July 21, 2022 - As Zagreb continues to become a beloved destination to visitors and a home full of life to those fortunate, the continuation of the new TCN series – exploring the thriving capital of Zagreb through the eyes of a sixteen-year-old expat – presents culinary traditions that I have experienced during my time here.

Starting from Zagreb’s popular living landmark: the Dolac Market. A crowded hub of interactions, which overlooks the main square, comprises itself of a raised open site lined with endless stalls of fresh produce. Additionally, the market's variety consists of seafood, which is set up alongside the produce in a ‘Ribarnica’, as well as red meat and dairy products, which can be found at street level in the indoor area. The impressive diversity of the domestic trading system has brought the capital of Croatia an attraction worth visiting and likely to be spotted thanks to the big, red umbrellas!

Photo: Romulic & Stojcic

Zagreb’s local economy attracts people from all over the world with its renowned traders, known as 'kumice' – who fill the atmospheric scene with delicacies and comforting commotion of distinct voices – as well as flower stands offering seasonal greenery before the entrance to the active market.

The Dolac Market, having been built between Kaptol and Tkalčićeva, has become Zagreb’s busy thoroughfare, which continues to showcase trading traditions that have been started all the way back in the 1930s.

Photo: Romulic & Stojcic 

Continuing on with the famous Štrukli, the traditional specialty of the Croatian Zagorje region. The prized dish has earned its love amongst tourists and locals because it is handmade and quality, and earned its place within the local tradition. Being known as a pastry that is served as an appetiser, filling addition to soups, a tasty main meal, a fast snack or a sweet dessert, Štrukli has gained attention unlike anything else!

Moreover, in honour of the traditional dish, there has been the occurrence of Štruklijada, a special event organised in the village of Kumrovec since 2009. The event's purpose is to help promote and preserve the traditional method of preparing the štrukli pastry, which year after year is attracting ever more local and foreign guests.

Photo: Bonč/Wikimedia Commons

To reveal, when first invited to try štrukli, I was impressed by the gentle taste of the soft dough, creamy cheese, eggs, and its sour-cream sauce. The dish made a great first impression on me and made me re-visit “La Štruk” – a small restaurant serving only štrukli.

Lastly, let’s talk about the sidewalk cafes, restaurants, and bars on Ivana Tkalčića Street. Unlike the street we now know and love, Ivana Tkalčića used to be a natural border – known as the Medveščak stream – between the two settlements that Zagreb emerged from, where numerous conflicts used to arise. It used to involve brutality and hatred, while now it promotes an atmosphere of blissful days filled with laughter and relaxation. And being known as the most vibrant street in Zagreb, the local street food does have a lot to offer!

Photo: Luis Bartolomé Marcos/Wikimedia Commons

A mixture of cuisine and flavours can be found on this promenade; from oriental food to classical hamburgers, you will find everything here. But what makes this street and the dishes it has to offer extra special are the people. I find the indisputable charm of the street coming from the dynamics of the locals and the laid-back attitude of those surrounding you.

Do not miss out on the opportunity to discover the city’s distinct personality and the food it has to offer by finding out more about the culture it is exceptionally known for!

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, 29 March, 2021 - The HR-Koncept company from Nedelišće, a town in the northern Međimurje County, on Monday presented its domestic food producer search engine which it wants to make the central point of the domestic food market in Croatia and neighbouring countries through a social entrepreneurship project.

The project is worth HRK 1.74 million, of which 85% is money from the European Social Fund, while the national share of the funding is provided by the National Foundation for Civil Society Development. The project is being implemented in cooperation with the local action group (LAG) Vallis Colapis from Karlovac.

"This is a big step towards making the Finoteka.com search engine a system that is managed by the producers and buyers of domestic food," HR-Koncept director Hrvoje Kolman said.

Finoteka.com has become a social enterprise with the aim of reinvesting at least 75% of corporate profit in advertising domestic products and in the education and training of Croatian farmers.

Finoteka.com, which operates the food delivery website FinotekaDostava.com, has been active since 2008 and today around 3,000 producers sell their products, mostly fruit and vegetables, in Croatia as well as in Slovenia and Austria using this search engine.

Kolman said that the coronavirus pandemic had increased the online sale of farm produce, specifically by 50% for his company.

HR-Koncept plans, by implementing the project, to create conditions for domestic food producers to become co-owners of the central food market place in Croatia and to manage on their own the system for the sale of their products, offering only the select, best domestic products, and deliver them directly to end-users.

Kolman said that products were not stored but were delivered directly "from farm to table within 24 hours", with no need for intermediaries.

The project, to be implemented in three rural communities (Žumberak, Ribnik and Sveti Martin), will involve 120 people who have been unemployed for a long time.

This will help residents of rural communities use the untapped capacity for self-employment by joining in the activities of the new social enterprise, with the support of subsidies from the Rural Development Programme and the Operational programme for fisheries and sea, said Vallis Colllapis head Milan Medić.

Apart from helping producers, the Finoteka.com project will also help small and big retailers, buyers, restaurants, fruit shops and end-users find local food producers quickly.

For more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.