http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/ en-us Nucleus CMS v3.41 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/ http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=30 40 years of the same ownershipFour decades of continuous and successful operation under the same ownership might be considered quite an achievement by some. But all we have done is keep on keeping on.

Over the years Poppies Restaurant is proud to have welcomed in the vicinity of 3 million Bali visitors to its garden oasis, from countries far and wide.



Our staff

Many return, some with their children, and now even their children's children, and all are looking for what they enjoyed the first time - which is what we try to give them again. Chances are that they are served by the young and friendly offspring of staff who looked after them or their parents many years ago, and who this time around may have had the added benefit of some training at a hotel school.

Proud to be 40

As we celebrate the past forty years we look ahead to the future. The old kitchens are being torn down and replaced in their entirety. Sparkling new fixtures and equipment will enable our team to do an even better job of providing the Poppies dining experience to yet another generation of guests.

Older and younger staff

Meanwhile we continue to introduce minor changes and upgrades. Chef Ngurah has instigated an array of impressive Daily Specials, to complement our regular menu, which itself has been reviewed and added to, without taking away those favourites from the past. New and beautiful batik tablecloths give us a new aesthetic dimension, and the recently renovated washrooms have attracted much favourable comment. Our signage and our exterior walls have also been spruced up.

Despite massive competition and Bali's current congestion difficulties, Poppies moves ahead confidently into its fifth decade.]]> General http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=30 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:30:07 +0100 http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=29 A A Ngurah Wirabawa It's with great pleasure and mouth-watering anticipation that we introduce to the world the newest member of the Poppies team,
A A Ngurah Wirabawa, who has just commenced his new job as Executive Chef of both Poppies Restaurant and Kopi Pot Restaurant.

Chef Ngurah brings us a wealth of experience, having been Executive Chef in many well-known hotels and restaurants from Bali to Europe to Palau in the Pacific Ocean, and we feel fortunate to have enticed him to venture down Poppies Lane.

Chef Ngurah will make sure that your old favourites remain as tasty as ever, while gradually introducing modern ideas of his own which we feel confident will only enhance the decades old Poppies dining experience. ]]> General http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=29 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 07:23:24 +0100 http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=28 37th Birthday Celebrations

Another Poppies anniversary, celebrated with a Blessing, followed by special eats, and preceded by an early morning beach cleanup by staff.

The staff clean up the beach in the morning.
]]> General http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=28 Sun, 7 Mar 2010 03:11:10 +0100 http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=27 The pool side terraceAdding to the ambiance at Poppies pool area is the recently completed mini lunch terrace beside the pool bar, and overlooking the swimming pool.

3 tables are set up daily, shaded by parasols, and gentle background music is available while you dine, should you require it.

]]> General http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=27 Sat, 6 Mar 2010 16:17:35 +0100 http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=25 high and mighty • hazard ahead - Bali style

That already-ancient coconut grove in which Poppies was built in 1980 gets more and more ancient. At that time most of what is now Kuta's built up area was covered by similar coconut plantations.

According to an expert we spoke to at that time some of our trees were 75 years old then, meaning some that remain today are well over 100 years old. Every now and again one of the grove's tallest members begins to 'lose its grip', and it's time for some euthanasia.

beheaded already • timber!!

Pak Budi has been our agile Balinese tree surgeon for many years. He is seen here doing what he does best on an 18 metre specimen.

He works with the simplest of equipment - an axe and some rope - and has refused offers of modern gadgetry, which make him feel unsafe.]]> General http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=25 Sun, 25 Jan 2009 11:55:32 +0100 http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=24 Feast for the god of steelToday, January 17, is the day on which Balinese give thanks to Sanghyang Pasupati, the god of steel, for all metal implements from sacred 'keris' daggers to craftsmen's tools of the trade, which protect or make life easier for their owners in their everyday lives. Nowadays motor vehicles clearly fall into that category, and today they venture out festooned with colourful palm leaf offerings tied to their front grills and mirrors, having been blessed with holy water, incense, and offerings of food and flowers in elaborate ceremonies.

Driver Gede with a difficult choice

Having just taken delivery of two brand new Toyota 'Innova' luxury 7-seater limousines for our guests' comfort while touring Bali or just travelling to and from the airport, today's blessing ceremonies at the Poppies staff-house were particularly important. One van will be based at Poppies, and the other at Villa Melati.

Driver Putu going nowhere

Seen here, as well as vehicles belonging to staff, are two lovingly preserved veterans from the mid 70s - Poppies' original yellow Datsun 'bemo' used to travel 14 kms to Denpasar market and back each day for the restaurant's supplies up until the 90s, while Management's sturdy Landcruiser is still very much in use today.

Elderly but elegant

]]> General http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=24 Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:32:43 +0100 http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=23 Birthday Cakes and 'Babi Guling' (roast suckling pig, with Balinese spices) for management and staff.

We would like to thank all our supporters who helped to make 2008 our best year since pre Bali Bomb 2001. We all hope that many of you will still be able to visit Bali during 2009, despite the world's looming economic woes. As during previous downturns, Bali, and specifically Poppies, should prove excellent value for money, especially for short-haul travellers. Our 2009 rates have been held at almost the same level as 2008, and the Bali Great Escape package during low season remains as attractive as ever. ]]> General http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=23 Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:30:22 +0100 http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=22 The new look restaurant pageOur new restaurant web page is now up. Not only does it contain many new photos of our always delicious fare but you can now view any part of our dinner menu with just one click, quickly see how to get to Poppies, and best of all, you can easily book a table on-line for up to a week in advance.

One more click takes you to a new selection of photos of our Kopi Pot restaurant.
]]> General http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=22 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:54:22 +0100 http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=21 January 12, 1973 was an auspicious day in Bali - it was the day that Poppies was born. Who would have imagined its staff and management would be celebrating a 35th anniversary some day?

We would like to thank our generations of patrons, who from that day 35 years ago, have found their way to Poppies. We were difficult to find in those early 70s, because we were so far from the centre of Kuta along a nameless dusty lane (just 50 metres actually), and such a long way from the beach along a sandy track through the coconut plantations (just 200 metres). We are difficult to find these days, because we are so centrally located in the heart of the congestion that now envelops Kuta. Yet still you manage to find us! Well, that tells a story, and the story will continue.

Poppies Bali staff now totals over 120. One of these, "Jeffrey", has been working the bar since 1973, and is seen here with the founder, at the staff celebration on Jan 12th. He has a few stories to tell, when you are next in Bali.

The Kopi Pot restaurant now has 33 staff.

Strawberry Hill, in the mountains at Bedugul has 5 - a project is underway there to build comfortable cabins that will complement the restaurant.

Spectacular beachfront Poppies in Koh Samui, Thailand, has a first class team of 92, which makes a visit to the island a top priority.

Your support has provided generations of young Balinese and Thais with jobs, and supported their extended families. We plan to continue travelling along this now world-famous 'Poppies Lane'.

Girls having funBoys having fun
Girls and Boys in party mode

]]> General http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=21 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:59:38 +0100 http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=17 Barong at PoppiesDuring their stay, many of our in-house guests come to regard the owners' little Shi-tzu 'Barong' as an important - albeit occasional - part of the scenery at Poppies, and its most amusing live entertainment. Therefore we felt it was time he made the Blog.

Of course this instant fame is in no way intended to diminish the standing of each and every one of our much harder working, and even more friendly members of staff who take care of them all.


]]> General http://www.poppiesbali.com/blog/index.php?itemid=17 Sun, 4 Nov 2007 11:46:20 +0100