A Russian restaurant on the island of Bali? You may think that is strange given the tropical climate of our island paradise, but it is actually a clever business idea china. Bali has about 2,000 Russian expatriates, not counting the thousands who come each year to vacation in upscale areas such as Nusa Dua where Slavyanka is ideally located.
Nestled in Bali Collection, a restaurant outdoor complex, cafes and retail stores, Slavyanka was the first Russian restaurant to be opened in Indonesia and is definitely out of the ordinary. Owner, Vedanta Wijaya initially ran the travel agents supplied for Russian tourists traveling to Bali. He said this tourist exodus started there ten years, several years after the dismantled USSR and the companies have been privatized, "allowing people to travel wealth and although not originally in large numbers, it was quality rather than quantity. " December to March are the busiest months for Slavyanka as Russian tourists flock to Bali over the four weekly flights available from Moscow.
During peak seasons in Slavyanka, the kitchen can multiply 400 portions of traditional Russian soup of beets, cabbage, carrot and pork (Borscht) and 50 kg of pellets (Pelneni) per day . Both dishes are favorites here, with 95% of clients are from Russia, and the remaining 5% Australian, Japanese and Indonesian. This was my first real Russian culinary experience and we sampled enough to get an idea of what Russian cuisine is all about.
For starters, we tried the salad Polevoy, a refreshing and healthy start to a meal, accompanied by a Vinegret salad, a boiled mixture of purple beets, potatoes, carrots, pickles, onions and sauerkraut. Then we got heavier with Borscht, a soup originally from Ukraine containing beets and pork, followed by meatballs served with sour cream - Vareniki (dumplings filled with potatoes) and Pelneni (filled dumplings meat). Rich and dangerous for the waistline, but tasty nonetheless. Then we sampled Sashlik, grilled pork skewers, beef or lamb.
And what most bettors drink in Slavyanka? Vodka, and lots of it apparently. "Some of our guests are sitting outside on the terrace during the day, have a beer and drink vodka reading the newspaper," Vedanta said. The most popular brand is Smirnoff that import duties are the price of Russian vodka too much to the taste of everyone. Wine, beer and soft drinks are of course also available at reasonable prices.
If you have any Russian clients visiting or you are willing to try something different, definitely take a trip to Slavyanka. The scenery itself is enough to entertain - the Czars in gold frames decorate the walls, a decadent chandelier welcomes you at the entrance, and red curtains cut down around you and floors jet. The food is authentic is the company - the Russian guests around you. Na rov zda you!
Slavyanka
Bali Collection Block A3 9-10-11, Nusa Dua
phone: .62 361 770 225