Chef Jean-Baptiste Natali: Leading the Culinary Artistry at Koral Restaurant

One Michelin Star culinary visionary redefines casual fine dining at Koral, Bali's first aquarium restaurant.

BALI, Indonesia, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bali's first aquarium restaurant, Koral at The Apurva Kempinski Bali, has recently appointed the One Michelin Star Chef Jean-Baptiste Natali as the Executive Chef. He is celebrated for his remarkable talent and wealth of culinary expertise gained over three decades of international experience. With a cooking philosophy of ensuring sustainable practices including minimising food waste, respect for locally sourced ingredients, and encouraging creativity for innovation, chef Jean-Baptiste invites diners on a flavourful journey through each dish. His profound dedication to the craft and admiration for the diverse flavours will bring Koral Restaurant to a new height of culinary excellence in Bali and beyond.

Born in the picturesque Champagne region of France, Chef Jean-Baptiste's love for cooking was deeply rooted in his upbringing amidst forests and natural landscapes. "Growing up surrounded by an abundance of natural resources, like fresh fish from local rivers and diverse forest products, deeply influenced my culinary perspective, emphasising the use of fresh and natural ingredients," he recalls. This early connection to nature has shaped his cooking philosophy with sustainability and respect for ingredients are paramount to his culinary creations. 

Chef Jean-Baptiste's illustrious career began in 1992 with a global career spanning France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Morocco, Dubai, Russia, the Philippines, China, Saudi Arabia, Maldives, Vietnam, and Thailand. His previous roles as a consultant and chef for several luxury hotels and as a proud chef- owner of the exquisite Hostellerie La Montagne in Haute-Marne, Champagne - France, have shaped his cooking skills, flavours and ability to collaborate with diverse talents worldwide.

By 2002, he had earned the prestigious title of the Youngest Michelin-starred Chef at the age of 27— an accolade he has proudly maintained for 23 years. This achievement speaks volumes about his exceptional talent and culinary mastery, as it is noteworthy that the level of accomplishment in receiving a Michelin star in France is known to be exceptionally challenging. His tireless pursuit of excellence continues to inspire aspiring chefs and captivate the global culinary community as he leads the team of culinary artisans at the iconic Koral Restaurant.

Bringing his global perspective to Bali's dining scene, chef Jean-Baptiste drives the evolution of Koral Restaurant's menu, presenting a harmonious blend of the simplicity of fresh and seasonal ingredients with the complexity of culinary mastery in every dish. "Inspiration often strikes me from the freshness of the ingredients. When I find an ingredient that speaks to me, I feel compelled to cook with it immediately, exploring its potential in new dishes," he shares. His love for mushrooms, vegetables, and seafood is evident in his menus, where these ingredients are elevated through precise techniques to reveal their unique flavours and textures. 

Chef Jean-Baptiste's passion for innovation is reflected in Koral's Zen menu, an eight-course signature menu that blends French techniques with locally sourced ingredients and Indonesian flavours. Featuring ingredients like shrimp, coconut, Indonesian Opor spices, tomatoes, mangoes, peanuts, mushrooms, scallops, and lobster, this menu exemplifies Koral's unique approach to fine dining. "This menu was born from a moment of meditation, representing a perfect balance of classic and modern culinary styles," he explains. In addition to the Zen menu, Koral also presents a five-course Experience menu; a six-course Gourmet menu that features Balinese Betutu spices, Maranggi sauce and banana blossom; and a six-course Vegetal menu featuring Bedugul tomatoes, Kemangi or Indonesian basil, sambal dabu-dabu, Balinese Betutu spices, cassava and Kintamani tangerine.

Looking ahead, chef Jean-Baptiste continues to drive the evolution of Koral from being known as a unique underwater dining destination to being recognised for its high quality and innovative culinary offerings paired with personalised service. "We are delighted to have Chef Jean-Baptiste Natali at Koral. His Michelin-starred expertise, combined with his passion for sustainability and innovation, aligns with our commitment to sustainable practices while maintaining the highest standards of luxury for an extraordinary and memorable dining experience. Under his leadership, Koral will continue to push the boundaries of culinary excellence with a vision to secure a Michelin star for Koral once Michelin includes Indonesia in the Guide. Beyond that, we aim to achieve the prestigious Michelin Green Star, setting a new benchmark in Bali's culinary scene, where exceptional dining and environmental stewardship go hand in hand." – said Vincent Guironnet, the General Manager of The Apurva Kempinski Bali.

