Bali Cafe Owner Shocked To Serve Sunak And Trudeau During Dinner Meeting

Share The Article

A cafe owner in Bali was shocked to serve two of the world’s most recognizable leaders. Prime Ministers Rishi Sunak and Justin Trudeau popped by the Art Cafe Bumbu Bali in Nusa Dua for a bilateral Canada-UK meeting. The pair were seen enjoying a traditional Balinese dinner and enjoying local hospitality. 

Cafe owner Fabian von Holzen told reporters after the official visit that he was shocked to welcome the world leaders to his establishment. He said he received a visit from a representative from the British Embassy in Jakarta last week who completed a scouting mission to the venue. Von Holzen noted how he was told that a VIP guest would be visiting during the G20, but the security team did not tell him who was booked to dine. The cafe owner and his team were shocked when Sunak and Trudeau rocked up for dinner. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pariwisata dan Ekonomi Kreatif (@kemenparekraf.ri)

To top things off, the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, also popped by during the dinner to say hello too. Von Holzen said, “they [Embassy staff] said VIPs would come, but they didn’t say who. It had not been said that England and Canada would come for a one-table dinner. Nothing at all. But the prime minister would come. Crazy beautiful…The idea [to dine at Art Cafe] was from the British Embassy directly. They said they could check other restaurants, but they said they got the one here.”

Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans For 2023 Starting At $10 Per Week

Easily Earn Points For Free Travel

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Heinz von Holzen (@vonholzenphoto)

He continued, “The initial story of why they came here also surprised me. But maybe he wants to try authentic Balinese food”. Von Holzen admitted that he was seriously touched by the grand occasion. He even shared that he had shed a tear in gratitude that his cafe had been chosen to host the heads of state. 

After their meal, Von Holzen shared a photo of his staff with Rishi Sunak and Justin Trudeau. In the caption, he wrote, “World leaders enjoy a feast of flavors in Bumbu Bali. Tonight we welcomed the great leaders of Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. We were honored to actually have a chat with these amazing personalities. These three countries are blessed with very special leaders.” 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Art Cafe Bumbu Bali (@artcafebumbubali)

Shortly after the visit from Trudeau and Sunak, Indonesia’s Minster for Tourism and Creative Economies also called by. He visited to thank the staff for making the G20 a success and recreate the now-famous dinner. Minster Sandiago Uno posted a video of his visit to Art Cafe Bumbu Bali to his Instagram account. 

In the caption, he wrote, “3 Prime Ministers of G20 member states tasting Indonesian cuisine at this restaurant! In an interruption of the agenda of the G20 Summit network, I made time to go to @artcafebumbubali to see directly the place that became viral. In the same seat with the Canadian PM @rishisunakmp I also tasted the typical Bali cuisine ordered by him and the British PM @justinpjtrudeau, while conducting a bilateral meeting with a warm and relaxed atmosphere”. 

Minister Uno highlighted the significance of the meeting, writing, “Certainly this rare moment is very profitable for Indonesia, especially Bali, where our culinary will become more known in the world so that it can strengthen the program at @kemenparekraf.ri to make Indonesia a world gastronomic destination, one of them is mail alui program Indonesia Spice up The World”. 

Art Cafe Bumbu Bali has shared what the two Prime Ministers had for dinner. They enjoyed Sate, Ayam Sambal Matah, and Emping. The simple and traditional Balinese dishes are peanut marinated chicken, a pan-fried crispy chicken with a fragrant salsa, and Indonesian crackers.

Tourism businesses in Bali are hopeful that endorsement from world leaders about the quality of hospitality in Bali will do wonders in the coming year. U.S. President Joe Biden joked at a press conference earlier this week that he didn’t want to go home having had a positive experience on the Island of the Gods.