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Silent heroes of Zagorje's vineyards

The launch of the book Wine Stories: Hrvatsko Zagorje took place on 23 February 2025 at the Hotel Matija Gubec. The project was initiated by Krapina-Zagorje County, which commissioned wine writer Željko Garmaz to document the stories of the region’s most renowned winemakers. The event brought together winemakers featured in the book, as well as representatives of local wine and viticulture associations. The gathering was opened with welcome remarks by County Prefect Željko Ko

Tomislav Radić

Mar 303 min read

Labin Terroir of Lari Juričić

In 2008, Lari Juričić and his family decided to prepare predominantly rocky land with brown soil in the village of Bartići, near Labin. They cleared the terrain, mulched it, and planted their first vines: half a hectare of Malvasia and the same amount of Teran. Today, with new plantings, they cultivate around 3.5 hectares (6,000 Malvasia vines, about 4,000 Teran, 3,000 Merlot, 2,000 Chardonnay, and some Muscat Blanc). We learned that they plan to plant an additional two hecta

Vjeko Madunić

Mar 304 min read

Gastro Rijeka - a mix of sea, tradition, and mountains

When you are in Rijeka, you will be greeted by the aromas of maneštra and jota, fish and meat, fritule, kroštule, lamb and fresh vegetables. Here you will eat the finest squid you have ever tasted and discover that even an ordinary pizza seems to have an unusual flavour. In Rijeka you will encounter the famous Rijeka cream slice, enjoy an excellent tiramisu, and—while savouring the delightful chocolate dessert Rigojanči—hear the story of a Roma violinist in love and a recipe

Alma Premerl Zoko

Mar 155 min read

How to make chocolate with pork cracklings?

At the XOCOC chocolate shop in Ptuj, you can learn how to make chocolate with pork cracklings! A fantastic experience and great fun. In the heart of Ptuj, the oldest town in Slovenia and the holder of the European Heritage Champion title for 2026, you will find XOCOC. Pronounced Sho-ko, the name belongs to the sweetest place in Ptuj—a small boutique chocolate shop that opened a few years ago and where you can taste and purchase handmade pralines every day. Modern travellers f

Alma Premerl Zoko

Mar 153 min read

Tracing Brgujski kapuz in Stancija Kovačići

After finishing our visit to Veli Brgud, we descended to Rukavac, a settlement situated slightly above the centre of Matulji. It lies on the slopes of Orljak and Beljč and is connected by local roads with Opatija and Jušići, while the Rijeka railway line passes nearby. Rukavac has a strong tradition of bell-ringers and bell-ringing processions during the carnival season, which begins on St Anthony’s Day (17 January) and lasts until Ash Wednesday. The Rukavac bell-ringers wear

Danijel Ratković

Mar 155 min read

Mountain kingdom of Bohinj Cheese

Just three hours’ drive from Zagreb, hidden in the heart of Triglav National Park, lies Bohinj – Slovenia’s winter paradise that combines a crystal-clear lake, Alpine peaks and unforgettable nature trails that are fascinating all year round. Triglav National Park protects this magical valley with 84,000 hectares of unspoilt nature – from waterfalls to high-mountain pastures that turn into ski slopes in winter. Bohinj is not overcrowded like some similar destinations – here pe

Alma Premerl Zoko

Mar 154 min read

Lenten dishes in Croatia

Lent in Croatia is a culinary mood. For forty days leading up to Easter, kitchens across the country subtly shift rhythm. The meals become simpler, the flavours more restrained, and yet, paradoxically, more inventive. Historically shaped by Catholic fasting rules, which limited meat and animal fat (especially on Ash Wednesday and Fridays), Croatian Lenten cuisine grew out of necessity, seasonality, and deep respect for religious practice. What emerged over centuries is a repe

Vedran Obućina

Feb 243 min read

Bistro Fotić welcomed 29. Wine with the Spoon

At Bistro Fotić, right in the very heart of Zagreb (25 Gajeva Street), meals have been lovingly prepared every day for years. Both Zagreb locals and tourists come here to enjoy hearty homemade meat dishes, as well as fish specialities, fine stews and pasta. The bistro was founded and successfully run for many years by the Badrov family of photographers. At the end of last year it changed ownership and is now in the hands of the Khouri family. They do not intend to alter much,

Mustafa Topčagić

Feb 246 min read

Brgujski kapuz: red-green treasure of Ćićarija

Veli Brgud, a settlement within the Municipality of Matulji, is situated on the north-eastern edge of Ćićarija, in a fertile field framed by higher, hilly terrain. Although the old road and the motorway linking Rijeka with Rupa and Pasjak run close by, the village itself is free from the noise, haste and tension of modern traffic. Here, one can still sense the rhythm of the land and the passing of the seasons. Veli Brgud is known for its distinctive traditional costume and th

Danijel Ratković

Feb 244 min read

Sweet Seductions: Romantic Desserts to Celebrate St Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day has long been wrapped in the symbolism of sweetness. From honey-drenched pastries in the Eastern Mediterranean to creamy coconut puddings from the Caribbean, desserts have always been culinary love letters — indulgent, shareable, and occasionally gloriously messy. After all, romance and sugar have something essential in common: both are best enjoyed slowly and preferably with someone who doesn’t mind stealing a bite from your plate. Certain ingredients — pista

