Gourmet

January 2, 2019 — Have you ever tried gregada? This humble fish stew was most likely brought to the region by Greek settlers circa 380 BCE, as gregada is said to be the oldest way of preparing fish in Dalmatia, though potatoes were introduced considerably later. Gregada was long known as a staple among Dalmatian fishermen, and even though it is mostly associated with Hvar and other central Dalmatian islands, this traditional Croatian dish is nowadays prepared all along the Adriatic coast. This recipe is really a no-brainer; all you need is some fresh white fish, a couple of potatoes…

January 1, 2019 — In today's Best of Istria article learn more about biska, the mistletoe brandy Istria is most famous for, and find out where to try the best one. If you've ever been to Istria, chances are you've already tried biska, since this delicious Istrian brandy is traditionally offered as a welcome drink. In local dialect, biska is a word for white mistletoe (lat. Viscum album; commonly known as European mistletoe). However, this pomace brandy is made with the addition of several other locally grown herbs. The original recipe is believed to be more than 2,000 years old…

December 31, 2018 — In the second article of the Best of Istria series find out more about Istrian olive oil and why it is ranked among the best in the world. While Croatia has been growing olives for centuries, it has only recently been gaining global recognition as a producer of high-quality extra virgin olive oil. This year, however, was marked by another recognition from Flos Olei, the world's most comprehensive guide to the world's best extra virgin olive oils with certified quality which contributes to the branding of Croatia as a gourmet destination. The numbers speak for themselves:…

December 17, 2018 — Back when the basic ingredients of this recipe were scarce and costly, the famous Labinski krafi were traditionally prepared only for the most festive occasions like weddings and christenings. Today, this delectable pasta filled with an aromatic cheese mixture is an essential part of the common Istrian Christmas feast menu. Labinski krafi are basically sweet ravioli but what is special about this particular variety is that in Labin, krafi are served two ways: either with a savory ragù (meat-based sauce commonly served with pasta) or as a dessert. This recipe might seem a little daunting but…

December 15, 2018 — Over the past decades, it's been estimated that close to 90% of all olive oils we find on the shelves of our favorite supermarkets are not even close to the essence of health that olive oil is considered to be. So how are we supposed to know the difference? For millennia, people have been growing, picking and processing olives into what's forever been praised as pure, liquid green gold — the extra virgin olive oil. Unfortunately, for almost as many thousands of years, from ancient times to the present, people have also been adulterating this precious…

December 10, 2018 — The Frankopan torta is an iconic Croatian dessert, particularly emblematic of the city of Crikvenica where it enjoys a cult status and serves as a reminder of a historical era when the Crikvenica-Vinodol region was ruled by the counts of the Frankopan family.This lavish dessert originated in the Baroque era, and the first written mention of the Frankopan cake appeared in a 1686 cookbook written by Dutchess Eleonora Maria Rosalia von Eggenberg. The recipe was kept a secret up until 1993 when it was reconstructed at the Institute for Ethnology and Folklore Research in Zagreb.Here is…

December 9, 2018 — In the first article of the Best of Istria series find out about the famous Istrian winemaker Giorgio Clai, his philosophy and why his wines are some of the best you'll find in Croatia. Up until ten or so years ago, the entire Istrian premium wines production scene could've been narrowed down to several names. Today, there are more than twenty regional winemakers comprising the Istrian winemaking elite, with Giorgio Clai of Clai Winery being one of them. With more than 20 years in the restaurant business under his belt — all the while "making wine…

December 9, 2018 — The famous Split cake is undoubtedly the pinnacle of Dalmatian pastry making, though today it is prepared all along the Adriatic coast. Splitska torta is made with layers of nut-fruit meringue and a simple egg yolk buttercream. With dried figs, almonds and raisins as key ingredients, this traditional recipe perfectly reflects the essence of the Mediterranean. A true Dalmatian favorite, Splitska torta is prepared for all kinds of festive occasions, and in our family, it is also an essential part of a traditional Christmas spread. You can find hundreds of different recipe variations online, but once you…

December 3, 2018 - Ho-ho-ho! Who's up for some mulled wine? If you're anything like me, you will need a substantial amount of booze to get you through the cold winter days and the upcoming holidays – to warm both your body and spirit. And if mulled wine is your Christmastime drink of choice, then read on because we bring you five simple recipes for this heartwarming holiday favorite. Of course, mulled wine is as easy to make as it is to spoil so don't skip the tips & tricks part below! First off, if you don't want to end…

November 29, 2018 - The third and last in a series of articles unveiling the most important Istrian wines. Choosing the third most iconic Istrian wine was a bit tricky. There is the famous Muškat which can be found in several different styles, though in Istria it is traditionally produced as a dessert wine, and comes as a close second right after Malvazija. When it comes to red wines, the Bordeaux varieties like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot show remarkable results in Istrian terroir and so their production is on the rise. In fact, Merlot is today…

