Tag Archives: Istria
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.
[Poreč] 19th Vinistra: May 11- 13
Vinistra has proved to be one of the most distinguished international wine events and for years has established itself as the most important event of this kind both in the region and wider. Its visitors are linked by a common …
Aura: Wild herbs tamed in jars
Have you ever tried sage jam or hawthorn brandy? Feeling a bit skeptical? Well, don’t be! Self-grown and wild herbs and plants are actually a great source of ideas and inspiration for 100% natural products such as jams, teas or …
Restaurant Masèra: If you have champagne tastes and a beer budget
Something quite different from the usual konobas, Masèra offers the style of Rovinj’s top 5 restaurants but at an affordable price. The menu is tasteful, with a modest selection of dishes suited to preparation from fresh ingredients. Presentation here is wonderful.
Vinistra feat. Taste of Croatia (again)
Have you ever wondered would the way you experience the wine change and would you be able to guess its color if you tasted it blindfold? Does the music that plays in the background also influence the perception of aromas and flavors?
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.
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.
[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.
Anthony Bourdain Rocks around Croatian Coast
..and boy, did he have a good time!
No reservations: Anthony Bourdain Croatia episode airs April 23rd!
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.”
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.
More Croatian Restaurants in Jeunes Restaurateurs d’Europe
Jeunes Restaurateurs d’Europe (JRE) is an association of young restaurateurs. The thing they have in common is that they want to share their talent and passion for the profession with each other.
[VIDEO] Taste Extra Virgin Olive Oil Like a Pro
To taste an olive oil, avoid bread. Just drink it. Here is what to do when you visit an olive oil exhibition, like Oleum Olivarum, held this weekend in Krasica (Istria). You need to ask the producer to pour you …
Oleum Vitae: Piquant Character of North Istrian Olive Oils
Krasica is a small village just a few kilometers from the medieval town of Buje. There you can visit the tasting room of Nino Činić and shock your palate with piquant extravirgin olive oil coming from green hills surrounding the village.
[Pazin] Honey Days: Feb 24-25
Bee-keeping equipment, loads of honey and honey-related products, as well as useful lectures – all in one place.
Agritourism Vinerino: Soul-warming Tavern
Family Visintin runs this modestly looking farm-to-table konoba even out of the summer season which is always a good sign. While we soak homemade bread enriched with pumpkin in their delicious extravirgin olive oil, his wife Giuliana comes and takes the order.
Draga di Lovrana: At Istria and Kvarner Crossroads
This high-end boutique hotel and restaurant is definitely for special occasions only, unless you’re loaded with money. But only stopping here and having a coffee on the terrace surrounded with nature and magnificent view is a great experience.
San Gurmano: Elderberry vinegar is the dream of every gourmand
Did you know it’s possible to make a very special vinegar from fragrant elderflower berries containing plenty of healthy stuff?
Damir & Ornella: As fresh as it gets
Damir and Ornella are a couple of dedicated perfectionists who serve only the freshest seafood prepared with minimal interventions. Overgrilled fish? Forget it. And savour the pure taste of the sea. They call their style Mediterranean sashimi, but don’t expect …
Pepenero: Seafood from magician’s hat
One of the most famous and ambitious Croatian chefs, young Marin Rendić, settled in his own place and now he can easily experiment and follow his cooking instincts. The menu is mostly based on fish and the approach is very …
Orbanić family: Žminj’s pasta and bread expert
Do you want to learn how to make traditional Istrian pasta and a special kind of bread baked in steel mold or just see how they are made?
Konoba Bare: Heart-warming Istrian cuisine
This is yet another cozy family-run Istrian tavern, nothing unusual, but in Konoba Bare everything just falls into place perfectly. First you’ll probably be greeted by Vesna, who manages the place and likes to talk to her guests. Makes you …
Martin Pescador: Legendary hideout by the sea
You might have heard about it, but probably never ran into that place. That’s no wonder considering how tucked inside Istria’s south eastern coastline it is. Don’t expect a classy restaurant on the high end. It is, quite literally, a tavern. Nevertheless, it has become somewhat of an institution for this part of Istria.
Boškarin
Indigenous Istrian ox, at the brink of extinction at the end of the 20th century, but nowadays coming back to life as first-class meat and local delicacy. Only selected restaurants are allowed to serve it.
Kozlović: Wine drinkers’ kindergarten and PhD school
The new Kozlović winery is a must-visit not only for every wine enthusiast but also for everyone interested to see a beautiful example of the marriage of modern architecture and nature.
Agritourism Stari Kostanj: Il Dottore, food hero defending archaic flavors
…what distinguishes Stari Kostanj from other agritourisms and konobas is their maneštra (thick bean soup). It is a dish whose unique taste comes from “stupana trukinja”, an old Istrian corn variety prepared in a traditional way.
