Croatia’s mouth-watering melange of culinary influences – a jumble of Hungarian, Italian, Slavic, Turkish and Austrian, among others – has created one of the most exciting cuisines in Europe. Each region has its own specialities, making a foodie tour of Croatia one of the most pleasurable ways of spending a summer holiday.
Start in the heart-shaped Istrian peninsula in the north Adriatic, a land of award-winning olive oils, superb wines and pungent truffles. While there’s a hint of Italy on the plate, the Istrians have come up with their own pasta called fuži, which is served with all sorts of deeply flavoured sauces including beef ragout and, of course, truffles. Spend a morning with a truffle farmer and his hunting dog and you’ll soon see how much the truffle is valued here. Try thin slices of air-dried ham called pršut during wine tastings in some of Istria’s top-classes wineries producing delicate white malvazija and robust teran reds. Seafood lovers can combine visits to gorgeous Rovinj with giant bowls of mussels from the Lim Channel.
Truffle is the name of the game for any foodie visiting the Istrian peninsula
(Source: CNTB / Ivo Biocina)
As you make your way down the Adriatic coast, stop by the island of Krk and try some of its scrumptious langoustines and dry white žlahtina wine. The neighbouring island of Cres has some of Croatia’s most succulent lamb, although the nearby island of Pag offers strong competition – plus a moreish sheep’s milk cheese called paški sir. Drop into Zadar, the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia, for a shot of its sweet yet subtle maraschino brandy made with local maraska cherries. It’s one of many liqueurs and brandies you’ll find all over Croatia, made from everything from plums and honey to herbs and walnuts.
Head to the island of Pag for delicious sheep’s milk cheese
(Source: CNTB / Ivo Biocina)
When you reach Dalmatia, you won’t be able to resist a dish of pašticada, slow-cooked and wonderfully rich beef served usually with gnocchi. Seafood lovers will be spoilt for choice: feast on freshly grilled fish served at a waterside restaurant, once you’ve whetted your appetite with a plate of salted anchovies or squid-ink risotto.
With more than 130 indigenous grape varieties in Croatia, you’ll have excellent wines to choose from. Take a tour of Hvar’s wineries and you’ll be presented with a gift from God – the literal translation of the dry white bogdanuša wine. Lovers…
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