Explore more of Koral Restaurant's new menu, meticulously crafted by One Michelin Star Chef Jean-Baptiste.

About The Apurva Kempinski Bali: Standing atop the majestic cliff of Nusa Dua, with breath taking views of the Indian Ocean and a tropical garden, The Apurva Kempinski Bali offers the epitome of beachfront luxury. This five-star resort in Bali presents itself as a majestic open-air theatre, an embodiment of Indonesian elegance. A collection of 475 iconic rooms, suites and villas are showcased, with 60% of the accommodation featuring its own private plunge pools. From a unique culinary journey and indigenous spa treatments to spacious meeting rooms and alluring chapels, The Apurva Kempinski Bali is a spectacular stage where curated experiences are brought to life. kempinski.com/bali

About Kempinski: Created in 1897, Kempinski Hotels is Europe's oldest luxury hotel group. Kempinski's rich heritage of impeccable personal service and superb hospitality is complemented by the exclusivity and individuality of its properties. Today the Kempinski Group operates 82 hotels and residences in 35 countries and currently has more than 28 prestigious projects under development around the globe. Each five-star hotel reflects the strength and success of the Kempinski brand without losing sight of its heritage; each one imbues the quality guests have come to expect from Kempinski while embracing the cultural traditions of its location. The portfolio comprises historic landmark properties, award-winning urban lifestyle hotels, outstanding resorts and prestigious residences. Kempinski is a founding member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands.

kempinski.com â€¢ www.discoveryloyalty.com

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Chef Jean-Baptiste Natali: Leading the Culinary Artistry at Koral Restaurant

Chef Jean-Baptiste Natali: Leading the Culinary Artistry at Koral Restaurant

Chef Jean-Baptiste Natali: Leading the Culinary Artistry at Koral Restaurant

UNCCD COP16 in December aims to be turning point in the global fight against land degradation, desertification and drought

NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Saudi Arabia has called on the world's policymakers to urgently address land degradation, drought and desertification ahead of the 16^th UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP16 in Riyadh in December. Every second, an equivalent of four football fields of healthy land becomes degraded, totaling 100 million hectares every year.

At their "Road to Riyadh" event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, opened by Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia urged delegates to prepare to take decisive action in December, outlining a roadmap for international action and engagement and unveiling the thematic program for the COP.

Incoming COP16 President and Saudi Arabia Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, said, "This is a pivotal moment for our planet. Land restoration is vital to securing a prosperous future for generations to come."

"It is crucial the international community unites to deliver ambitious and lasting solutions that curb land degradation, combat drought, and promote the sustainable use of natural resources," added Minister AlFadley. "We must strengthen international cooperation to address the pressing environmental challenges facing our planet."

Minister AlFadley also emphasized that Saudi Arabia's hosting of COP16 reflects its commitment to environmental preservation and restoration, both domestically and internationally, citing initiatives such as the Saudi Green Initiative, the Middle East Green Initiative, and the G20 Global Land Initiative.

While land degradation trends vary across regions, UNCCD data warns that, if current patterns continue, the world will need to restore 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030 to meet the Land Degradation Neutrality targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals. In Riyadh, under the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Presidency of COP16, there will be a strong push for more concrete commitments to accelerate restoration efforts and meet this critical goal.

Senior stakeholders from international organizations, government and civil society also addressed the growing need to increase ambition and address the global challenges caused by land degradation, including drought, food insecurity and forced migration, alongside the urgent need for multilateral action to them to tackle them.

UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: "Land degradation and drought affect nearly half the world's population, especially indigenous communities, smallholder farmers, women, and youth. COP16 in Riyadh will be a pivotal moment to accelerate large-scale land restoration and boost drought resilience, with multiple benefits for people, nature and climate. Our success depends on the ambition of all parties and our commitment to resetting our relationship with the land for future generations."

According to the UNCCD, up to 40% of the world's land is already degraded, directly affecting an estimated 3.2 billion people. At the same time, droughts are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity – up 29% since 2000. An estimated 75% of people globally will be affected by drought by 2050.

About COP16 Riyadh:

The conference will take place December 2-13, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and will be the first UNCCD COP to feature a Green Zone, providing a space for business and civil society to deliver lasting solutions to land degradation, desertification and drought. For more information, please visit UNCCDCOP16.org.

Journalists are invited to apply for accreditation via the UNCCD's Online Registration System.

For media enquiries, please contact: media@unccdcop16.org or press@unccd.int.

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

At United Nations, Saudi Arabia Calls for Global Collaboration to Tackle Land Degradation at COP16 Riyadh