The Weekend Food Festival brings together the best that Croatia and the region have to offer
and promotes world excellence
A unique gastronomic event – the third Weekend Food Festival – started in the old Tobacco Factory in Rovinj. The region that leads trends and culinary innovations, while at the same time preserving tradition and indigenous flavours, has once again gathered top chefs, the most famous culinary talents, but also young hopefuls and representatives of the gastronomy and catering industry, who will highlight the importance of gastro and eno scene during two days through a comprehensive program scene through panel discussions, lectures, show cooking workshops and masterclasses. This year’s edition also brings novelties, such as the Weekend Food Market, which offers all visitors a diverse gastronomic offer ranging from local to international specialties.
The festival was opened by directors Tomo Ricov and Boris Kovaček, who presented this year’s program and novelties to the audience. “This year, we gathered the best that Croatia and the region has to offer aiming to promote local foods, local people and world excellence. Of course, there are numerous local lecturers, top chefs, because it is important to show what we really have, what we can brag about, what we can give to the world and why everyone should come to Rovinj, Istria and Croatia, said Boris Kovaček. “Weekend Food Festival has become an unmissable destination for all food lovers, a real treat for the palate and soul. This year, the emphasis is on local gastronomy and the presentation of world-renowned culinary talents. This confirms our commitment to the promotion of culinary arts in the region through parallel lectures, panels, masterclasses, show cooking workshops, but also a fantastic entertainment program,” said Tomo Ricov.
The first day of the festival started with the panel “Is torture worth it?”, which was attended by Matija Bogdan, executive chef of Aminess Hotels & Resorts, Ante Udovicic, Lemongarden restaurant, and moderator Mate Janković from SOL restaurant. The audience enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and honest experiences of Croatian chefs who have the greatest number of hours and years of internships in renowned world restaurants.
The program on 20.04. brings inspiring performances such as that of Alejandro Serrano, the Spanish chef and owner of the restaurant of the same name, the inspiring panel “Everyone told us we would fail, yet we would do it all over again”, attended by distinguished chefs such as the owner and chef of Zijavica Stiven Vunić , Sopal chef Katarina Vrenc, chef and owner of Campanelo tavern Mate Sučić and Hells Kitchen sous chef and former KUT Ivana Bekavac, as well as the panel “Twenty years on top” where the owner of Boškinc Boris Šuljić, owner of Plavi podrum Daniela Kramarić, chef Dvora Hrvoje Zirojević and the owner and chef of Monte Danijel Đekić will talk about the secrets of durability and longevity on the gastronomic scene.
The 2nd day of WFF will start with the panel “The concept of excellence – Can a chef constantly be original and creative?”, in which Paul Ivić will participate from the restaurant Tian in Vienna, Leonardo Fonseca, former chef of Hiša Franko and Jeffrey Vella, corporate culinary director of Maistra and chef of the Cap Aureo restaurant. Topics such as the Boogie Lab phenomenon, the specifics of the Slovenian and Belgrade gastro scene, but also the profitability of fine dining restaurants will be discussed.
The specialty and novelty of this year’s Festival is the Weekend Food Market, which offers a rich gastronomic offer, is open and free for all visitors from 10 am to midnight and will remain open on Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.
The Weekend Food Market is the place where the entertainment part of the program will be held, in which the Istrian legend Alen Vitasović performed on the April 19th and the legendary Neno Belan on April the 20th.
All information about the festival is available on the official website of the Weekend Food Festival and in the MY.Weekend powered by Good-to-go application, which offers the possibility of compiling a personalized schedule of events and applying for participation in masterclasses. You can follow all the news about the Weekend Food Festival on the official FB and IG channels.
WFF photos by: Emica Elvedi, Pixsell
