Written by Marc Hanes
Ronald is a Brazilian chef who has been living and working in Bali for almost 2 years. He found his passion for cooking when he was 20 and quickly decided this was the career he wanted to pursue. Fast forward to Bali, where he is creating inspired menus at Ocaso, .the popular sports bar in Uluwatu’s Padang Padang.
His cooking is heavily influenced by his love of high-quality organic ingredients that put flavor first and just happen to be full of nutrition, a subject close to his heart. Quality is his mantra and he strives for it in every dish he conceives, from preparation to execution.
The Menu
Chef Ronald, or Junior to his friends, is the most recent addition to the culinary line-up at Ocaso where he brings his signature Latin American flavors to play with their Mexican menu. His creative input brings a more diverse range of flavours and tastes to Ocaso, bringing it to the forefront of exciting dining destinations in Uluwatu.
To many in Bali he is familiar for his fresh wellness-based menus at Canggu’s Beachgarden Organic Kitchen.
The passionate young chef is rolling out new specials every week, including his signature Peruvian Ceviche; a cured fish salad created with a mix of fresh Balinese fish, smoked corn, red onion, coriander, fish sauce, baked served with sweet potato and mixed chips on the side (banana, sweet potato purple and yellow).
On a recent visit, we dived in to sample a range of dishes to see how they stacked up, here’s what we enjoyed:
Signature Burger
Ocaso’s pride and glory is their signature burger. These buns are loaded with double Wagyu patties, tasty cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomatoes, topped with their homemade onion sauce. The kicker here is that this dish includes an exciting side of their hand cut, triple fried potato chips. Super crunchy and tasty.
Nachos
Nachos are the perfect snack for post-beach sessions or when you’re on the edge of your seat watching your favorite team go head-to-head with their rivals.
We enjoyed a generous portion of tortilla chips, nestled under fresh guacamole, sour cream, and cheddar cheese, tasty and crunchy from start to finish.
El Pierna
El Pierna was next on our list, a dish full of rejuvenating flavours, starring a grilled boneless chicken leg marinated overnight with the chef’s secret marinade, Argentinian Chimichurri, their classic Ocaso salad, and crunchy tortilla chips.
Peruvian Ceviche
This was the highlight of our tasting. So fresh, tasty, and perfectly balanced flavours. The fresh flavours highlighted coriander and red-onion which gently cured the fresh balinese fish, with a delicate fish oil and baked sweet potato to secure that umami flavour.
The Venue:
Ocaso is firstly a sports bar but there’s plenty for beach lovers to enjoy, including the fabulous views of one of Bali’s most popular surf beaches, Padang Padang. Perched on the hill overlooking the pumping waves, diners enjoy stunning views and a crisp cooling breeze, perfect for chilling after a full day at the beach.
With 7 Big Screen TV’s, Ocaso streams all world-wide sports events live, including UFC, Premier League, La liga, Serie A, Australian Soccer and Rugby, PGA Golf, NBA, WSL, and NFL.
The Bar:
Ocaso’s Bar has a modern and clean design with a colourful ambience created with the addition of country flags lined up along the ceiling and colourful walls.
What’s a sports bar without a good selection of drinks? Ocaso delivers a comprehensive collection of wines, signature cocktails, beers and more. A beer for the boys on their next big footy match? Perhaps a few glasses of wine for the ladies after a day on the waves? Ocaso has you covered.
Bright and breezy, Ocaso has a healthy roster of promotions to complement the regular sports events. Follow their social media accounts for updates, and grab your friends, Ocaso is a place that can be enjoyed solo but is so much better with a crew. .
