Filippi: Best produce of Korčula Takes on International Flair

We met Tomislav Veseljak on Zagreb Wine Gourmet Weekend 2013 and he told us how he managed to establish a network of Korčula farmers who will produce vegetables and even exotic aromatic herbs for Filippi. Lemongrass, cilantro and Thai basil from Lumbarda fields, why not?

An Incredible Afternoon in Krauthaker Winery

Here is a story we got from Ian Robertson, our devoted reader, who writes us how he spent an incredible afternoon spent with Ivo and Martina Grgić on one Sunday afternoon after last year’s Graševina Festival in Kutjevo.

Vagabundo Restaurant & Bar: The Culinary Nomad Returns Home

The culinary genre of Vagabundo clearly represents the Mediterranean with classics such as tomato soup, Caesar salad, and homemade gnocchi dotting the menu however, most dishes have added flair and most importantly, Chef Vinko’s execution is simply spot on. Something new and competitive on Split’s ‘upscale’ dining scene.

Agrolaguna: Mightiest Wine Producer in Istria

Agrolaguna has raised the standards in recent years and started taking wine business seriously, aiming to have both quality and quantity. Their line-up today covers all the basic stuff Istria has to offer, often excellent value for money.

Label Grand Karakterre: Prvi hrvatski sajam ručno rađenih vina

Ako dođete druge godine na Karakterr uvjerit ćete se da “prirodna” vina nisu u prvom redu podražaji za nos i nepce. Prije ih bi se moglo opisati kao stimulans za desnu stranu mozga, onu emotivnu i sintetičku.

Bibich: Celebration of Mediterranean hospitality

Alen Bibić is a real visionary. He built a successful private winery in secluded Dalmatian hinterland, used underrated local varieties to make high-quality labels and he was one of the first exporters of Croatian wine to the USA.

VinoCOM 2012: Another Great Wine Party

We’ve been very fond of the wine festival at Hotel Regent Esplanade for years. It is held in a hotel which is not just beautiful and elegant but also has character…

[Zagreb] VinoCOM @ Esplanade: Nov 30-Dec 1

This year the festival hosts more than 250 exhibitors. Apart from Croatian winemakers, you will also be able to taste wines made by their colleagues from France, Italy, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Spain and Montenegro. The presence of …

[Vodnjan] Days of young olive oil: Nov 16-18

Famous traditional festival celebrating young olive oil in the Istrian capital of olive oil. Add to that lots of good food, wine and cooking shows and good times are guaranteed.

Wine friendship cake: Recipe that pairs massive Plavac Mali wines & desserts

Last May Taste of Croatia team gave a workshop on Dalmatia Wine Expo in Makarska where we paired massive Plavac Mali wines with a dessert we specially designed for these feral beasts in the glass. Here is the recipe.

[Tinjan] International Pršut Fair: Oct 20-21

International prosciutto fair in Tinjan is recognizable event which has grown into Istria’s tradition and which is 6th time in a row is organised by Municipality of Tinjan (in 2006. declared as “Municipality of Istrian prosciutto”) in collaboration with Association of Istrian prosciutto producers and Region of Istra.

Natura Rab: Honey products and organic cosmetics with a dash of salt

If you’re visiting the island of Rab, don’t miss the organic shop Natura Rab, located in a small stone house on the way from the ferry port to the town of Rab, right next to Kaštelan family house and herb …

Kruščić Bakery: Bread for Emperors

Anand Štambuk simply wants to bake real, all-natural bread as we remember it from long time ago. You can tell and smell that in Kruščić they are really enthusiastic in searching for that perfect loaf.

Wine Vault: Crème de la Crème à la Tom

Now famous from his appearance on Croatian MasterChef, Tom Gretić and his stellar cuisine have flourished for three years in this prestigious restaurant, where his own standards are seamlessly paired with those of the exclusive hotel Monte Mulini in which Wine Vault is located.

Pasta Croatica: Pre-industrial flavors of pasta and biscuits

Being of Istrian origin, Luciana knows how traditional Istrian pasta is made and firmly believes no machine can replace her hands. The recipes for pastas she borrowed from her mother and grandmother while the ones for biscuits are still traditional but enhanced with plethora of Mediterranen goods.

[Tribalj] Days of figs and sport fishing: Aug 30-31

This festival in the region of Novi Vinodolski is dedicated to figs and fig products: various cakes, smokvenjak (“bread” made of figs), jams, dried figs, souvenirs… On Friday morning there’s a competition in sport fishing on shores of the nearby lake.

