Taste of
Kvarner

Delicious Food and wine

Taste of Kvarner

The gastronomy of Kvarner combines the continental and Mediterranean, and travellers in search of delicious dishes must certainly visit this well-known culinary destination. If you are one of those people who believe that a certain region is best discovered through its food, then Kvarner's cuisine will not leave you indifferent. Many first-class restaurants can be found in Kvarner, which for a number of years now has been at the top of the Croatian culinary scene. In these restaurants, you have the opportunity to try local dishes adapted to the tastes of modern food lovers, all thanks to quality local ingredients and the experience of local chefs who will serve a rhapsody of tastes, aromas and colours on your plate. 'Kvarner Gourmet' and 'Kvarner Food' are the quality labels of the area's eating establishments, and have been awarded since 2012. They will help you find the most delicious dishes. Go on a gastro stroll around Kvarner and in each destination try the dish that is characteristic of the place.

Crikvenica Riviera

The Oily Fish Route on the Crikvenica Riviera


The Oily Fish Route on the Crikvenica Riviera


Visit restaurants with the Oily Fish Route label in Crikvenica and enjoy the taste of fish specialities. Oily fish is an excellent source of protein, vitamins, minerals and omega 3 acids, and is highly prized in Crikvenica's restaurants because of the important role that it played in the region in the past. It fed generations of people and is an important ingredient in the diet of today's inhabitants of Crikvenica. It is clear why oily fish is known as the 'star of the table'. If you ask people to recommend an oily fish dish, everyone will suggest Crikveničke rupice, also known as balice, kolubice or gunjci. They will be happy to tell you how to make them, and will prepare them according to an old recipe that the mothers and wives of the local fishermen used long ago. You won't be able to try this dish anywhere else, so take advantage of the opportunity. READ MORE
Krk Island

Krk olive oil


Krk olive oil


Olives are an important part of the culture of the island of Krk. Because of the quality of the island's olive oil, it is used at every opportunity. Extra virgin olive oil from the island of Krk has protected designation of origin and is a key ingredient in local and national specialities. It gives every dish a special taste that once you have left the island will always draw you back. Sample these golden droplets that belong to one of the best olive oils in the Mediterranean. All restaurateurs prepare their food with this oil because as soon as you add a drop to a dish, it gives it a taste of Krk. The best souvenir of the island is a bottle of extra virgin Krk olive oil, which will remind you of how you enjoyed it on the island every time you use it! READ MORE
Opatija Riviera

Award-winning Opatija restaurants


Award-winning Opatija restaurants


Try a work of art on a plate. Opatija is a real culinary centre with several of the best restaurants in Croatia. In its top-quality restaurants, you can explore extensive wine lists and dishes prepared with fresh local ingredients. Each dish combines the mountains and the sea in a way that your taste buds will not be able to resist. Wild asparagus, Kvarner scampi or truffles in the hands of the best Opatija chefs become real works of art that will make you want to order them again. The tastes that you experience in Opatija will undoubtedly remain with you. Dishes often contain specific local ingredients, and Kvarner scampi are particularly worth mentioning in this regard. There are many different ways of preparing this delicacy. If you choose them as a starter, they will come raw, marinated in extra virgin olive oil with lemon juice. You can also try them in risotto, where they provide the dominant flavour. However, the best-known and most appreciated way of serving them is à la buzara (in a sauce), which brings out their special aroma. Enjoy the masterpieces of the local chefs! READ MORE
Cres

The best-known Cres specialty is the island's lamb


The best-known Cres specialty is the island's lamb


By far the best-known Cres specialty is the island's lamb, whose special taste comes from the traditional practice of allowing sheep to graze freely on the island's pastures. Lamb is prepared on the island in a variety of ways, so the best way to find your own favourite is to sample what the local restaurants have to offer. Dishes are prepared according to traditional recipes, and the seasoning is provided by the ingredients that can be found on the island. The wealth of the plant life of the island of Cres plays a significant role in the quality of the lamb, and a special part is also played by the sea, which is carried onto the pastures with the help of the wind. The distinctive taste and intense aroma of the island's lamb recommend it to each new tourist who comes to the island and wishes to sample its traditional cuisine. Try Cres lamb, a combination of the sea and the mountains! READ MORE
Rab Island

