{"id":6592,"date":"2017-09-30T18:38:40","date_gmt":"2017-09-30T15:38:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/?p=6592"},"modified":"2017-09-30T20:49:55","modified_gmt":"2017-09-30T17:49:55","slug":"slovenia-10-culinary-experiences-bela-krajina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/slovenia-10-culinary-experiences-bela-krajina\/","title":{"rendered":"When in Slovenia: 10 culinary experiences to have in Bela Krajina"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s not hard to fall in love with Slovenia \u2013 lush green scenery, hospitable people and extraordinary cuisine. Spending almost three months in the beautiful region of Bela Krajina,<\/strong> I had the chance to live with locals and learn more about Slovenian culture, traditions and lifestyle. And one thing I can say for sure \u2013 people love to spoil themselves with delicious food and exquisite wines<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Based on my summer this year, I\u2019ve come up with these 10 proofs that visiting Bela Krajina in Slovenia should be on your culinary bucket list.<\/strong><\/p>\n

#1. Making Belokranjska Poga\u010da<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"pogaca<\/a><\/p>\n

\"pogaca<\/a><\/div>
\"pogaca<\/a><\/div>
\"pogaca<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>\n

Poga\u010da is a traditional Slovenian round bread<\/strong> that can go with every meal… or, in my case, simply be<\/em> the meal. It is the queen of Bela Krajina\u2019s cuisine. And the next best thing after eating it is preparing it by yourself.<\/p>\n

The recipe is not that complicated but locals have a particular way of preparing the real Belokranjska poga\u010da<\/strong>. If you’re up for a challenge, go for it. A great place for poga\u010da workshop in Bela Krajina is\u00a0Gosti\u0161\u010de Veseli\u010d – a restaurant in Podzemelj.\u00a0Book your workshop in advance and learn the “secret” techniques from Andreja – one of the best in the region.<\/p>\n

Where:\u00a0Gosti\u0161\u010de Veseli\u010d | Podzemelj 17 |\u00a0Facebook<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

#2. Lavender Chocolate and Liqueur Tasting<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"chocolate<\/p>\n

When it comes to dessert, chocolate is always a good idea (Well, two chocolates are even better, Maria!). And Bela Krajina is a great place for chocolate lovers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Have you ever tried lavender chocolate? There is one special place where you can see the process of chocolate making and have delicious chocolate and liqueur tasting afterwards just for 5 Euros! Yes, Berryshka is definitely a must visit in Bela Krajina. Everyone leaves with full hands of chocolate after that tour.<\/p>\n

Where: Berryshka Distillery and Chocolatier<\/a> | Obrh pri Dolenjskih Toplicah 17a\u00a0| Facebook<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

#3. Ice cream with pumpkin seed oil\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

This irresistible combination of vanilla ice cream and pumpkin seed oil won’t let you forget your culinary adventure in Slovenia. It’s simple, yet extremely clever dessert idea that quickly became one of my favourite desserts from Bela Krajina. You can ask in almost every restaurant in the area for that specialty.<\/p>\n

Where:\u00a0I recommend the ones in\u00a0Gosti\u0161\u010de Veseli\u010d<\/a> in Podzemelj 17 and\u00a0Gostilna Muller<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Lo\u010dka cesta 6,<\/em>\u00a0\u010crnomelj.<\/em><\/p>\n

#4. Fresh trout dinner prepared right in front of you<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"zupancic<\/p>\n

Trout is a common fish prepared in various restaurants in Bela Krajina. But one specific culinary experience stands up among all of them. At Homestead Zupancic<\/a> you can have a fresh trout caught a moments before and prepared on a BBQ right in front of you.\u00a0The eco apple juice from apples grown in his farm is also a great pick.<\/p>\n

Moreover, Rihard will take care of you and treat you like part of the family. If that’s not a full local experience, I don’t know what is.<\/p>\n

Where: Homestead Zupancic |\u00a0Jel\u0161evnik 8b, Crnomelj 8340 | Facebook<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

#5. The delightful Slovenian mushroom soup<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"mushroom<\/p>\n

If you ask me what is the first thing I would do when I get back to Slovenia, I won\u2019t hesitate. Warm and creamy<\/strong>, Gostisce Veselic\u2019s mushroom soup is like someone is giving you a hug from inside<\/strong>. For me, it is a good enough reason to go back to Bela Krajina.<\/p>\n

Where:\u00a0Gosti\u0161\u010de Veseli\u010d | Podzemelj 17 | Facebook<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

#6. Seed oils for every taste and ache<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"oljarnaPhoto: BIG BERRY<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

