved opportunity for him, one that Cuca was proud to give as part of his growth and journey with us.

For the competition, Chef Heri presented Indonesia Taco, a dish created to introduce Indonesia in a way that feels familiar to the world’s palate, while still staying true to Indonesian taste and identity. The taco form was chosen because it is simple, practical, and globally recognized. But inside, the soul of the dish is deeply Indonesian.

At the heart of it is beef rendang, one of Indonesia’s most iconic dishes, known for its rich spices, long cooking process, and deep cultural meaning. Instead of a regular tortilla, Chef Heri used a brown rice tortilla, because rice is an essential part of Indonesian food culture. It is not only our staple food, but also part of our memory, our home, and our everyday life.

For us, Indonesia Taco is not just fusion food. It is a meeting point between a global form and the soul of Indonesia. Rendang represents the richness and patience of Indonesian cooking, brown rice represents our connection to rice, and the taco represents Indonesia’s openness to connect with the modern world.

This competition brought together chefs from different countries, each carrying their own culture, ideas, and stories. Being part of it reminded us that food can be a bridge between people, a way to celebrate where we come from, and a chance to share our identity with pride.

From Bali to Sarawak, this journey was about more than competition. It was about creativity, connection, growth, and the people behind the food. We are grateful for the experience, the warm welcome, and the opportunity to bring a little taste of Indonesia to the international tapas stage.

Bali is still beautiful. You just have to know how to find it.

After fifteen years of calling Bali home, we felt it was time to share something deeply personal. Over the years, we’ve watched Bali be loved, photographed, praised, and, at times, misunderstood. Too often, people speak about the island as if it has been lost: too busy, too crowded, too changed. And while it is true that Bali has changed, as all living places do, we also know something else to be true: Bali is still profoundly beautiful, if you plan wisely, move gently, and choose with intention. That belief is the real reason we created Slow Magic Bali, our personal guide to the island we call home. 

At Cuca, we’ve always believed that a journey, like a great meal, should never be rushed. The real magic of Bali is not found in racing from one famous place to another. It lives in quiet mornings, long conversations, hidden coastlines, village rhythms, and in choosing less but better. We wanted to create something that reminded people of that. Not another checklist. Not another “must-see” guide. But a softer, more thoughtful way of experiencing the island.  This guide is a collection of places we genuinely love. Places where beauty reveals itself quietly. Places where Bali still feels like Bali. Each one was chosen not because it is fashionable, but because it has soul. Because it allows you to breathe. Because it helps you feel the island, instead of simply passing through it.

In many ways, this guide is also our response to the idea that Bali should be consumed quickly. We don’t believe that. Bali is not a destination to conquer. It is a place to feel. To listen to. To move through with care. We wanted to show that when you stay in the right places, leave room for spontaneity, and resist the pressure to do too much, the island opens up in a completely different way. Suddenly, Bali becomes quieter, deeper, more generous. Its beauty is still here. You just have to meet it properly.

And of course, this philosophy is not separate from Cuca. It is part of everything we believe in. Slow is not a trend for us. It is a way of living and hosting. We cook with local ingredients, support local communities, and believe tourism should nourish the island, not exhaust it. In that sense, this guide is simply an extension of the same values we try to put on every plate and into every experience we create.

We also wanted this guide to feel human, personal, and honest. The kind of thing you would share with someone you care about. Because that is exactly what it is. A gesture of trust. We hope it inspires you to travel more gently, choose more thoughtfully, and fall in love with a side of Bali that still feels deeply special.

Discover the Bali we know and love. Download your copy of our Slow Magic Bali guide here.

Warmly,
Kevin & Virginia

Cuca does it again holding our spot in Tatler's Best 20 Restaurants in Indonesia

 

Local ingredients. Legendary flavors. Unforgettable moments. And somehow, here we are again, deeply honoured to be named one of Tatler’s Best 20 Restaurants in Indonesia 2026, for the second year in a row!

At Cuca, this kind of recognition means more than a place on a list. It reminds us that thoughtful hospitality, bold creativity, and genuine care still matter. It reminds us why we keep doing the work every day: cooking with intention, hosting with heart, and never taking a single one of you for granted.

Because for us, it has never been about chasing awards. It has always been about creating moments guests remember: the first bite that makes the table go quiet, the service that feels personal without trying too hard, and the feeling that every detail has been cared for. Behind this recognition is our team, who show up every day with pride, energy, and heart. Behind every plate is a belief that local ingredients can be extraordinary. Behind every service is our commitment to making you, our guests, feel truly looked after.

So to our team, this is yours. To you all, thank you for believing in us, returning to us, and keeping us on our toes. And to everyone who has supported Cuca along the way, we are deeply grateful.

And as if being included again wasn’t special enough, there was one more surprise: our Fish Tartare was featured on the cover of this year’s Tatler Best Restaurants edition. A quiet, beautiful reminder that Indonesia’s ingredients can lead the story too.

We’re proud. We’re grateful. And still after 14 years, we’re just getting started.

See you at the table. 🍴