Local Rab cuisine


Local Rab cuisine


If you visit the island of Rab, you'll find plenty of quality fish and meat on offer, and the ways in which the local specialities are prepared will make you want to try more. To enjoy the cuisine of the island, look for a typical tavern or restaurant with the Kvarner Gourmet quality label, which is displayed by many of the eating establishments on Rab. Enjoy the wide range of typical Mediterranean dishes and the local seasoning that gives each dish that Rab touch of perfection! READ MORE
Lošinj

Traditional Lošinj cuisine based on island produce, aromatic herbs and olive oil


Traditional Lošinj cuisine


Indulge in the culinary delights provided by traditional Lošinj cooking. Enjoy the tastes of the Mediterranean and get to know the aromas of the specialities that Lošinj prides itself on. The island has a mild climate that allows plant life to thrive throughout the year. Depending on the time of year when you visit, you can enjoy various aromatic herbs that enhance the flavour of the food on your plate. Pamper your palate with local island food prepared in a way that will make you want to return to Lošinj in search of the recipe. If you choose your holiday destination based on its cuisine, then don't miss this gastronomic paradise, and make sure that you sample all the specialities and wash them down with a glass of quality Lošinj wine! READ MORE
Gorski kotar

Gorski Kotar brandy


Gorski Kotar brandy


Do you know what brinjevac is? If you find yourself in Gorski Kotar, don't miss the opportunity to try this traditional juniper brandy. The brandies and liqueurs produced in this region are still made according to traditional recipes, so try a well-known plum, pear or apple brandy. Cheers! READ MORE
Crikvenica Riviera

'Our Grandmas' Cookbook' from Crikvenica


'Our Grandmas' Cookbook' from Crikvenica


This is the cookbook which every house in the Crikvenica area must have. Thanks to this book, you can sample the tastes and aromas of local Primorje cuisine in your own home. It contains the traditional recipes of Crikvenica cuisine with instructions that you can easily follow when making your favourite dishes. Reading this fantastic souvenir, you'll appreciate just how important it is to preserve both the material and non-material cultural heritage of our ancestors. Fill your house with the aromas of Primorje cuisine. READ MORE
Krk Island

Fresh fish, scampi and other shellfish in Krk cuisine


Fresh fish, scampi and other shellfish in Krk cuisine


Living on the island of Krk, you become aware of the importance of the sea that surrounds you. The inhabitants of the island of Krk greatly appreciate the sea and what it has to offer. Throughout history, the sea represented their main source of food, and because of its cleanness and temperature offered high-quality produce. The Adriatic Sea and the waters off the island of Krk are home to almost every species of fish. Every day, freshly caught fish are landed on the island. The islanders are proud of the variety of what they have to offer, and you can try oily fish, white fish, squid, octopus, mussels, and many other delicacies. If you want to eat the tastiest scampi in the world, most people would agree that you try Kvarner scampi, which prepared in the traditional way (à la buzara) provide an explosion of wonderful tastes in the mouth. It is recommended that you use local Krk olive oil in preparing all seafood dishes, accompanied by a glass of Vrbnička žlahtina white wine. Enjoy your seafood just like an islander! READ MORE
Krk Island

Krk festive lunch


Krk festive lunch


Festive lunch on the island of Krk nearly always includes dishes with homemade pasta (šurlice, macaroni, gnocchi) in various sauces. Try an important ingredient of the island of Krk, which is also one of the favourites of the locals. Šurlice are a local product and a connection with the past and the islanders' way of life. To make them, you need plenty of will, patience and above all experience. Šurlice are a homemade pasta that can be eaten with all kinds of sauces. You can choose from wild Krk asparagus, seafood, Krk lamb goulash, etc. Choose your favourite sauce and combine it with local, homemade šurlice and enjoy a pasta dish that will win you over as soon as you taste it! READ MORE
Opatija Riviera

Opatija's small Osterie and Taverns


Opatija's small Osterie and Taverns


You can try traditional Opatija dishes made from fresh local ingredients in a distinctive local atmosphere in Opatija's well-known taverns. Nourished by the combination of the mountains and the sea, which in large part characterises the cuisine of this region, Opatija has remained faithful to its culinary tradition and the use of both continental and Mediterranean ingredients. The town's small osterie and taverns have preserved a traditional approach to food, and their hospitality has always attracted food lovers seeking to experience all the secrets of the local cuisine. They are marked with the Kvarner Food label, which is a guarantee of quality. Treat yourself to a tasty meal – Bon appétit! READ MORE
Krk Island