Arbacommerce: Anchovies for the masses
Is there a better snack than salted sardines and marinated anchovy fillets with some bread and good olive oil? Especially accompanied with a glass of red wine? Hardly, in our humble opinion. It’s the perfect Adriatic tapas. And luckily, anchovies …
Blind tasting of Croatian, French and Italian “young” and Beaujolais style wines
We are in the season when many Croats love to drink “young” wines or, to put it more precisely, wines that were born just a few months before. Tradition demands that hectoliters of it start to be drunk on November …
Sirotić: Hearty wines spiced up by Butoniga Lake terroir
Lonely hamlet of Medveje is situated on the green hills that surround Butoniga Lake from the north, some 13 km south from Buzet. This place, far from any main road, is worth visiting not only because of the idyllic landscape and …
Dujmović Istrian pršut: Cured ham made by tradition and winds
We’ve already talked about the art of making the indigenous Istrian pršut or dry-cured ham. So similar to all other members of the big Mediterranean smoked ham family, yet so special and unique, produced under strictly defined rules. The municipality …
[Northwestern Istria] Sole days: Oct 21-Nov 26
In the autumn take advantage of discovering the delicacy of high quality white fish at the Sole Days gastronomic event. Aim of this manifestation is the creation of a new tourist product by promoting quality white fish and the area …
Restaurant Vodnjanka: Modern approach on grandma’s tradition
Restaurant Vodnjanka, with its long tradition, is Vodnjan’s institution. The food is quite traditional, but not in a rural, “oštarija” sort of way. This is not your typical Istrian konoba. It’s a restaurant that leans on grandma’s tradition, but has a bit more modern approach.
[Vodnjan] Days of young olive oil: Nov 18-20
Vodnjanski Dani mladog maslinovog ulja jedinstvena su manifestacija koju u svega tri dana trajanja posjeti preko 18.000 posjetitelja, ljubitelja maslinovog ulja i vrhunskih gastro poslastica. Uz mnoštvo izlagača koji prezentiraju svoja mlada maslinova ulja, manifestacija posjetiteljima kroz Oil bar i …
[Pazin] Pazi što jedeš: Pazin Nov 19
Istrian etnographic museum decided to organize a manifestation that will adress the link between the diseases of modern times and the food we eat nowadays. That is exactly why its title is “Watch what you’re eating!”. On the 19th of November you can take part in the lectures (list below) or simply roam around the fair where local organic and natural products will be offered!
[Fažana] Delights & Delicacies: Nov 13
Fažanski gušti i delicije – Fažana Delights & Delicacies Small fishermen’s town and the gateway to Brijuni National Park seems to be a very active gourmet destination. The last event in this year is in sign of baptizing the young …
Fish-food More: Simple snacks straight from the sea
If you’re wondering, in this case fish-food means: fast food joint based on fish. Simple, fresh, cheap and good. No table-cloths, fancy wine glasses, super attentive service, romantic view.
[Istria] Open agritourism day: Nov 6
This year 11 agritourisms joined this new initiative of AZRRI – Agency of rural development in Istria. In case you don’t know, agritourisms are family operated farms with a tavern in which they are allowed to serve only the food …
[Hum] Homemade brandy festival: Oct 30
Traditionally every last Sunday in October, cheerful fans of homemade brandy gather in this tiny medieval town in Istria, mingle in the open and try out all possible kinds of brandy, including some curiosities like asparagus brandy, olive brandy or …
[Livade] 18th Tuberfest 2011: every Sunday in October
White truffle fair. Truffles auction sale. Local produce market. Demonstration of truffle foraging right in the world-famous Motovun Forest.
Stancija 1904: Classic Istrian cooking with local wine and brandy
by John J. Goddard Croatia’s remarkable diversity isn’t reflected only in its food, dialects and micro-climates, but also in the distinctive moods that hang in the air of each and every locale. While Zagreb chuckles mischievously behind a façade of …
Hum: Festival of homemade brandy
Festival celebrating homemade brandy and its enthusiast producers.
[Tinjan] Pršut festival: Oct 21-23
Istrian pršut, or air-cured ham, is one of the best and most famous meat products in Croatia, and little town of Tinjan is the Istrian pršut capital. So it makes the perfect location for a whole festival dedicated to this …
Istrian pršut: Unique dry-cured ham delicacy
Croatia boasts with its excellent pršut, or dry-cured ham, which falls into two main categories: Dalmatian and Istrian. Both are equally delicious, but each is specific as the production and the final product differ.
Meneghetti: World-class blends with Istrian character
It is nice to see that Stancija Meneghetti is not just another luxury holiday villa for clientele with deep pockets but also a place where outstanding extra virgin olive oils and innovative wines (innovative because in Istria winemakers are somewhat novice in the art of blending) are being produced.