Ahmed M.M. Saleh

Feb 105 min read

Imotska torta protected

The art of preparing Imotska Torta, a ceremonial round cake made from shortcrust pastry with a rich filling and a distinctive crown-shaped decoration, requires specific skills, knowledge and carefully selected ingredients. Imotska Torta is prepared as an expression of identity and as a symbolic culmination of celebrations marking major life events and annual family customs among the inhabitants of the town of Imotski and the wider Imotski region. This part of the Dalmatian hi

Vedran Obućina

Feb 93 min read

Valentine's Day in Esplanade

For Valentine’s Day, Esplanade Zagreb Hotel presents a special offer that brings together refined experiences and tender romantic moments. On Saturday, 14 February 2026, in the red-lit ambience of Zinfandel’s Restaurant, guests are invited to enjoy a five-course gala dinner accompanied by a welcome glass of sparkling wine, the soft glow of candlelight and romantic piano music. For the occasion, Esplanade’s Chef Ana Grgić Tomić has created a selection of delicacies designed to

Tomislav Radić

Feb 93 min read

Chef Miroslav Janjić won a prestigious Hilton Award

Chef Miroslav Janjić, Executive Chef at Keight Hotel Opatija (Curio Collection by Hilton), has received the most prestigious recognition within Hilton’s global network – the 2025 CEO Light & Warmth Award. Selected from more than 800 nominations, Miroslav was chosen as the recipient of Hilton’s highest honour, celebrating exceptional individuals who embody warmth, hospitality and excellence in their everyday work. Through his leadership, Miroslav actively fosters an environmen

Alma Premerl Zoko

Feb 92 min read

Kastafski obed – As at home, but with 5*

In Kastav, gastronomy is not seen as an add-on to the offer, but as its very foundation. Here, cuisine emerges naturally from the landscape, forests and changing seasons, while local chefs do not mechanically reproduce tradition but thoughtfully reinterpret it on the contemporary plate. This very idea lies at the heart of Kastafski obed, a gastronomic initiative that makes local classics more accessible and closer to everyone who experiences Kastav – or is only just discoveri

Taste of Adriatic

Feb 92 min read

Slovenian štruklji Jezersko, worldwide known bite for which we have a recipe

The gastronomic story on a Slovenian plate is told through compact schnitzels, refined sauces and štruklji. Unlike in Croatia, where štrukle are a dish in their own right, traditionally served in clay pots or in soup, Slovenian štruklji resemble pale, delicate roulades that melt in the mouth as you mix them with sauces and meat. There is hardly a home cook who does not have her own recipe for štruklji (most often passed down from generation to generation), and besides secret

Alma Premerl Zoko

Jan 273 min read

With Cabbage Around the World

When winter really bares its teeth, and the days grow so short that lunch and dinner begin to resemble one another, sauerkraut steps onto the stage. It isn’t glamorous, it doesn’t smell of fine dining, and it rarely ends up on Instagram — but it knows the most important thing: how to warm you, feed you, and restore faith in simple cooking. In a pot of cabbage there is no pretence — only a slow flame, a little patience, and dishes that have survived far harsher winters than ou

Vedran Obućina

Jan 276 min read

Sweet by Nature: Exploring Egypt’s Date Traditions

In Egypt, dates are never just dates. They are history you can snack on, hospitality you can hold in your palm, and a reminder that some ingredients come with a biography longer than most civilizations. With its sun-soaked climate, fertile Nile Valley, and millennia of agricultural know-how, Egypt has become one of the world’s leading producers of dates. From Pharaonic times to modern iftar tables during Ramadan, dates have marked moments of nourishment, welcome, and ritual.

Ahmed M.M. Saleh

Jan 253 min read

From soldier to world-famed herbalist - meet Tanja Rebolj

Tanja Rebolj, a former professional soldier who swapped her uniform for a basket of herbs, now creates world-renowned liqueurs from as many as 300 medicinal plants grown in the unspoilt nature of Zgornje Jezersko. Mučenik, Brisalec Spomina, Koroški Antigripin, Jaga Baba – these unique liqueurs are crafted according to secret recipes that Tanja has been developing for 20 years, transforming alpine flora into her brand and into irresistible drinks and souvenirs that captivate n

Alma Premerl Zoko

Jan 203 min read

Croatian Cheeses on World Cheese Awards

World Cheese Awards The World Cheese Awards is one of the most prestigious and influential international competitions dedicated to cheese, bringing together producers, experts, and enthusiasts from around the globe each year. Hosting this renowned event in Bern in November 2025 further emphasised its international character and highlighted Switzerland’s importance as a country with a strong cheese-making tradition, knowledge, and quality. Thousands of cheeses from dozens of c

Vedran Obućina

Jan 202 min read

Cairo Eats: The Culinary Story of Stuffed Pigeons

Our search for stuffed pigeon in Cairo began with mild confidence and ended, several hours later, with a kind of amused humility. “Hamam mahshi?” we asked eagerly, pronouncing it with the optimism of people who had clearly practiced the phrase too many times in advance. Taxi drivers nodded politely, waiters smiled encouragingly, and several menus seemed to promise everything except the one dish we were after. At one point, a well-meaning local assured us that yes, pigeons exi

Vedran Obućina

Jan 113 min read