Jade by Todd English opens the door to fine fusion dining in Canggu, Bali

It is inevitable that each visit to Bali will bring with it a batch of surprises. You may have read recently, however, that Bali’s provincial government is posting a temporary ban on the construction of new hotels, villas, discotheques and beach clubs – so as to slow down the pace of land development and avoid overcrowding on the island. And to me, that’s a good thing. Even an avid visitor like myself cannot keep up with the rapid changes and all the newness; meanwhile, western developers need to be curbed with how much land their money can buy. So, I say good on the government for stepping in and laying down some rules.

In the meantime, there are plenty of recently opened venues for you to venture to on your next visit to Bali – or more so a little further out than the usual Bali haunts. Places well worth going that mile further include Byrd House in Sanur, Canna in Nusa Dua, or if you don’t want to venture too far out, Jade by Todd English in Canggu.

East meets west in the most stunningly beautiful sense at Jade by Todd English in Canggu.

Inspired by the mystique of the ancient Silk Road, Jade by Todd English represents the ultimate culinary escapism, its décor a melting pot of delicate Asiatic aesthetic and classic European-meets-Middle Eastern design. Moor-inspired doorways open up to private rooms with flocked wallpaper and vibrant orchids vying for your attention; booths and banquettes upholstered in plush violet velvet allow for truly laidback seating, sipping designer cocktails that boggle the mind.

But the best example of east-meets-west here is the food menu. Jade by Todd English isn’t just a dining destination; it’s an expedition into the extraordinary. Celebrity chef Todd English may be British by name, but he is American by birth – from Boston, Massachusetts, in fact. That all-American know-how is evident in the venue’s architecture, interior design, and certainly in the contents of the food menu.

Almost every item on the menu of Jade by Todd English celebrates food at its most multicultural. Think new twists on classic favourites, each dish presented like an aesthetic masterpiece.

One standout dish – his Peking Duck Bolognese – totally redefines the modern fusion cooking experience. An udon noodle is cooked alfredo style – replacing the old-school familiarity of spaghetti – and sits on top of Bolognese done ragu-style featuring five secret spices that give it a Euro-meets-Asiatic touch.

There are lighter dishes that are great for sharing, including the Wagyu Carpaccio – delicately sliced slivers of quality Wagyu counteracted by a chili crunch, sticky soy, and scallions mixed with chimichurri. Or the delectable Tuna Tataki featuring crispy wonton, zesty ginger onions, and a kick of sriracha aioli. Did someone say marvellous multiculture?

The delectable Tuna Tataki.

Quality cocktails and magical mocktails are also key highlights of Jade by Todd English, with each concoction looking like a brilliant work of pop art. The Kimono Cherry Sparkle, for example, is a Bellini-inspired modern classic fusing sparkling wine and cherry syrup, topped with soda to create a shimmering red foam.

With a track record of acclaimed establishments like Olives at the Venetian Village (at the Ritz Carlton in Abu Dhabi), blueZoo at Walt Disney World’s Dolphin Hotel, and his namesake hotel – The English Hotel in Las Vegas, two words sum up Todd’s culinary style: finest fusion.

Jade by Todd English is the ultimate in elevated culinary craftsmanship and a great example of how high the expectations of good food have gotten in Canggu, giving Seminyak and the usual Bali hotspots a run for their culinary prowess.

Antonino Tati

Jade by Todd English is situated on Jl. Pemelisan Agung, Kuta Utara, Canggu.
The restaurant is open from 7pm to 2am, Wednesday to Sunday and reservations can be made on +62 811 3882 2225.