Reports indicate that a skilled man in Guatemala is undertaking a peculiar adventure near an active volcano to spark a new wave of food craze. David Garcia has been cooking pizza over the lava flowing from the Pacaya volcano, which began erupting again in February, for the past several weeks. Footage shows Garcia wearing protective gear as he bakes pizzas on special metal plates that can withstand temperatures up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tourists are flocking to the mountain for a slice of pizza, sharing photos on social media. Pacaya is one of three active volcanoes in the Central American country, with eruptions visible from the capital, Guatemala City, located about 15 miles away. Pacaya first became active around 23,000 years ago and has erupted at least twenty times since the Spanish conquest of Guatemala in the 16th century. After decades of dormancy, it has erupted repeatedly since the early 1960s.
According to an update from the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology on May 12, it is emitting ash "of small to medium size," although it does not currently threaten any inhabited areas. The update stated: "The volcanic fissure on the northwest side produces fountains of lava about 50-100 meters high, which feed advancing lava flows. The flow surges have reached distances of over 2300 meters and are slowly approaching agricultural lands in La Breña to the west."
Accountant Garcia began baking pizzas in 2013 in small caves at the base of the mountain. He told AFP, "I put it in a hot cave that reached 800 degrees Celsius and took it out in 14 minutes." When he tasted the pizza cooked with volcanic heat, he said, "this is a good idea." As Pacaya's activity increased in recent weeks, he moved his temporary operation to a rocky area near the volcano's crater and began cooking on the lava itself.
He added that lava can reach temperatures of 3600 degrees Fahrenheit, "so I have to watch the wind direction so it doesn't affect the pizza." Of course, it is a risky task, but "Pacaya Pizza" with tomato sauce, cheese, onions, and pepperoni has been a great success with hungry tourists after their hike up the mountain. Visitor Philip Aldana told AFP that "pizza cooked in a volcano is amazing and unique in the whole world."
While Garcia's approach is unique, he is not the only chef using volcanic lava instead of an oven: in 2014, London entrepreneurs Sam Bombas and Harry Parr grilled steaks over flowing hot lava. The duo, who run a company creating "immersive flavor-based experiences," hired an expert to build an oven that can reach temperatures of 2700 degrees Fahrenheit, melting rocks into liquid lava. Bombas stated that he was inspired by this fiery achievement during a visit to an active volcano in Japan. Bombas and Parr placed a steak over the volcanic lava and managed to cook it in just seconds, creating "thick, dense char on the outside." Bombas remarked, "I can honestly say it was the best steak I ever had in my life."
