Ubud, Bali | September 2025 – Apéritif Restaurant unveils a new seasonal tasting experience, the Lunar Cycle Menu, a continuation of its celebrated Borderless Food approach. Inspired by Bali’s spiritual relationship with time and nature, the new menu reflects the phases of the moon as observed in the traditional Balinese Sasih calendar.
Under the direction of Executive Chef Nic Vanderbeeken, Apéritif continues to redefine fine dining in Ubud. The restaurant’s signature blend of European culinary technique and Indonesian soul now deepens through a philosophical lens that considers not just ingredients and regions, but also rhythm, ceremony, and time.
“Our menu has always been about connection,” says Chef Nic. “With the Lunar Cycle, we move beyond geography and begin to cook in conversation with the natural calendar that shapes life in Bali.”
A Culinary Response to the Moon
Every four months, the tasting menu is designed around one key full moon from the Balinese calendar. The current menu draws from Purnama Kapat, a moon associated with balance, clarity, and transformation. Ingredients and dishes are selected not just for flavor, but for their cultural and seasonal significance during this time.
This is not a replication of ritual, but a respectful interpretation. The waxing phase inspires energetic and vibrant compositions, the full moon brings tension and contrast, while the waning phase invites restraint and introspection.
A Glimpse of What to Expect from a Selection of Dishes
- Labu Emas
Fermented, confit, and smoked. The marigold flower, used in temple offerings during Purnama Kapat, guides the spirit of this dish. It is a reflection on transformation and depth. - Beef Head-to-Tail
Beef Head to Tail with black carrot, antiboise, green mango, and kluwek XO – a whole-animal offering that celebrates unity of body and spirit, served at the moon’s peak to symbolise wholeness and abundance. - Tropical
Bittersweet and spiced, a warm closing note that settles the journey with papaya, pineapple, ginger, passionfruit, carrot ice and dark chocolate.
These new creations are joined by Apéritif’s signature dishes such as Venison Wellington with rendang spices, and aged duck with lawar, nasi kuning, and jamu. The dining journey begins at Pinstripe Bar with curated canapés and continues through a menu that invites both curiosity and contemplation.
Thoughtful Closures and Inclusive Options
Balinese Pastry Chef Ida Ayu Chinthya Dewi, affectionately known as Chef Dayu, concludes the experience with desserts that are both refined and emotionally resonant. Highlights include Say Cheese, with orchard chutneys and fermented honey, and Citrus Noire, a striking combination of cocoa, turmeric, and candied orange.
Vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian tasting menus are available with 24 hours’ notice. The culinary team also accommodates most allergies and dietary restrictions with advance communication to ensure quality and consistency.
About Apéritif Restaurant
Located in a grand manor house overlooking Ubud’s jungle and rice terraces, Apéritif offers a unique fine dining experience that blends timeless elegance with cultural relevance. The Lunar Cycle Menu adds a new layer to its Borderless Food identity, transforming the menu into a living dialogue with land, tradition, and imagination.
For reservations and inquiries:
Website: aperitif.com
Email: res@aperitif.com
Call/WhatsApp: +62 361 908 2 777
