Month of Radovljica Cuisine

Was it planned almost a decade ago that Taste Radol'ca would become so deeply rooted in the Radovljica (and also Gorenjska and Slovenian) culinary scene?

Chef Uroš Štefelin, who together with the versatile Marcela Klofutar, has been one of the essential links of Taste Radol'ca since the very outset. Today, Uroš and Marcela are the proud owners of the Michelin-starred Hiša Linhart, and he responds: “We never thought short-term. In fact, in terms of working together with farmers and other restaurateurs, long-term cooperation is the only way. We're delighted that over the years our collaboration has become ever stronger and the quality has increased.”

What today does Taste Radol'ca mean to chef Uroš Štefelin?

“Connecting and collaborating,” he replies, stressing several times during our conversation with him that “restaurateurs of the future are an important part of this growing story.” They are included in Taste Radol'ca through cooperation with the Radovljica College of Hospitality and Tourism, as students of the college have the opportunity to do work experience in participating restaurants. Incidentally, the students of the college did a great job waiting on guests at the opening dinner of this year's Month of Local Cuisine, which took place at Gostilna Avguštin!

Among those who have been part of the Taste Radol'ca collective almost from the outset is chef Aleš Tavčar from Gostišče Draga, who said: “It's a great experience, since participating in Taste Radol'ca brings us many guests. We all get something from it – guests, restaurateurs, tourism and, last but not least, the entire municipality.”

In 2014 Gostišče Tulipan also joined Taste Radol'ca.  Today, chef Milan Milanović assesses: “Taste Radol'ca has bought us new experience, progress and exchange of knowledge.” In response to the question of what we can expect this November at Gostišče Tulipan, he secretively hints: “A mixture of modern and traditional cuisine.”

And just to add: if you want to try one of the local menus during the month of November, at some restaurants reservations are recommended while at others they are mandatory.

This year, in addition to the aforementioned Hiša Linhart, Gostišča Draga and Gostišča Tulipan, the following restaurants are included in Radovljica's tastiest month of the year: Gostilna Avguštin, Gostilna pr' Tavčar, Restavracija Tabor, Restavracija & Lounge Bar MANU, Vila Podvin and the double act that is Šmeks Lounge Bar & Baffi House of Pizza.

Click here to see the set price menus (EUR 26 per person) for all nine of the participating restaurants, who put local and traceable ingredients at the forefront.

And to end some cookery advice, which will probably come in handy when you want to bake sweet treats at home. The recipe, which can created based on inspiration from the Taste Radol'ca opening dinner, was written by a Gorenjska food blogger who blogs about food-related content and other local attractions in the blog Špelina shramba (Špela's Larder).

Her advice is: “If you choose local ingredients for making aromatic and somewhat different buchteln (sweet rolls), such as homemade jam and flour for the nearby mill,  the sweet treat will be even more exceptional.”