Dolac Market

This is a farmers’ market located in Gornji Grad – Medvescak city district of Zagreb, Croatia and is the most frequented and famous farmer’s market in Zagreb. It is famous for its combination of a traditional open market with stalls and a sheltered market below and is located only a little away from Ban Jelacic Square (in the main city), between the oldest parts of Zagreb, Gradec and Kaptol. Dolac farmers’ market is enjoyable for all the right reasons: fresh and local produce, aromas, cacophony of voices. It reflects a local’s daily life and hours pass by just walking around.

Downstairs in the covered market are butchers, fishmongers and old ladies selling cheese and cream –which is the local specialty called “sir i vrhnje”. Flowers and lace are also widely available. 

Cuisine

Each region of Croatia has its own distinct culinary tradition and thus the cuisine here is heterogeneous. The differences in the selection of foodstuffs and cooking style are seen between the mainland and the coastal regions. Mainland cuisine is more influenced by the earlier Slavic culture and the neighboring Hungarian and Turkish cultures, cooking with lard and spices such as black pepper, paprika and garlic.

The coastal region bears the influences of the Greek and Roman food and also of the later Mediterranean cuisine, in particular Italian (especially Venetian), using olive oil, and herbs & spices like rosemary, cinnamon, sage, bay leaf, nutmeg, oregano, marjoram, clove, lemon and orange rind.

Peasant cooking traditions are based on creative or imaginative variations of several basic ingredients (vegetables, cereals, dairy products, meat, fish,) and cooking procedures (stewing, grilling, roasting, baking). Bourgeois cuisine involves more complicated procedures and the use of selected herbs and spices.Charcuterie is part of Croatian tradition in all regions.

Croatian cuisine can be divided region wise like Istria, Dalmatia, Dubrovnik, Lika, Gorski Kotar, Zagorje, Medimurje, Podravina and Slavonia which all have their particular cooking traditions, typical of the area and not well known in the other parts of Croatia. Most dishes, however, can be found all across the country, with local variants. 

Wine Roads

The wine roads in Croatia are always packed with people, especially during the autumn harvest time, looking to celebrate local festivals, such as San Martin and to enjoy every moment of it. Savour a unique experience by taking part in the christening of new wine called Must, or simply traverse the beautiful vineyards in Motovun in Istria, Kutjevo in Slavonia or Medimurje in Central Croatia.