Krk lamb


Krk lamb


Try this specialty of the island that occupies a special place in Krk cuisine. Krk lamb has a special aroma and taste because the lambs graze on various herbs on the island's pastures. This delicacy can be prepared in a hundred different ways, and you can try some of them in the restaurants of Krk, and also at the Black Sheep Festival which is held every May in Baška. In addition, the popular Krk cheese is an excellent accompaniment for every meal and can be enjoyed as a starter, in main dishes and even as a sweet course (desserts made from sheep's cheese). Krk lamb will be recommended to you by most visitors to the island. It's said that it was served at the tables of Roman emperors, so come and enjoy a royal treat! READ MORE
Krk Island

Homemade Krk sheep's cheese and pršut dry-cured ham


Homemade Krk sheep's cheese and pršut dry-cured ham


The family-run farms on the island of Krk produce the renowned Krk cheese. Try this local island cheese whose recipe was only registered and agreed upon at the beginning of this century. After many trials and finding the right balance, we can finally offer you the best version. The cheese is made from the milk of island sheep, and it's believed that its special taste is the result of the island's nature and salt-covered pastures. Complete your meal with this treat that you'll absolutely love! Did you know that the first protected Croatian product registered at the EU level was Krk pršut dry-cured ham? On the island, you can see in person how this delicacy is produced and why Krk pršut dry-cured ham is so special, which is maybe because it's dried using the Krk bura wind, whose strength adds to its taste. Come and try this local speciality! READ MORE
Rab Island

Rab cake


Rab cake


The original but secret recipe with all the necessary details of how to make this sweet specialty was known to just a few of the inhabitants of Rab, who passed the secret on selectively. As a result, the recipe is today known to only a handful of people, who make it on special occasions. Once reserved for the rich and powerful, today Rab cake has become the most original souvenir of the island, and with its pleasant taste has taken a touch of Rab tradition all over the world. For a top-quality Rab cake, a few days' work, patience, and of course years of experience are all necessary. It's difficult to describe it in words, so make sure you taste its rich flavour and share the experience with those close to you. READ MORE
Cres

Cres olive oil and herbs


Cres olive oil and herbs


Olives are one of the most recognisable symbols of the island of Cres. Extra virgin olive oil from Cres is a genuine Croatian product obtained from plominka and slivnjača olives. This liquid gold from the island of Cres is of the highest quality because the olives are picked by hand and processed immediately after picking. The centuries-old tradition of growing olives on the island guarantees the quality of its produce. Local olive oil is used in all the dishes of the area's cuisine, so make sure you try fish, meat and vegetables dressed with olive oil. Other types of seasoning used in Cres cuisine include laurel leaves, rosemary, garlic, spring onion, salt, parsley, tomato, olives and carrot. All the types of seasoning that are used can be found on the island of Cres. Enhance your meal with top-quality olive oil and local seasoning! READ MORE
Krk Island

Sweets of the island of Krk


Sweets of the island of Krk


As far as the sweets of the island of Krk are concerned, a dessert made of sheep's cheese deserves a special mention. Its name changes from place to place (presnac, presnec, presnoc), but it's a treat that you must try if you visit the island. Krk is renowned for its homemade sheep's cheese and this dessert will leave you speechless. The combination of the taste of young sheep's cheese and the peel of home-grown lemon will satisfy your desire for something sweet. This dessert, even though it is always based on a similar recipe, is made in a different way in each place on the island, so you should try it in different places and see which one you like best! READ MORE
Krk Island

Vrbnička Žlahtina white wine


Vrbnička žlahtina


This quality dry white wine is made from a local grape variety, the white žlahtina. This variety is specific in that it grows successfully only in Krk vineyards in the fields of Vrbnik. Satisfy your thirst with the gentle notes of Vrbnička žlahtina and complete your meal with this excellent dry white wine. The white žlahtina grape arrived on the island of Krk in the 1890s. The name of the wine is derived from the Old Slavonic žlahten, which means 'noble'. You'll discover the quality of this wine and why it is accompanied by the adjective noble as soon as you take your first sip of it. Its gentle aroma, light yellow colour and the freshness provided by the climate will satisfy even the most demanding palates. Žlahtina is distinguished by its specific young bouquet, and all the distinctive characteristics of this uncommon variety are preserved in the wine itself. If you are unsure about which wine goes best with fish specialities and sheep's cheese, you can never go wrong with Vrbnička žlahtina. Cheers! READ MORE