A wise saying goes: To get to know the soul of a place, visit the monuments and feel the spirit of the past,
Observe the architecture, visit the markets and shops and taste everyday dishes. The changing seasons at the markets determine the Kvarner menus, which are based on local ingredients: seafood... blue fish, shrimp, an abundance of Mediterranean vegetables, fruit, wild aromatic herbs, olive oil and the inevitable white Kvarner wine Žlahtina.
We will take you through and introduce you to some of the most common and most beloved Kvarner dishes: Kvarner dishes:
Kvarner shrimp
Kvarner shrimp is certainly the most famous food of Kvarner and certainly one of the most exclusive! It is pale red in color and has a thinner shell. It is special because it lives only on the Kvarner coast of the Adriatic, in shallow seas with many sources of drinking water and is therefore very soft and sweet. It is eaten fresh, with pasta, in risotto, on "buzaro", grilled...
Island lamb
Sheep and lambs in Kvarner graze on grass that also contains around 300 species of wild, wild aromatic herbs, which are seasoned with salt by the bora wind, which blows from the sea to the land. It is precisely because of all of the above that island lamb from Kvarner is special, and not just the meat, but also the milk and cheese. The meat is most often prepared in a bread oven "under the roof", grilled, breaded or eaten "na lešo" (boiled), with potatoes, vegetables or šurlice.
Krk prosciutto
The island of Krk is the only island with its own, protected, prosciutto. The most important part of its production is the slow drying, which is facilitated by dry bora winds. The original Krk prosciutto must be produced from pigs from the region, and is the first Croatian product with a geographical indication protected in the EU, the winner of numerous awards for quality at domestic and international festivals and exhibitions. It goes well with sheep's cheese, olive oil, šurlice...
Olive oil
The Mediterranean is unimaginable without olives and olive oil. An increasingly popular and sought-after appetizer in restaurants and taverns is the simple and traditional one: quality olive oil, freshly baked bread and salt... Krk and Cres olive oil are holders of the EU's protected designation of origin.
Lovran cherries and chestnuts
The Opatija Riviera, especially the Lovran area and the slopes of the Učka Nature Park, are already widely known for their cherries and chestnuts – a type of domesticated chestnut. Try them in cakes, pies, various dishes… or try the cherries fresh, straight from the tree, and the chestnuts simply boiled or roasted.
Unique Kvarner white wine – Žlahtina
In the Kvarner "best" category, there is certainly Vrbnik žlahtina - a wine made from the same-named indigenous white grape variety from the Krk and Vinodol hills. It is named after the town of Vrbnik on the island of Krk, and is distinguished by its delicate aroma, characteristic refreshing taste and bouquet.
Spicy aromatic and wild herbs
Sage, rosemary, lavender, wild asparagus... and a long list of aromatic plants... Herbs, plants and scents have always been present in Kvarner, and they are used for food, baths, scents, as natural medicines, and for preparing brandies such as travarica, brinjevac...
Homemade pasta "šurlice"„
Since ancient times, Kvarner housewives and caterers have been hand-kneading traditional homemade pasta "šurlice", which is served with shrimp, fresh fish, crabs, mussels, lamb goulash (žgvacet) or just with fresh sheep's cheese.
Rab cake
The recipe is a secret, which has been kept, cherished and passed down exclusively by word of mouth for centuries. It dates back to the 12th century when it was first served to Pope Alexander III on the occasion of the blessing of the cathedral on the island of Rab. Some of the main ingredients are almonds, lemon, sugar, eggs and maraschino. Today, Rab cake is a famous and favorite dessert and souvenir that pairs perfectly with sparkling wine and prosecco.
Baked octopus
Octopus, also known as octopus or octopus, is a type of mollusk that lives in the Adriatic Sea. It is prepared "as a salad" - after a long cooking time, or it is baked with potatoes "under a roof", and on the island of Rab they are dried and prepared with eggs.
Fig tree
A type of dessert made from dried figs, with the addition of walnuts or almonds and various spices.
Gorani stuffing
A traditional filling made from dried pork and bacon, eggs and spring onions that is used to stuff all types of meat.
Blue fish
Bluefish was once one of the most important ingredients in the traditional diet of the northern Adriatic, as evidenced by the numerous tuna restaurants along the coast of Primorje. This food on the Crikvenica Riviera even has its own special road, the "Bluefish Road", which was conceived as a project in which about a dozen restaurants on the Crikvenica Riviera offer bluefish specialties throughout the year.
Rich in vitamins, proteins, minerals, omega 3 acids, it has beneficial effects on health. And when we talk about this food, we must definitely mention the specialty - "Crkveniške rupice" "Crkveniške rupice", made from small blue fish, to which spices such as garlic and parsley are added, and they are the size of a woman's fist.