Čok: Seafood from Novigrad fishermen’s daily catch

Owner Sergio Jugovac – one of Istria’s top sommeliers and an avid beekeeper – reveals the true reason for Čok’s popularity without a shred of false modesty when he says, “They come here mostly because of me and my character!”

[Vrbnik] Wine days on Krk island: Aug 24-25

Vrbnik is a pitoresque village settled on a cliff that is famous for wine made from Žlahtina, a grape variety indigenous to the island of Krk. This two days long festival is nice opportunity to get acquainted with this easy drinking and fresh wine that is particularly appreciated in the summer. Wine cellar visits, inevitable roast lambs and, of course, liters and liters of this peculiar wine.

[Valbandon] Valbandon under čripnja: Aug 25

On the Valbandon beach the end of August is reserved for traditional competition in baking various fish and meat under čripnja/peka (iron bell covered with ash): lamb, foal, ray, goat, rabbit, octopus… Starts at 6 PM on Valbandon’s beach.

[Galižana] Festival of garden snails: Aug 15

If you are a open-minded gourmands that always in search of new challenges than this festival, Festa delle cioche in Italian, is for you. Come to Galižana, a small village settled between Vodnjan and Pula whose inhabitants are mostly of …

[Vižinada] Sweet Istria, Wine&OliveOil Expo: Aug 14

This year traditional exposition of wine and olive oil producers from the Municipality of Vižinada is accompanied by Sweet Istria, THE event in Istria for your sweet tooth. From 8 PM visitors will be able to taste various traditional Istrian cakes like pinca, kroštula, pandešpanja, fritula, bucolaj, povetica but also some innovative stufll like biscuits with lavender.

[Fažana] Things that fishermen know: Aug 12

The sea is the school of life. Storms and tempests, open seas and sheltered coves… are all reflected in the faces of fishermen, while their hands weave nets out of old and new knowledge. At this fisherman’s festival these men of the sea present their traditional skills in various ways.

[Kaštelir] Gramperijada – Potato festival: Aug 4–5

Gramperijada is a traditional festival in the area of Kaštelir dedicated exclusively to potatoes. Join the contest and make the best potato based dishes using traditional wood burning stoves. Potatoes under peka, baked in embers or in old fashioned wood oven – every cooking method you can imagine is allowed.

[Umag] Tomato Festival: Aug 2

The fields around Umag are famous for succulent tomatoes that are still used to produce the best tomato concentrate in Croatia. In August they are the ripest so it’s perfect time for Tomato festival. Just follow your nose and you …

Restaurant Giannino: Rovignesi Do It Better

This seafood restaurant with a long family tradition has been owned by the Pelizzaro family for as long as anyone can remember. Its comfortable terrace, situated on a small square away from the bustle of tourism on the main streets, is an ideal place to relax and soak up the atmosphere of Rovinj as it once was.

Konoba Morgan: Not Your Average Istrian Tavern

The refined atmosphere of Morgan is a few notches above that of a classic Istrian konoba, but the restraint shown in the kitchen by chef and owner Ana Morgan lets the simple elegance of regional dishes shine as they would in an unassuming local tavern.

Restaurant Milan: Golden Standard of Istrian Seafood Cuisine

The Matić family wrote the book on hospitality in Pula, and even as a third generation gradually takes over this restaurant in the shadow of the Lungomare’s seaside pines, Milan remains a golden standard of Istrian seafood cuisine.

[Svetvinčenat] Cheese Festival: Jun 29 – Jul 1

The first edition of the festival will gather 25 Croatian cheese producers in the charming medieval village of Svetvinčenat, also known as Savičenta to locals. Both the dairy industry’s big names and small artisan producers will offer their cheeses for …

7 Northern Dalmatian Summer Wines

We have found 7 resfreshing bottles in Plastovo, the home of three excellent winemakers: Alen Bibić, Marko Sladić and Marinko/Juraj Sladić. After Anthony Bourdain’s visit of Bibich winery this small village just few kilometers from Skradin is on the way to become world famous.

Konoba Tramerka: Creative seafood dishes at a fair price

The establishment’s matriarch Jadranka Banda prepares simple yet original fare from local ingredients, primarily highlighting the area’s fresh fish. Among the must-have’s on the menu are lightly stuffed sardines on a bright, simple salad of fennel, arugula and cherry tomatoes.

