Croatia we love you

Rovinj

Istrian  Fuzi pasta with truffle

Ideal fertile grounds and a gentle climate contribute to Istria being such a food producing area, and it was great to have the opportunity to visit a couple of local producers who both have successful family run businesses.

First stop, Chiavalon Olive Oil.  Sandi was only 14 years old when his grandfather gifted him 10 olive trees - jump forward about 17 years and they have now produced an extra virgin oil thats been voted one of the top 15 in the world. It was a great education to listen to him talk about all things related and then sip some of the golden liquid out of a glass. Really fragrant, spicy and delicious, made more so by learning such an interesting back story. Kudos to the business for keeping it real when the opportunity to expand and export further afield than their current European base is banging on their door.

What a labour of love these trees are.

Olive Oil tasting

More delicious food

Truffle cheese and sausage and spread

And on our last day here we took a tiki tour trip on the way to Zagreb, heading inland to where we finally made it to Buzet (an hour or so late thanks to Gloria who struggled a bit on the country roads its gotta be said! ) to meet the Karlić family and go on a truffle search.

Istrian truffles - Tartufi,  are considered by some to be of the best quaility and the regional cuisines highlight, and again, this family seems pretty passionate about what they do. From the training of the dogs, the hunt with them ( who btw looooooove the tatse of truffles ), the harvest, the buying and selling of fresh and frozen truffles and the products they have launched from them - it was a visit full of interesting info about this wee gem.

After sampling a selection of foods with truffle - including cheeses, sausage, and an omelette LOADED with it, the family pretty much have them on tap and claim to eat them most, if not every day, however we felt a bit truffled out! Its a pretty rich delicacy to indulge in all at once. First world problems.

Wandered through their neighbouring forest with Blackie, their best truffle hunter to sniff out a few, they grow underground, symbiotically mainly with oaks. She found about 3! And was very close to scoffing one of her finds before it got taken off her :) 

Blackie the legendary truffle hunter

It has been an amazing trip through this beautiful varied country - chocka block full of history and culture and passion.
Can't speak for the continental area as we missed it this time round, but the coastal region is absolutely stunning. The food has been awesome, and the people too.



And hey Neats, did I tell you how stoked I am that we got to experience this time together?
Thank-you for your awesome left-hand driving skills, your flair for hair dressing, your desire to hunt out and eat delicious food and most importantly - your passion and adventurous spirit.
I guess its a pretty darn happy birthday then aint it!



Thanks for reading.

Love
X