November 28, 2108 - The second in a series of three articles unveiling the most important Istrian wines. Regarded as the absolute queen of Istrian vineyards, Malvazija is the most widespread white grape variety in Istria, and the second most widespread in Croatia. The name “Malvazija” is present in various forms (Italian: Malvasia; French: Malvoisie; English: Malvesie, or Malmsey), and is of Greek origin, derived from Monemvasía, a small town in the Peloponnese historically known for extensive export of the Malvasia grape family throughout the Mediterranean. However, Istarska Malvazija is today considered to be an authentic Istrian variety, as DNA…

November 26, 2018 - The first in a series of three articles unveiling the most important Istrian wines.Istrian wine number one and at the same time one of the key domestic red varieties, Teran holds a special place in Croatian winemaking history. It was supposedly first mentioned in the 13th century, and by the 1880s it was the most widespread grape variety in Istria, planted on 90% of all vineyards. The wine's strong character is said to be evident while the grapes are still on the vines, as Teran grows in large clusters of densely packed berries with highly resistant skins.…

November 26, 2018 - With more than 300 exhibitors and a multitude of excellent wines and food delicacies showcased in its 13th edition, Zagreb VINOcom festival has once again confirmed itself as the leading regional festival of the finer things in life. Much satisfied with this year's attendance, the festival's director and founder professor Ivan Dropuljić said the whole project has been well accepted by people and thus, although wine as a culture was perhaps a little neglected, in recent years we see that trend changing, while events such as VINOcom even more so boost awareness of this culture. During…

The 13th annual Zagreb VINOcom wine and culinary arts festival was opened yesterday, November 23, 2018 at the Esplanade hotel, HINA reported. At the opening ceremony, more than 300 exhibitors of this year's VINOcom were welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Tomislav Tolušić who took the opportunity to express his hopes that the new Croatian wine law will right the wrongs of some past injustices, and financially unload domestic winemakers. In addition, Tolušić stated that his only goal in the winemaking sector is to make winemakers' more successful and their businesses more lucrative, assuring them that the Ministry…

  November 22, 2018 - As announced on their official website, the 13th annual Zagreb VINOcom festival of wine and culinary arts is about to take place this Friday and Saturday, November 23rd and 24th, at the Esplanade hotel.   Zagreb's most popular international wine festival opens tomorrow at 11:00 AM and the number of visitors is expected to exceed last year's attendance. Entrance tickets ranging from 150 to 200 kuna can be pre-booked via email or purchased on-site.   You can find the list of all confirmed exhibitors here, and the showcasing will be organized as follows:   Emerald ballroom…

November 22, 2018 - Only 15 days until Opatija's 13th Chocolate Festival! Fancy some Kvarner gourmet? Chocolate lovers rejoice! We are delighted to announce that the three-day annual chocolate festival held in Opatija, the Croatian capital of chocolate, will traditionally take place the first weekend of December, starting on Friday 7th at 2:00 PM.   For the 13th year in a row, the sweetest Croatian festival offers its visitors a chance to taste and discover the amazing flavors of both domestic and international chocolates, as the festival-goers get to indulge not only in sweets and desserts but also in a number of…

The renowned Draga di Lovrana is located at the foothills of the Učka mountain range, just above the eponymous municipality of Lovran. Built on the edge of a cliff, it overlooks the entire Bay of Kvarner, and the view is nothing less than spectacular. To get to the hotel, you have to drive up the serpentine road to an elevation of about 380 meters – for those who don't speak metric, that's a little over 1200 feet – but Draga di Lovrana is indeed "worth every curve," as their motto says. With an eerie history of mysterious accidents, lightning strikes,…

Learn a little more about Brač's sweet aphrodisiac, a desert so special, it is even listed by Croatia's Ministry of Culture as protected intangible heritage. 

Early in Spring, Great British Chefs – Francesco Mazzei and Tom Aikens recently toured Dalmatia and had nothing but praises to sing about the gastronomy and their overall experience here.

Continuing with our series dedicated to delicious dishes the Adriatic coast is known for, a look to a unique dessert on April 11, 2018

It’s the simple pleasures in life and the genuine encounters which we remember the most; this is exactly the kind of experience Brač Excursions and Explore Brač offer.

On Saturday 4th November 2017, we had an extraordinary day of genuine food and wine experiences on islands Brač and Šolta, proving, once again, the potential for gourmet tourism and extending the tourist season.

Moving away from traditional dishes (as such), this week we are penning an article about our seasonal friends – lemons, mandarins and pomegranates.

Croatia has an incredible Food and Wine story which most people know very little about, the Split B2B has started the conversation and now it is time to show the world that Croatia can stand confidently on the Gastronomical World Stage.

Welcome to fungal Croatia! This is not an invite to choose your favourite foot infection but rather an invitation to indulge in the ancient mycophilic tradition of foraging for wild mushrooms in the Fungi Kingdom of Croatia.

Are you ready for another installment of our Flavours of the Adriatic? Judging by the popularity of this series, it seems through everything in life, a good, nay – great dish can unite us all. This week we bring you “buzara”.

It was only a matter of time before we featured Zinfandel Food and Wine Bar, one of Split’s leading restaurants and wine bars in the gastronomy scene.

Brodet, brudet or brujet, however you call it, this is another classic dish that not only makes the Flavours of the Adriatic list but should perhaps be heading it up.