Baked... 'n Set... Ablaze!
Enjoy a slice of sensation with a favorite and original Vulcano Pizza at Papa's Cafe.
Right in front of the Alam Kul Kul Boutique Resort on Kuta Beach Road and just across from the sands of Legian Beach is Papa's Cafe. Serving up a vast array of scrumptious Italian selections and taking great pride in using the freshest ingredients on the island itself, as well as from Italy and Australia (including vacuum packed meat air freighted from West Australia twice a week) it is more than a mere beachside cafe.
It will quickly become a favorite spot in which to appease your appetite, either in a casual mood or special romantic table for two, with a mostly alfresco setting on two floors. A water garden, wooden deck perimeter and optional view of the Legian Beach sunset augment the pairing of fresh food with great service.
And with this one-of-a-kind, Papas Cafe original, flagship dish its sure to please your craving for a unique and sensational dining experience. The Papa's Cafe (well, it's the only place that serves it) Vulcano Pizza is sure to gratify, served piping hot straight from a traditional wood-fired oven. And to add to the visual impact at the table, is set ablaze right before your eyes.
And a sultry afternoon at Papa's was the perfect time to answer our curiosity about this unique twist of Italian cuisine. Meeting Papa's Bagus Ngurah, who is at the helm of the cafe's operations, he was all humble service, welcoming us to the front deck table that provides the best spot at sunset.
Over a soothing smoothie, he also explained about the new features at Papa's, which tells a lot about the creative force of his team in presenting the never-ending list of innovations in menus items and service. However, reigning as the top feature is none other than the Vulcano (with a "u") Pizza. For those who are familiar with pizzas, beware... as this volcano inspired pizza has a twist like no other. And so it was, "one dish of the tasty eruption, please."
At the wood-fired oven was none other than the inventor himself, preparing the baked delights and making prior-to-serving adjustments. Chef Kadek Widiantara, the meek but explosively creative Balinese figure behind Papa's signature dishes, eventually joined us at the table, one of the greatest honors that any diner could have. As his team took over the oven and our chosen Fujiyama Vulcano, he told us a bit about his inspiration and the conception of the now popular dish.
He acknowledged that it was inspired by the calzone, another Italian tradition. A calzone (Italian for "stocking" or "trouser"), is at times referred to as an Italian pouch, an Italian turnover made from pizza dough and stuffed with cheese (usually mozzarella and Ricotta, but some varieties contain Parmesan, Provolone, or a locally substituted cheese), meat, vegetables, and or a variety of other stuffings, and is typically served with marinara sauce on the side for dipping. The dough is folded over, sealed on one edge, and baked. In Italy the stuffing is almost always tomato, cheese and ham, and the calzone is never served with a sauce.
But then Chef Kadek experimented with his own pizza version, giving it an impressing dome crust. "I was trying hard to improve the appearance of the traditional pizza back then. It was a very frustrating effort, since it took almost three months to get the pizza to ‘work'," the Chef explained grinning.
By then the ‘explosive' delicacy finally made it to our table. And when your Vulcano arrives, be sure to watch the faces of those at the other tables, as awe sweeps throughout the cafe.
The waiter brings this uncanny domed thing on a plate, and places it in the center of the table. He then pours a shot of liquor on the domed top and a dramatic scene starts to take place. The lighter sparks and... flame on! Your table turns into the center of attraction when the other diners watch as a blazing volcano erupts in the middle of the table.
Once the flame on the dome crust trapping the unique aroma and flavors settles it's cracked open, allowing the fragrance of the dish to escape and permeate the surroundings.
This gimmick surely triggers a massive response, as at the other tables the onlookers hurry to order the same thing, "I think I'll have one of those!"
And that is just one of the many reasons why during peak hours, Chef Kadek and his crew have their sleeves rolled up and are busy tending the oven and preparing this pizza.
But don't get too carried away with just this one sensational choice. Papa's has a wide selection of other ‘normal' but equally tasty pizzas. You have 12 different topping combinations to choose from. A Capricciosa is mozzarella, tomato paste, oregano, black olives, beef salami, mushrooms and olive oil, whilst the Siciliana is mozzarella, tomato paste, oregano, fried eggplants, anchovies and chili. There are also choices ranging from Mediterranean to Aragosta to Peking Duck!
The Vulcano, at Rp. 79,000 (subject to tax and service charge), comes with several choices of fillings; a "Fujiyama" with squid, prawns, tuna, anchovy and crab meat and the "Kintamani" of beef, ham, sausage, and beef salami, while the "Papa's" ‘explodes with the lot'.
The Vulcano has proven to be a best seller at Papa's, with hundreds of the pizzas being ordered each month, making it the most favorite item on the pizza list. This pizza is the only one that stays permanently on list, while dozens of the others are subject to food rotations for the sake of variety.
Established in 1996, Papa's Cafe's legend has it that acclaimed Fremantle restaurateur Nunzio Gumina, who runs Villa Roma, one of Western Australia's top hospitality spots, could not get a decent cup of coffee in Bali so decided to stay and open his own restaurant.
Papa's Cafe managed to position itself as the perfect escape from Kuta's Jalan Pantai traffic, where diners unwind and relax and are always in for a sensational dining experience. And with a creative team behind its food and beverage services, cozy dining settings and options, and a winning original pizza creation on its menu, you'll surely have a blast! ■
Text and photos by Nyoman Ari Gunadi
Papa's Cafe
Jalan Pantai Kuta, (0361) 755-055
www.papascafe.com
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