ISTRIA AND KVARNER

Specialties based on ingredients from the sea and dishes prepared following old recipes with a strong presence of local aromatic herbs are the main features of this cuisine covering a number of gastronomic sub regions. Istrian prosciutto, Grobnik cheese, truffle cheese (Mljekara Latus, Karlić truffles), salted sardines, marinades, cod fish spread (Milena), snails, Istrian pesto (made with bacon and garlic) and seafood salad are just some of the cold starters that must be tried. Warm appetizers usually include various risottos and pastas with seafood, minestrone with corn from the cob (“bobići”), “jota” (traditional dish made with dried beans and sour cabbage) or frittata with truffles, rocket salad or wild asparagus. Fresh sea fish (Royal Adriatic), Kvarner scampi prepared in many ways and mussels from Limski kanal are some of the specialties that attract tourists during the weekends. Specialties in Istria hinterland and Kvarner islands include smoked pork sirloin and sausages with sour cabbage, “fuži” (pasta), “šurlice” (homemade pasta) and gnocchi with venison stew, hare made in the pot and lamb prepared under the iron bell (“peka”). Lamb from the island is particularly praised because the animals graze in perfect ecological circumstances. For dessert, there are “kroštule” and “fritule” (both prepared with different types of dough and fried in deep oil), dried figs and chestnut cakes. Chestnuts from Lovran (“maruni”), wild asparagus and truffles from Motovun forest (Karlić truffles) are the ingredients to which special gastro days are dedicated in their season. During the gastronomic events Krk food fest – Tastes of Spring (May), you can enjoy the best traditional and seasonal dishes in about 20 restaurants of the island of Krk. Local salads include lamb’s lettuce, rocket salad and radicchio. Fresh marjoram, basil, sage, lemon balm, thyme, rosemary and laurel are added to the dishes. Fish is always accompanied by olive oil, usually from Istria (Oleum Maris and Rovinjola) or the island of Krk. Dopo dropo in Istria produces grape seed oil.

For aperitif, we recommend sparkling wine Cattunar made of malvasia and Momjan moscato following the Charmat method, sparkling wine (Winery Pavlomir, PZ Gospoja) or traditional Istrian brandy “biska” (Rossi). Dishes prepared with white fish and white meats are usually accompanied by Malvasia (Degrassi, Damjanić, Deklić, Cattunar, Sirotić, Matić, Marijan Arman, Rossi), Malvasia Reserve matured in wood in Winery Visintin, Sauvignon (Valenta), Vrbnik Žlahtina, especially with lamb (PZ Gospoja, Pavlomir, PZ Vrbnik) and Chardonnay (Degrassi, Pavlomir). With dark meats and oily fish the most popular are Teran (Terre Rosse – Degrassi, Valenta), Borgona (Damjanić), Refosco (Degrassi), Merlot (Cattunar, Damjanić), Cabernet Franc (Legovina) and Cabernet Sauvignon (Cattunar, Degrassi, Pavlomir). Desserts are accompanied by Muškat bijeli (Valenta). Good digestives are some of Darna liqueurs which were awarded some world awards.

Exclusive restaurants with top quality offer are San Rocco in Brtonigla, Bevanda (fish) and Navis in Opatija, Plavi podrum (fish, creative cooking) in Volosko and Vinotel Gospoja in Vrbnik. Top creative specialties are also offered in restaurant Pergola in Zambratija, Zijavica in Mošćenička Draga, Bodulka in Šišan, Sv. Nikola and Spinnaker in Poreč, Draga di Lovrana in Lovranska Draga and Villa Ariston in Opatija, Veli žal in Mali Lošinj. Local ingredients used in a creative way are an inspiration in restaurant Stancija Kovačići in Rukavac, Dream in Rovinj and Ganeum in Lovran. Fish specialties are at home in Badi in Lovrečica, Giannino in Rovinj, Trošt in Vrsar, Epulon in Pula, Yacht Club in Opatija, Ostaria Veranda in Volosko, Molo Longo in Rijeka and Conca d’Oro in Rijeka, Rivica in Njivice, Domino in Dramalj and Barbat in Barbat on the island of Rab. Homelike ambience and local specialties are offered in Vodnjanka in Vodnjan, Dida in Crikvenica, Marina in Punat and Artatore in Mali Lošinj. Jist in Viškovo is well known for steaks, and forest specialties are served in Bitoraj in Fužine.