Sunday, May 30, 2010

Krk Island, Croatia


Theres no better to see a city then when you can get to visit it with a friend from that area. This past week, we were invited to Punat, on the island of Krk in Croatia. With its many beautiful islands and the gem city of Dubrovnik, Croatia has really rebounded from the war in the early nineties when it was part of Yugoslavia. The summers bring thousands of tourists and the cool yet crystal clear waters fill with boats and yachts. Besides tourism, fishing and agriculture are the main industry and locals are really proud of what the land and sea produce.
On arrival late friday evening, we went straight to our friends husbands town of Vrbnik where two beautifully cooked fish we were waiting for us. Freshly caught that morning by our host, the dentice (known as dentex is english) and the orata (gilthead) were slowly baked in a brothy sauce of white wine, bread crumbs, parsley and a touch of cream. Tender but well structure the sweetness of the fish was washed down with a white wine also made by our host. Zlahtina is found really only on the island of krk and known for its hard skin and strong acidity. This bright yellow white can be a bit hard by itself since the acidity and minerality are really intense but paired with food I couldn't believe how good it was.
The next day my friends made a dinner for us which also included wine from the area, although this time chardonnay, to be had with the plumpist scampi stewed in a red sauce called 'busara' which is made from fresh tomatoes, parsley, onions, white wine, garlic, salt and pepper. We were so stuffed from the meal that all I could think about was walking around the city, trying to digest the meal while looking at the architecture and the fishing boats. Another dish my friends mother made for us was the goulash. A typical plate arriving from the east, it contains veal stewed for many hours in a brown sauce which is then poured over freshly made pasta in the form of a that similar to a penne pasta.
The weekend was perfect, the warm weather and blue skies definitely adding to our experience, learning a new wine found in the central valley of Krk, trying local foods, all we can say is thanks to our hosts ans that we cant wait to visit again!


Non c'e' ninte di meglio di soggiornare in una citta' con qualcuno che ci vive o che e' originario da quell'area. La scorsa settimana siamo stati invitati a Punat sull'isola di Krk in Croazia. Con le sue bellissime isole e le sue interessanti citta' come Dubronovik, la Croazia e' sicuramente rinata dalla guerra degli anni novanta quando faceva ancora parte della Jugoslavia. D'estate ci sono migliaia di turisti e la fresca e cristallina acqua del mare e' piena di barche e yachts. A parte il turismo, la pesca e l'agricultura sono le maggiori fonti e i Croati sono veramente orgogliosi dei loro prodotti di mare e di terra. Arrivati venerdi sera ci siamo diretti immediatamente a casa di amici di Sascia nella città di Vrbnik dove due bei pesci, un'orata e un dentice al forno ci aspettavano in tavola. Pescati al mattino profumavano di buono, teneri e dolci si sposavano bene con il vino bianco il cui produttore eravamo ospiti. Zlathina e' il nome di questo vino famoso per la durezza della buccia e per la sua notevole acidita' prodotto solo su questa bellissima isola di Krk. Bevuto da solo puo' non esser piaciuto per sua 'durezza' ma abbinato ad un piatto di pesce, ragazzi diventa un grande vino! Il giorno dopo la nostra amica a cena ci ha preparato 3 kg di scampi alla Busara, di media misura ma di una dolcezza irresistibile e li sempre a Punat abbiamo bevuto uno chardonnay niente male. Una passeggiata verso il porto a godersi la fresca brezza del mare, l'architettura della citta'e il dondolio dei pescherecci. Un'altra delicatezza che abbiamo potuto gustare a Krk è stato il goulash, tipico piatto dell'est. Gli ingredienti sono stufato di vitello fatto andare per ore sulla passata di pomodoro e versato in questo caso su della pasta fatta in casa, una vera delizia. Tanto di cappello. Andate a Krk e godete anche voi di queste bontà.

8 comments:

Marko said...

Croatan cuisine is wonderful indeed!
What did you make of Croatian wine?

Unknown said...

Beautifull pics!!
It reminds me when I visited Ecuador, there I did a few Galapagos incentives tours... Do think there in Croatia I can find something similar?? cause this year I'd like something like that but also I want to get to know some other places in the world I haven't visited yet

Dana and Paolo said...

The Croatian wine isnt bad... its young and can be worked with, but it is very refreshing- if you find the right producer!

I am sure there would be some kind of tour there.If you are really interested I can look into it for you and ask my friend!

Anonymous said...

predicament habitation
[url=http://vimeo.com/user4498961]hotels and prices
[/url]lerici
booking demurral
unbiased hotel reviews
[url=http://www.earthday.org/users/48490]country house hotel
[/url]penny-pinching summer houses
pilgrimages deals
booking on motel
[url=http://www.fairview.org/cty/members/klemot/default.aspx]hotel price search
[/url]senior freeman housing
houseing
frugality division cars
[url=http://www.youthcabinet.org/profile/Josh]hotel daniel
[/url]tuppenny hotel rate
cheap sporting house cleaners
song swarm booking
[url=http://www.beautyresearch.com/blogs/alexa/archive/2010/08/15/hotels-and-accomodations.aspx]hotel aposento
[/url]hostelry reservations software
hotel deals canada
b and b worthless
[url=http://www.mazdacommunity.com/profiles/blogs/special-hotel-offers-or]cheap nyc hotels
[/url]regulations a hotel
inn treaty
tuppenny hotels rooms

Anonymous said...

indian airlines economy group
[url=http://vimeo.com/user4498961]cheap 4 star hotels
[/url]charge beach rooms
deals on motor hotel
trains booking
[url=http://www.earthday.org/users/48490]cheap hotel accomodation
[/url]disney in every way b & b deals
booking deals
double booking
[url=http://www.fairview.org/cty/members/klemot/default.aspx]booking in hotel
[/url]budget-priced weekend breaks
inn deals in niagara falls
cheapest inn
[url=http://www.youthcabinet.org/profile/Josh]hotel prices in australia
[/url]airfares
pension base reservations
hostelry alberghi
[url=http://www.beautyresearch.com/blogs/alexa/archive/2010/08/15/hotels-and-accomodations.aspx]hotel galbis
[/url]case authorities
matrix minute parcel out inn
seedy 4 be featured hotels
[url=http://www.mazdacommunity.com/profiles/blogs/special-hotel-offers-or]g hotel
[/url]hotel motel prices
pension finder
hud habitation benefit

Anonymous said...

price right hotels
rive gauche hotel
lowest prices on hotels
price of wales hotel
hotel co.uk
hotel cheap rate

Anonymous said...

price of hotel
cheap family hotels
hot price hotels
search hotels by price
und hotels
james hotel

Jessie said...

Hostel rules and regulations are mandatory in each and every hostel regardless of the country of origin.

Hostel Rio De Janeiro

 

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Add to Technorati Favorites Add to Technorati Favorites Add to Technorati Favorites

wine Blogs - BlogCatalog Blog Directory

La marcia del V2-Day Subscribe with Bloglines
Directory of Food/drink Blogs
TOP 100 FOOD SITES
View blog authority