If you like cooking with olive oil, you’ll most definitely love other varieties of oils you can spice up your meals with. There’s a place in Bela Krajina where you can try more than 20 seed oils with different taste and even healing effects.<\/p>\n

Stop by Oil Mill Pe\u010dari\u010d for a tasting and tour of the place and choose your favourite ones to take back home.<\/p>\n

Where: Oil Mill Pe\u010dari\u010d<\/a>\u00a0| Dra\u0161i\u010di 33, 8330 Metlika | Facebook<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

#7. Herbs or chilli rakija for good health<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"kuzma<\/p>\n

\"kuzma<\/a><\/div>
\"kuzma<\/a><\/div>
\"kuzma<\/a><\/div>
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\nPhotos: BIG BERRY<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Balkan countries may be divided by borders but one thing connects them more than everything – the great rakija.<\/strong> When you visit Bela Krajina, you can stop by Kuzma family and try their special herbs or chilli flavoured <\/strong>rakija.<\/p>\n

Besides the tasting, you will get a tour of the old flour mill<\/strong> and learn more about the process of flour making during the years. The place is also good for swimming or canoeing<\/strong> in Kolpa river – the border between Slovenia and Croatia.<\/p>\n

Where: Homestead Kuzma | Pobre\u017eje 4, Adle\u0161i\u010di | Facebook\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

#8. Local white, red and sparkling wines<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"semiska<\/p>\n

If you are a wine lover, you are at the right place. Bela Krajina is a strong wine region<\/strong> which is daily proofed by the fact that people here drink more wine than water.<\/p>\n

In fact, every year in May there is a festival celebrating the drink of the Gods – Vinska Vigred<\/strong>. During the festival a Wine’s Queen<\/strong> is chosen to represent Bela Krajina wine region in various events all over the country.<\/p>\n

Where: Wineries in Bela Krajina that offer wine tasting tours are –\u00a0 Malnari\u010d<\/a>, KZ Metlika<\/a> and Semi\u0161ka Penina<\/a> (sparkling wine), Kmetija Pavlovi\u010d <\/a>(raspberry wine).<\/em><\/p>\n

#9. Craft beer tasting in Bela Krajina<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Trying local beers everywhere you go is a good way to get closer to the local taste and lifestyle. For even better experience, head over to\u00a0Vizir Brewery for a beer tasting and tour of the producer where you will try different kinds of local pivo<\/em> and get behind the scenes look at the brewing process.<\/p>\n

Where: Vizir Brewery<\/a> |\u00a0Lokve 10 b, Crnomelj | Facebook<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

#10. Cookies and home made lunch<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

If you know some local in Bela Krajina, you will definitely be invited in their home for a lunch or dinner right away. But if you’re just arriving, there are certain places where you can “order” being treated like family and sit on the table to have delicious home made traditional lunch in cozy atmosphere.<\/p>\n

Where: Bakery \u0160raif (\u010cre\u0161njevec 21b, 8333 Semi\u010d\/www.srajf.com<\/a> ) or Homestead\u00a0\u017dupnca (Cerovec pri \u010cre\u0161njevcu 17, 8333 Semi\u010d\/Facebook<\/a> )<\/em><\/p>\n

Where to stay in Bela Krajina: BIG BERRY<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"Photo: BIG BERRY<\/em><\/p>\n

BIG BERRY Kolpa river is a luxury resort nestled in Primostek, Slovenia.\u00a0 It offers all of the mentioned tours above to its guests. The main concept is to propose not only accommodation option but to get visitors closer to the local lifestyle<\/strong>, and thus – to support the local producers and community.<\/strong> There’s no other place I’ve seen that has such strong connections with the area.<\/p>\n

Where: BIG BERRY<\/a>\u00a0| Facebook<\/a> | Instagram<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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All the experiences mentioned above were possible due to my stay at BIG BERRY\u00a0 last summer and the hospitality of the locals. <\/em><\/p>\n

Follow Travelling Buzz on Facebook<\/a> for even more travel tips and ideas.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s not hard to fall in love with Slovenia \u2013 lush green scenery, hospitable people and extraordinary cuisine. Spending almost three months in the beautiful region of Bela Krajina, I had the chance to live with locals and learn more about Slovenian culture, traditions and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6632,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[273,1,88,500],"tags":[549,504,27,684,685,111,581],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/pogaca-2.jpg?fit=1600%2C1071&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6592"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6592"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6592\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6775,"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6592\/revisions\/6775"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6632"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6592"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6592"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}