Ray Adriansyah, born in Jakarta to Sumatran parents, developed a love for cooking at a young age, inspired by his mother’s kitchen and a fascination with both local and global flavours. While studying in New Zealand, he left business school to pursue professional culinary training in Christchurch, later returning to Jakarta to begin his career.It was there that he met Dutch-born chef Eelke Plasmeijer, who had begun his culinary journey at 14, rising through kitchens in the Netherlands and training at hotel school before moving to Jakarta in 2006. Their shared philosophy and complementary talents quickly aligned, and after working together in Jakarta, they moved to Bali to lead the kitchen at Alila Ubud. Their commitment to using local ingredients grew stronger, eventually inspiring them to open their own venture.Locavore was born from this vision, redefining the island’s gastronomy. A decade later, they launched Locavore NXT—an ambitious evolution that reflects their deepened commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community-driven dining.