Traveling always means tasting the cuisine that each place has to offer. It frequently makes a trip’s highlight. However, this is only possible if you muster some courage and step outside of your comfort zone. It takes courage, particularly in some societies, to have an experimental palate. It’s about engaging with the things that matter to the area you are visiting.
Through their food, many civilizations and individuals communicate. It is frequently tinged with tradition and is a source of pride. The history of a nation is closely linked to its cuisine. Food communicates to us, and we learn if we pay attention. Our primary purpose for traveling is to experience the local people and culture, but we also go to visit the attractions. We are missing something essential about these people when they are not eating. We are missing a piece of their spirit, voice, and narrative. That’s exactly what Croatian food was like, and we weren’t ready for it.
We had not heard much about Croatian food while we were planned our vacation. We were wrong to think it would be a lot of meat and potatoes. It wasn’t that we had heard bad things about the food—we hadn’t heard anything at all. We were so ignorant that we didn’t look up what to anticipate from the cuisine. That was a mistake because we didn’t expect it.
A suggestion was present.
Just before we departed, there was a story in the news. The great basketball star Magic Johnson has just arrived back from Croatia. He was a little out of our league, sailing around different cities on a yacht. When he came back, he talked about Croatian food. “The country was breathtaking, and the food was amazing.” He continued by saying that those were some of his favorite dinners ever. Given his affluence, I’m sure he’s dined at a lot of prestigious restaurants. Although this was interesting, we discounted it since we thought he was probably exaggerating. He was off the charts; we couldn’t agree more!
Croatian Food: A Fusion of Cultures
From our first dinner in Zagreb to our last dinner, fourteen days later, in Dubrovnik, we were amazed. The several neighboring nations have contributed a wide range of cuisines and customs that have influenced Croatian culture. Croatia’s origins date back thousands of years, much like the country itself. It was situated on a significant trade route that exposed it to many civilizations and brought many spices, as well as at the crossroads of numerous aggressors. All over the nation, there is early Slavic, tinged with Turkish, Hungarian, and Austrian. The Greeks, Romans, and Venetians all had a great influence on the diverse coastal districts. Every coastal city and little village makes this clear.
You will always discover something fresh, infused with a plethora of additional influences. There are many flavors to try in Croatia, which never lets you down. Finding anything from easy snacks to opulent feasts won’t be difficult. Great drinks will go well with those meals because there are several local brewers and outstanding wine areas. Eating and drinking excessively will nearly make you feel bad until you realize how little you have actually spent. Relax, it’s vacation after all. With the exception of Dubrovnik, you can spend lavishly in Croatia without really breaking the bank.
Two Different Areas
Croatian cuisine can be separated into two main zones: the north and the coast, despite the fact that some identify many subregions. The cuisine of the seaside includes an abundance of fish, shellfish, and mussels in addition to seasonal, fresh vegetables. Having said that, the cuisine has a lot of meat, such as lamb, hog, and beef. The north has strong Italian roots, especially in the Istria region.
Up until World War II, Istria was a part of Italy. However, Dalmatia and Istria were transferred to the Nation of Yugoslavia as part of the Allies’ Treaty of Peace with Italy. Italian influence is still quite strong even if this led to a huge migration in 1943. There’s no shortage of pasta, beef, charcuterie, olive oil, truffles, and seafood in this part of the country if you’re close to the shore.
Haute cuisine can be very expensive, as we all know, and for most of us, when we travel, shopping on a tight budget is essential. So, if you have to be frugal with every purchase, how can you enjoy Croatian food to the fullest? You don’t, is the response. It won’t take you long to discover that everything in Croatia is reasonably priced, particularly food and beverages. You won’t have any trouble treating yourself occasionally to indulge in all the delicacies you’ve always wanted to try. You just need to decide which of the amazing options on the menu to enjoy first—traditional, exotic, or straightforward delicacies.
In our years of traveling, we’ve found that having meals with the locals is a great way to connect. It never ceases to amaze me how enthusiastic locals get when you ask for recommendations. What does traditional mean? Which one is your favorite? Just like that, a dower waitress gets engaged. That was the situation during our first Croatian supper.
After arriving in Zagreb late at night, we were rather hungry aside from the airline food and couldn’t secure a room. They responded Sofras without hesitation when we asked about a restaurant in the hotel that served traditional local dishes. At its essence, it was a Bosnian eatery. We made a comment about it because it was not as Croatian as we had imagined. They claimed that the locals adore it and find it stylish. They told us that Croatian food is influenced by Bosnia. Both the staff and the décor were dressed in traditional garb. We sensed right away that not many tourists frequent this location.
When we originally sat down, our server didn’t appear very welcoming, but that changed when we started asking him for recommendations. Since we couldn’t even understand the meaning of parts of the menu’s English, we essentially let him choose for us. There was also a vast menu. He even chose the beer himself. While we didn’t have big hopes, that was just the start of a wonderful 14 days filled with delicious experiences.
When it comes to the food options at a place you are visiting, it makes sense to venture outside of your comfort zone. Inquire about their greatest accomplishments and areas of pride. We frequently inquire about what the locals find most popular. What makes this area special? It’s amazing how much more interested people get in your culture. We have observed uninterested servers getting animated. Even the chef occasionally stops over to hear our opinions.
Food and culture are closely related. Seek out traditional experiences and authenticity; they will make your travels more enjoyable in every way. They will create for some of the most unforgettable moments, and your palate will undoubtedly thank you.
