Gostilna Müller - Taste of Bela krajina

If you are looking for an idea for a trip that will combine good food, wine, nature and a slightly different experience of Slovenia, you may not need to look any further than Bela Krajina. This picturesque part of southeastern Slovenia is located right next to the Croatian border, and is only about 90 kilometers from Zagreb. Close enough for a day trip, and different enough that after crossing the border you will feel like you have briefly escaped from everyday life.

Bela Krajina is the region of the Kupa River, vineyards, hills, forests and small towns where local tradition is still strongly felt. People come here for the nature, wine and gastronomy, but also for that feeling of a slower life that is increasingly difficult to find today. And gastronomy and wine are one of the best ways to get to know this region. At the center of such a story is Gostilna Müller, a family-run inn in Črnomlje that has been operating continuously since 1965. But its story actually begins much earlier – even before World War II. And perhaps that is precisely why this place is much more than a restaurant.

The story of the Müller Inn goes back to the time before World War II, when the ancestors of the current owners had a kind of winery and farm. As the family says, at that time almost every other house was some kind of inn. Catering was not just a business, but a part of everyday life and the local community. After World War II, the operation of the inn was not possible for a while. When circumstances calmed down, the family business was restarted by grandfather Janko together with his wife Stanka, opening the Müller Inn in 1965. This began a story that has lasted more than six decades.

The first generation was represented by grandfather Janko and grandmother Stanka. After them, the management of the inn was taken over by their son Jože and his wife Irena. In 2014, the tradition was taken over by a new generation led by Tina Müller Starešinič, who still successfully runs this restaurant today, with the help of her parents and family. Over the decades, the Müller Inn has changed along with the guests and the times.

What was once a traditional family inn is now a modern catering facility with a restaurant, comfortable rooms for relaxing while exploring this destination, and spaces for weddings, celebrations, and business events. But one thing has not changed – the desire to maintain a connection with the region. “We try to upgrade the dishes, but still remain true to the environment in which we live. We eat a combination of local and modern, we serve our guests with ingredients from our neighbors’ farms for breakfast, we bake our own bread every day... - says Tina.

The menu of the Müller Inn today looks different than it did a few decades ago. At the very beginning, simple, traditional, and filling dishes were served - fried liver, goulash, and roast. These were the dishes that people of that time expected from a family inn. With the arrival of a new generation into the family story, a kind of “fresh wind” arrived. The menu included Viennese steak, squid, fruit cups, and other dishes that represented something new and more modern at the time. Today, the philosophy has changed again, but without breaking with the past. The emphasis is on fresh, seasonal and local ingredients, and the basic idea is to offer more modern gastronomy, while remaining faithful to Bela Krajina and its flavors.

When asked about the greatest specialty at Müller, they do not want to single out just one dish. The reason is simple - the menu adapts to the seasons. Among the most popular dishes are slow-roasted veal and lamb, aged steaks from local farms, and trout from the nearby Mlinar fish farm. A particularly interesting part of the menu is also modern versions of traditional Bela Krajina specialties, such as homemade žlikrofi with traditional wheat sausage.

"This is exactly what many gastronomic travelers are looking for today - a dish that has a local character, but is not necessarily served in the way they would have expected it a few decades ago." - explains the owner, aware that what keeps guests coming back is not just the dish served. Guests come here again for the special taste of the food, home-made preparations, friendly service and pleasant ambiance. In other words, for the complete experience.

In a time when restaurants often emphasize the name of a single chef, Gostilna Müller builds its gastronomy differently. Their cuisine is thanks to a well-coordinated team of chefs who use their knowledge, experience and dedication to ensure the quality of the dishes every day. The family believes that the best results are the result of teamwork and that each team member is an important part of the story. And this fits perfectly with the philosophy of the family inn – here, it is not important who is the star of the kitchen, but that the guest receives a quality plate every time.

If food is a way to get to know the character of Bela Krajina, wine is its other part. Bela Krajina is known for its quality wines, and at Gostilna Müller they give local winemakers a special place. In fact, they made a pretty clear decision: they only have Bela Krajina wines on their wine list, around 60 of them. At this place, wines are recommended with main courses that will best complement the flavors. Fresh white wines are chosen with fish and lighter dishes, while fuller red wines are better suited with meat specialties.

foto: NIkola Zoko