Kulinarik festival in Rogaška Slatina

Rogaška Slatina at the beginning of September didn't just smell like autumn! This wonderful Slovenian city (which you don't need a Slovenian vignette to get to) was filled with the scents of pizza, truffles, game, Asian spices, homemade cakes and good wine, and the tenth edition of the KULINARIK.SI 2026 festival once again showed that this destination has a lot to offer when it comes to gastronomy. The venue of this event - the central square of Rogaška Slatina, Europski trg, where on Friday, September 4, plates dominated, glasses were full of wine, food was commented on, and the familiar question "what are we going to eat today?" very quickly became - "what are we going to try first?"

The KULINARIK festival has already become a traditional part of the events in Rogaška Slatina, and its anniversary edition was a real feast of taste. 15 vendors officially presented themselves at the event, while a total of 16 stands were listed on the menu, because the organizer KULINARIK.si itself had its own gastronomic offer.

The menu was varied enough to satisfy both those who love traditional flavors and those who are looking for something a little different on their plate. From venison stew and rabbit on salad, through Neapolitan pizza and burgers, to pad thai, curry and Asian noodles - everyone could find something for themselves.

Among the participants was Gostilna Krpan, which offered pork fillet with chive cream, new potatoes and fig chutney, as well as a vegetarian combination of dough rolls with young baked cheese, marinated cabbage and pumpkin seeds. Restaurant Sonce decided on something completely different. At their stand, you could find creamy risotto with chanterelles and crispy pancetta, and pljukanci with porcini mushrooms and prawns - a combination of ingredients that perfectly suits the beginning of autumn.

Kaiser Restaurant offered its signature Kaiser fries, while KULINARIK.si prepared crispy Caesar chicken, Parisian gnocchi with pumpkin and, finally, the inevitable tiramisu. And then came the flavors that momentarily transported Rogaška Slatina to the other side of the world. Gostišče Jurg prepared veal strips with focaccia, pad thai with shrimp and fried tortilla with chicken. Fejst Food also played the international cuisine card - the menu included a gourmet Fejst dog, Asian noodles with a choice of chicken, tofu or seafood and Thai curry.

A special place was taken by Babica Marica, which brought the flavors of more traditional cuisine to the festival. Their menu included venison goulash, rabbit on salad and apple strudel. Such an offer nicely rounded off the story of the festival because KULINARIK was not intended to present only modern gastronomic trends. Its specialty lies precisely in the combination of tradition and modern cuisine. And what is a gastro festival without a little goodwill and humanitarian character? The Rotary Club of Rogaška prepared a humanitarian chilli con carne, so enjoying food was combined with the nice idea of ​​helping others.

Pizza lovers were also not left out. PizzaLAB presented authentic Neapolitan pizzas prepared from dough with long fermentation. The menu included traditional flavors, but also Kraljica, Gurmanka, Domaćica and Vražja pizza. For those who love burgers the most, the must-have place was Šentburger. The offer was impressive - from Šent Burger Original, Šent Patent and Šent Classic to combinations such as Kozjanac, Šent Guzaj, Šent Čikn... Of course, ribbed fries also arrived with the burgers. For those who still had room for something sweet after all, Original VAFL- Bubble VAFL, American pancakes and cake in a glass were waiting.

Good food always requires good drinks. Central Cafe was in charge of refreshments with a range of drinks, while Gin Kristal presented Slovenian gin and various drinks based on it. Wine lovers could choose from several well-known wineries. Vinska klet Prus presented its selection of wines, as did Klet Kregar, while Hiša vin Emino offered wines from its Emino brand. Thus, the wine offer followed the main idea of ​​the event – ​​to bring together local producers in one place and show guests how many different flavors can fit in one destination.

And perhaps that is precisely the most important thing. By bringing together local caterers, chefs, winemakers and producers, the festival shows the gastronomic side of Rogaška Slatina and additionally positions it as a tourist but also an eno-gastro destination. The tenth edition of the KULINARIK festival was exactly what a gastro festival should be – colorful, fragrant, relaxed and diverse enough to make everyone want to come back for another bite. From traditional venison and homemade savija, through risotto, spittoons and Neapolitan pizza, to burgers, Thai curry, pad thai, waffles and tiramisu - Rogaška Slatina showed that its gastronomic story has many faces that day.

Photo: Nikola Zoko