Taste of Dubrovnik
Before this visit to Dubrovnik, I had no idea of what to expect as far as Croatian cuisine. I had never tasted Croatian food before nor had I ever heard of the preparation methods and definitely had never seen Croatian cooking on food TV or in magazines. But I did assume that since the region where I would be visiting was on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, that perhaps seafood would be making quite a few appearances on the menus.
The region of the country where I am staying is called the Dalmatian coast and as is true for other countries, the cuisine depends on what part of the country you are in. The style of food preparation here in Dubrovnik is Mediterranean, very light with simple ingredients- olive oil, garlic, lemon, and herbs. Although a variety of foods are offered, seafood is king and very often is freshly caught that day!
To help me along the journey on learning about Dalmatian cuisine, I signed up for the Taste Dubrovnik food tour. What I liked about this group was that it was a small intimate group, only about 7 or 8 participants and we went through a full course dinner. Now this is what I call a moveable feast!
Oysters here are raised and caught from local oyster farms. I was never much of an oyster person but these were great and hands down the best oysters I’ve ever tasted. Served with champagne…oh la la!
Anchovies – alright, alright… I know the idea of anchovies does not sound so exciting to some people. But let me tell you, these were so pleasant- fresh, tasty, and not at all salty like the ones you’ve had back home from the prepackaged jars at the supermarket. Served on a plate of local cheese and Parma ham. Delicieux…
Of course wine, with the selections all produced and bottled in Croatia
Black Ink Risotto– probably the most unusual of the dishes we tried, this was by far the best risotto ever! The color comes from the ink released by cuddle fish and squid. As accompaniment we also had the octopus salad with ingredients locally made.
Taste Dubrovnik Food Tour-meeting point at Dubrovnik Old Town inside the city walls
