What you can eat in Croatia, more explicitly in Split

I think many of you are curious about what you can eat in Croatia. The Croatian gastronomy on the sea shore is light, with much fish, sea food, Mediterranean in general. There are many different types of fish, for example we at blue fish from the Adriatic Sea. But the variety is huge.

Before going to Split we did a little bit of research on the local recipes. I read that Pasticada is very tasty, a beef dish with sauce served with pasta or gnocchi. I also read about the lamb meat with peas. For the lamb lovers, this is served with bacon, garlic, white wine and seasonal condiments. We tried pasta with squid at Villa Spezia. For the dessert, we chose a type of eggnog which reminded us of childhood.

We visited the fish market, which is fabulous. We really liked how they display their goods and sell it every morning. The specific atmosphere of a market combined with the products, many of them alive on their booth, showing how fresh they are, make up the picture.

We contacted Split Tourism Board for recommendations of the best places to eat in Split, where to find local food and a type of elegant restaurant. At their invitation, we visited one of the most popular locations in the city center.

On the first night we visited Zoi Restaurant, by a splendid location

The restaurant is located on the wall of the Diocletian Palace and provides an exceptional panorama to the seashore and to the port. It does not only assure a delicious meal served but also the sweet taste of relaxation among others, yet still intimately. Recommended by Michelin, with fine dining and elegance, it also brings high quality wines to the table. After dining here, we stayed at the table with a drink to enjoy the holiday breeze of Split.

We were spoiled by chef Ivica Katic, who was more than 10 years of experience in his position. Ivica is in a constant search of excellence. The respect for the products and for nature are what drive him every day. His food is a reflection of his character and experience.

 

For the aperitif, our taste buds were spoiled with beef tongue – exceptional marinated beef meat (marinated for 30 days and cooked in 26 hours). It was joined by fine cheese and pistachio powder. Does that not sound wow? Then we enjoyed a crab soup and, for a complete delight, a portion of wild fish with a fregola salad – a fish fillet from the Adriatic Sea, wrapped with greens and pancetta cheese. At the end we tried paradizoi – a traditional dessert, famous in Split.

A fine layer of biscuits scraped with a formidable vanilla cream, lemon and oranges with merengue on top. The wine recommended by Andrea – the Italian waiter in the restaurant, very careful to your needs – was dry red wine, with a Dalmatian character, dominated by the taste of red fruits and a subtle note of anise.

Then we were also invited to Villa Spezia

A beautiful family business in the old center, was the occasion to have lunch in our second day in Split, a small, daintily restaurant that was full of guests at lunch. It was a pleasure to eat there, hear their stories and blend in with the locals that eat there daily. They only use fresh products daily picked out from the vegetable and fish market, squid, shrimp. And when the products are finished, the dish is eliminated from the menu of the day.

The restaurant has good reviews on TripAdvisor and we can only agree with the clients that were very satisfied with their experience. From the moment you go in, you are welcomed by the hosts with a warm smile as if you were invited in their living room. You are treated like an honorable guest. You are invited to see how your meals are prepared, the kitchen being right in front of you. After taking a look at the menu and asked for recommendations, they said they got us. So we patiently waited at the table and in a few minutes we received an aperitif platter with ham, local cheese, olives, bruschette and a delicious olive pasta assorted with red wine. We continued with pasta with squid freshly brought from the market and a delicious chocolate cake with fine vanilla cream.

 

We tried their tiramisu recipe which is amazing. We were told by the staff that everything is fresh and carefully picked for their clients. Many locals come here and tourists too! We were lucky to have a table reserved by Visit Split, otherwise we might not have found a spot. Besides their delicious food, we enjoyed meeting beautiful people, passionate by what they do, with a beautiful business and very satisfied with what they have.

Or…

If you are a fan of mussels or fresh fish, we recommend Konoba Matejuska. We really enjoyed it. As it is a small restaurant, we advise you to go there during the day or to make a reservation for the evening. The restaurant is on a little street with few tables outside. The service is excellent, the attention to clients is exceptional and the tone is as wonderful as the beefsteak. We tasted their very well-cooked porqueta assorted with baked potatoes.

If you only have time for one meal in Croatia, taste the Matejuska wine!

There are many reasons for which visitors fall in love with Croatia and the traditional food is one of the main instigators of this romance. Experiment smells and flavours, getting to know Croatia in the best way possible. The sea side inherited characteristics of the Mediterranean kitchen and the continental one is the closest to the dishes in Central Europe. Overall, the variety is generous for all tourists. Light or heavy foods, meat or fish, vegetables or potatoes made in many types of ways – you can try them all if you meet the “celebrities” of the Mediterranean and continental kitchens in Croatia.