Luxury of the Winter Menu in the Restaurant 1444

Just eight kilometres from Brežice, and only a twenty-minute drive from Zagreb, lies the magnificent Mokrice Castle, a true jewel of Slovenian history and culture. This Renaissance castle was first mentioned in 1444, and it acquired its essential features in the 16th century. The history of Mokrice is both fascinating and rich—on its site once stood a Roman military post known as Romulus’ Fortress, and through the centuries it witnessed turbulent events, including Ottoman attacks.

The castle as we know it today is the result of centuries of extensions and changes of ownership, with the last noble family, the von Gagerns, holding it until the Second World War. Throughout the 20th century, the castle changed both owners and functions—shifting from a noble residence to various social roles, including an old people’s home, an orphanage, and an inn. Today, this beautiful complex with its drawbridge has been carefully transformed into a four-star hotel managed by Terme Čatež.

Within Mokrice Castle is Restaurant 1444, its name clearly honouring the site’s long history. A favourite spot among many gastronomes, the restaurant presents a unique winter menu at the end of the year, blending traditional local ingredients with modern gastronomy to create a rich and immersive experience for its guests. The dishes, lovingly crafted by Chef Zdravko Andželevski and his team, highlight steaks, specially prepared pork ribs, and mouflon meat whose flavours are complemented by vegetables, cheeses, and grains grown in the surrounding region.

“We strive to ensure that Restaurant 1444 serves foods grown in this part of Slovenia, where Mokrice stands as a symbol of history and gastronomy. We therefore change the menu several times a year, doing our best to offer a wealth of flavours appropriate to the season in which food is enjoyed. In the coldest months, we focus on substantial cuts of meat, side dishes that give the meat a special dimension, traditional štrukli, and fermented salads that unify the flavours,” says Chef Andželevski, adding that every dish in this restaurant is paired with carefully selected wines from the Bizeljsko and Štajerska regions.

Gastronomy lovers know that you must allow yourself to experience a diverse range of flavours in this restaurant. The menu is concise yet purposeful, allowing you to choose your culinary pleasure from around twenty creatively prepared dishes. The winter menu includes Vitello Tonnato Carpaccio with beetroot crisps and local cheese, as well as a house pâté with white truffle and dehydrated egg—all complemented by crunchy buckwheat bread. For cheese lovers, there is also a warm starter: the Castle Štrukla made from local cheese and cream, enhanced with “kozjanski spuhanci”.

The main dishes of Restaurant 1444’s winter menu include Pork Belly with baked beans, Dijon sauce, and kimchi. For those who prefer something even heartier, there is Mouflon served with hazelnut purée, porcini sauce, and sweet-potato crisps. For guests who do not eat meat, Andželevski has created a delightful fusion of Posavje vegetables and grains—a stuffed pepper with orzo, vegetables, and a leek cream. The main dishes are served with Modra Frankinja, Dular, Merlot, and Keltis wines. The finishing touch to this gastronomic experience is a special dessert—“Mokriška Viljamovka”, a wonderful combination of pear brandy and white chocolate, brought together by a pear compote made from fruit grown on the trees surrounding the castle.

“For those wishing to enjoy a historical setting and top-class cuisine, Mokrice Castle with Restaurant 1444 offers a unique blend of culture, history, and gastronomy. A visit to this place is not only a culinary delight but also a journey through time—into medieval legends and contemporary culinary trends,” say the team at Mokrice, adding with a smile that they are more than ready to welcome all those who wish to combine the Advent season in Zagreb or Ljubljana with places offering an added festive atmosphere. Here, one can enjoy delicious food every day, experience both history and the present moment, and enrich one’s visit with yet another attraction—relaxation at the thermal springs of Terme Čatež, home to the iconic Winter Thermal Riviera with the largest slide in this part of Europe, as well as a Wellness Riviera with a complex of saunas, one of the reasons why visitors from across Europe choose this location for winter holidays.

Photo: Nikola Zoko