Eat | Coastal Croatia

by Jelena

Must Love Truffles

by Jelena

When people think of truffles, most associate these umami-rich hidden treasures with Italy – specifically, the northwestern Piedmont region. Or Villefranche-du-Périgord, France. Or maybe, the mind drifts to medieval Aínsa, Spain. Meanwhile, overdue buzz has been catapulting the new ‘it girl’ of the truffle world – Croatia’s Istrian peninsula – to soaring popularity. If you’ve visited Croatia, you’ve probably sipped on remarkable wines produced in the Istria region such as Malvasia or Teran.

by Jelena

A (Part-Time) Local’s Guide to the Omiš Riviera

by Jelena

While the Makarska Riviera may be the better-known stretch of precious Dalmatian coastline, the adjacent Omiš Riviera is an equally fabulous destination! Some of the riviera’s most popular seaside towns include Duce, Nemira, Stanići, Ruskamen, Lokva Rogoznica, Medići, Mimice, Marušići, Pisak and of course, Omiš itself. This majestic stretch along the Adriatic is renowned for its rugged beauty. Punctuated by wild lavender, fragrant pine trees, and towering mountains that seem to plunge into the azure

by Jelena

Rovinj Road Trip Diary

by Jelena

Rovinj. For as long as I’ve been visiting Croatia, this idyllic Istrian coastal town has eluded me – after all, central Dalmatia (where I stay) is a 6-hour drive away. Armed with a travel itinerary conjured the night before, an equally unassuming travel partner and a supermini car that required temporarily switching off the A/C to climb daunting hills, we were ready to hit the road. We booked boutique accommodations in the center of the

by Jelena

Let’s Go on a Fish Picnic

by Jelena

Have you spied the handmade posters promoting “fish picnic” excursions in coastal Croatian towns with a marina? Though the name always makes me laugh, this half-day excursion is seriously fun! We simply walked onto the boat the morning of our fish picnic this past June, but reservations are usually recommended during high-season. And by reservation, that simply means giving the captain a head’s up the day prior – most of these excursions cannot be

by Jelena

Underneath the Traditional Dalmatian Peka

by Jelena

Though I’m generally quite comfortable in the kitchen, my father is the master of the peka. This rustic, traditional Dalmatian style of cooking results in beautifully roasted meats and veggies cooked under a cast-iron dome known as a peka. The ensuing dish itself is also referred to as peka, and either veal, lamb, or octopus usually headlines the show. Though you can order this signature regional dish – typically in advance –

by Jelena

One Afternoon in Motovun

by Jelena

The drive from Rovinj to Motovun took less than an hour and offered postcard-worthy views of unspoiled nature on narrow, winding roads. Renting a car in Croatia is well worth it, despite the almost unreasonable costs associated with renting automatic transmission vehicles during high-season. Accessing small towns in inland Istria is more complicated sans car and besides, you’ll fondly look back on the experience of getting lost on Istrian back roads. For me, it’s about the journey and the destination!

by Jelena

6 Hours in Zadar

by Jelena

You’re likely scratching your head right now, wondering ‘who goes to Zadar for only six hours?’ We did, after making it our en route destination heading back to Dalmatia following three nights in Istria. Our tight schedule afforded us only a brief dalliance with the gorgeous medieval town, but we’re not ones to pass up a brush with fleeting adventure. We pulled up to the edge of the old town and easily found parking

by Jelena

Adventures in Croatian Wine Tasting

by Jelena

Like any wine-producing region in the world, Croatia makes a lot of great wine – and also, some not-so-great wine. But everyone owns a unique taste profile, and I tend to gravitate toward dry and acidic white wines and medium-to-full bodied reds that are easy on the tannins. Thanks to wine importers like Blue Danube Wine bringing Croatian wines to the U.S., I’ve had the opportunity to become acquainted with wine producers such

Category Eat

Must Love Truffles

A (Part-Time) Local’s Guide to the Omiš Riviera

Rovinj Road Trip Diary

Let’s Go on a Fish Picnic

Underneath the Traditional Dalmatian Peka

One Afternoon in Motovun

6 Hours in Zadar

Adventures in Croatian Wine Tasting

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