Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay

Four Seasons Tenure

• Since 2022
• First Four Seasons Assignment: Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay

Employment History

• Bali Catering Company; Cake Decorator at Ixora Cakes

Education

• Food & Beverage Production diploma at Bali’s Dhyana Pura Hotel & Tourism College; Certificate of sugar flowers workshop by Fleur Bites Cupcakery; Certificate of paper flowers workshop by Fleur Bites Cupcakery

Birthplace

• Tabanan, West Bali, Indonesia

Languages Spoken

• Indonesian, English

“Patisserie is about conjuring happiness for people,” says Cake Artist Budi Gunawan. “It’s such a wonderful thing that our job is to create happiness on a daily basis.”

Chef Budi’s exquisite creations do exactly that. Renowned for his inventiveness and original use of unexpected ingredients, Chef Budi crafts cakes and patisserie that not only delight with delicate flavours and breath-taking aesthetics, but are also imbued with heartfelt meaning.

“A perfect cake is a work that can unite two hearts and two passions, between the maker and the recipient,” says Chef Budi. “As a cake artist I need to visualise what is in the client's mind, bringing it to life. There are always some words or feelings that they want to convey through their cakes to create a truly memorable experience. I don’t make cakes, I make memories.”

Chef Budi’s extraordinary passion and artistry trace back to his earliest years, inspired by his mother’s creativity in the kitchen. By her side, he learned to craft typical dishes from his native region of East Java, Indonesia, from traditional donuts to sponge bolu cakes and sweet jajan pasar delicacies, absorbing her knowledge and joyful approach. “She was the queen of our house,” he says fondly. “Her passion in the kitchen inspires me in every aspect of my life, including my creativity.”

This intuitive skill was later honed during a Food & Beverage Production diploma at Bali’s Dhyana Pura Hotel & Tourism College, followed by tenures at Bali’s renowned patisserie institutions such as Ixora Cakes, where Chef Budi’s riotous imagination played out across remarkable wedding, birthday and special occasion creations with astonishing decorative and themed flourishes.

Underpinning every moment, Chef Budi’s driving force is to keep experimenting and pushing the boundaries of his craft. “Making something new from ingredients that I have never used before is exciting, challenging and one of my favourite things to do,” he says. The results speak for themselves, with Chef Budi receiving two accolades at the prestigious 11th Bali Salon Culinaire competition, winning a silver award for his “Scent of Summer” themed wedding cake, and gold for a “Bed-Time Story” themed creation in the live cake class.

Chef Budi’s flair and ingenuity find a perfect fit at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, where, in collaboration with Executive Pastry Chef David Peduzzi, he crafts inventive cakes, desserts, sweets and patisserie across the Resort’s acclaimed dining outlets. True to form, his creations at the Resort sing with spellbinding aesthetics, sumptuous flavours crafted from local ingredients and a personal touch. “I’m honoured to work in such a renowned setting,” he says. “We have an extraordinary team here, constantly exchanging ideas and creativity. I love to be part of a fun working atmosphere where everyone enjoys what they do and can showcase their very best.”

In his spare time, Chef Budi enjoys relaxing in the beauty of Bali’s beaches and indulging in the country’s fine coffee and sweet delicacies, where he finds endless inspiration for his craft. Yet his enduring motivation remains those for whom he crafts his delicious creations. “My best mentor, the one and only one, is the clients,” he says. “Patisserie is such a joyful, emotional experience – creating cakes that leave a lasting impression on people’s minds and hearts is a dream come true.”