[Fažana] Sea on the Table: Jun 24

Fishermen’s “show and tell” night in the Croatian capital of sardines. Yes, there will be plenty of yummy seafood snacks too.

[Šišan] Festival of rural culture: Jun 22-24

The fair of Saint Felix and Fortunato has become a traditional event for Ližnjan municipality that every year attracts more and more exhibitors and visitors. Its goal is to promote rural tourism, traditional crafts and customs, local gastronomical heritage and, …

Follow the Steps of Anthony Bourdain in Croatia

Croatia blew Anthony Bourdain’s mind and palate, as you can see in the Croatian episode of his TV show “No Reservations”. If you want to follow his trail, we prepared the itinerary as seen on TV (steps 1 to 10), and included additional suggestions for interesting spots nearby.

Imperium: Trendy Cruise Liner Dining on Land

Some wise guy once said: “To travel is better than to arrive”. Located on the first floor of Split Ferry Terminal, this trendy and hip restaurant will put you into a travel mood even without leaving the city.

Great Croatian wines under 60 kn (8€)

Who says you need to spend a fortune for a good (Croatian) wine?! To overcome that prejudice, we decided to make a list of budget-friendly Croatian wines you should try with family & friends.

[Požega] Eat Like the Old Days: May 18

In occasion of the International Museum Day come to Gradski Muzej Požega where they prepared the following program: 7 pm Opening of etnographic and photo exposition 8 pm Presentation of traditional dishes from Požega in restaurant Grgin Dol

Cossetto: Istrian Reds Get a Woman’s Touch

As I leave, everything becomes crystal clear. In this small village above Mirna river valley, female touch managed to push a small family winery beyond the tradition, creating a style that makes Cossetto wines so easy to understand and recognize.

Konoba Vela vrata: Homemade pasta and rustic desserts to awaken the dead

The best thing you’ll try here is homemade pasta, like pljukanci or fuži, or even better ravioli stuffed with fresh cheese and spinach in fennel and pancetta sauce.

[Fažana] 9th School of salting pilchards: Apr 28

Competition in salting pilchard, tasting and buying salted and marinated pilchard as well as pilchard dishes, lecture on the traditional way of preserving, processing and preparing pilchard.

Benvenuti: Elegant Istrian Malvasia in Motovun surroundings

Benvenuti brothers are famous for their Istrian Malvasia cultivated on the white soil rich in clay and limestone.

[Fažana] Delights & Delicacies: Apr 22

Small fishermen’s town and the gateway to Brijuni National Park seems to be a very active gourmet destination. Restaurants on Fažana and the nearby Valbandon will also adjust their menus for this event.

6 reasons why Teran is the next Istrian flagship wine

This is not the story about the inevitable success of Malvasia in the near future. It is about Teran red wine, another great potential that is currently hiding in Istrian vineyards. The following facts make me believe that Teran will be a new born star in the Istrian wine galaxy…

Buffet Vodnjanka: The Only Real Trattoria in Downtown Pula

Gina Civitico, the cook, explains us the winning formula of Vodnjanka: “We serve only traditional dishes, in a sense very modest and accessible to everyone but always prepared with great care.”

Pizzeria Karijola: Pizza approaching Italian standards

Cozy and casual interior (but don’t sit too close to the oven!) and nice terrace, surrounded by walls full of cordwood

On the curvy road in search of liquid gold

Do you like curvy roads with vertiginous views and beautiful panorama on Butoniga lake? And want to taste some delicious extravirgin olive oil on your way? Take the road Pazin-Motovun, after Beram follow signs for Zamask and your adventure may start.

Radovan: World-Class Merlot with Istrian Dialect

Radovan’s red wines are not only fair priced but are also among the best in Croatia. His Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Teran are characterized by nice extract that is never tiring, it is always elegantly balanced with freshness and minerality, the latter originating from red earth soil – Terra Rossa.

Restaurant Stari Grad 02: Old-school Fish and Moderate Prices

This is a decent fish and seafood restaurant, one of the few in Pula with moderate prices and open throughout the year.

Blažević Olive Oil: Rebirth of a Centenary Olive Grove

Ivan Blažević is a brave and visionary guy who, some 10 years ago, decided to put back in shape an old olive grove that was completely covered with dense forest. If you pass near Draguć, don’t miss visiting this monument of ancient agriculture.

Kutjevo d.d.