The Living Room"A Room For Living " is the quite literal, and accurate, tag line for the Seminyak restaurant / bar, The Living Room.

Via a spacious and secured parking area, one enters through the layered, circular garden that is dotted with numerous, intimate private tables set on the lush green lawn and amongst manicured landscape architecture. By moonlight and candlelight, the main path leads to the main foyer of the restaurant that is open on 3 sides and rests under a high white Javanese "Joglo" roof.

The main dining area, which seat’s over100, elicits a feeling that is quite reminiscent of French or Dutch colonial South East Asia. The actual structure does, in fact, date back over 150 years ago as a classic antique house that was exported from Java and then reassembled in its entirety on the new grounds. And upon entering the main dining area one is, literally, standing in the living room. Terra cotta tiles, old teak wood, and antique furniture offer pleasant, warm contrast to the white wooden blinds and white draperies that offer minimal partition. The deco table settings are elegantly custom made to suit the space and are arranged about the room’s centerpiece – 4 large and beautifully aged vertical teak-beams that also double as the main support structure.

Just beyond the capacious dining area and through the traditional wooden entryway is The Living Room bar that is an almost identical, yet miniature, version of the main room. It too, is a reassembled antique Javanese Joglo with a high ceiling, wooden beams, and carved stone bar that form the centerpiece. Once again, candles are placed ubiquitously about and on a chandelier, creating a warm, yellow glow that suits a pre-dinner apertif or after-dinner cocktail perfectly. As with its former location, The Living Room bar is not necessarily known as the night’s final destination, but often as the evening’s "pit-stop," a well-suited meeting point to wet the whistle and plan the late-hour attack.

For those looking for an intimate setting to imbibe and while away a few hours, the bar’s comfortable circular banquettes offer cozy seating. Beginning this month, February 2006, the bar area will be the setting for an intimate monthly party that will feature thematic music, drinks, and dress.

Dinner is served 7 days a week between 6 pm and 11 pm with over 100 candles used nightly to illuminate the 130 garden seats and 110 dining area seats. The Living Room has established itself on its eclectic Asian fare prepared with classic French élan. Every 6 months, a visiting "culinary consultant" is imported from the region to work alongside resident Balinese chef, Agus (formerly of Le Meridien Hotel, Bali). This concept assures that the dishes from Singapore, China, Malaysia, Thailand, and the rest of Asia are prepared authentically while maintaining variety and also keeps the menu fresh by changing 80% of the items twice a year. Appetizing starters range from the exotic Chinese Duckling Crepes to delicious Tasmanian Salmon Tartare, while dinner choices include items such as Imported Lamb Shank a la Balinese served with steamed bok choy and green papaya, and Grilled Prawns served with risotto and a lime-cilantro butter.

Along with appetizers and mains, The Living Room menu also includes soups, noodle dishes, and an extensive dessert menu. As would be expected from any establishment of this caliber, the service is exemplary. An extremely pleasant and attentive Balinese staff makes sure that customer is looked after from first step to parting step.

Proprietor, host, and self proclaimed "orchestral conductor" of The Living Room, Daniel Vanneque,began his 30 year career in the restaurant business in his hometown of Paris at the renowned La Tour D’Argent restaurant which boasts over 200,000 bottles of fine wine, one of the largest cellars in the world. After working up the restaurant’s chain of command, he became one of the youngest sommeliers in Paris, and since relocating to Bali 11 years ago (after opening La Palette in New York in between), he has utilized his acquired skill and knowledge to benefit The Living Room and it’s extensive cellar featuring wines from all major regions of the world.

As part of his duties as "orchestral conductor," Vanneque not only oversees the restaurant’s kitchen, dining, and bar areas, but also creates his own atmosphere with his musical selection that plays throughout the night. "Music is a very important part of The Living Room," he says. And as this is the case, he personally chooses what is played throughout the course of an evening. His choices have been so popular that he has created a series of 7 CD compilations with differing themes that represent the many aspects and vibes of the venue. Entitled "Uplifting Rhythm" to " Between The Sheets" to "Living Room Harmony," each CD features recent and vintage music from French, World, Soul, and Jazz artists that reflect The Living Room spirit. Proceeds from the sale of the CDs are allocated to an in-house charitable organization that then donates the money to those in need in the immediate and extended Bali area.

Vanneque’s concept for The Living Room is perhaps easy to guess. "I want people to feel at home," he says. "I want to show people what Indonesia has to offer in terms of beauty, mixed with the spirit of a little French sensibility, and then combined with Balinese service and smiles." This equation yields an intimate result with an appropriate name – The Living Room.

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