In one place, attendees will have the opportunity to listen and watch chefs in action, whose restaurants have waitlists for weeks or months; this is surely a good enough reason for many to visit the Weekend Food Festival. Dabiz Munoz, who was named best chef in the world two years in a row, is returning to Rovinj, and this year he will show visitors how his imaginative and avant-garde creations are made. Simon Rogan, chef of L’Enclume restaurant, Eric Vildgaard from Copenhagen’s JORDNÆRA, Karime Lopez and Takahiko ‘Taka’ Kondo of Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura, and many other local and international chefs will be participating in this year’s festival program.
Another notable name, which will certainly fill every free seat in the hall, is the most famous pizzaiolo in the world — Franco Pepe. Yes, we really are talking about the pizza master of the recently released Netflix series Chef’s Table: Pizza! At the Weekend Food Festival, Franco Pepe will bring a touch of Italy and make the best pizza in the world, right in front of our eyes, revealing the secrets of his profession. In Italy, pizza is not just food, but a way of life, and it is no secret that the most important ingredient of every Italian pizza is love. The passion and dedication that Franco Pepe invests in his craft is what sets his pizza apart from others. All those who visit the Festival on Friday will have the opportunity to go straight to the heart of Italy for a moment and witness the creation of a true culinary masterpiece – pizza.
At the Weekend Food Festival, food is not only discussed, but food is tasted, with a variety of amazing offers provided by numerous domestic restaurateurs. For instance, the food court will host the popular street food festival Babarol, with famous names of the Dalmatian gastro scene: Robert Žmire, Gorana Milaković and Tea Mamut. Beg’s Plant Based will also offer its widely known and loved plant-based creations. Fans of top-quality barbecue will especially love the grill zone by Haby, and at the BBQ Hot Yard and Volim ljuto workshop, visitors will be able to learn the advantages of real BBQ and low & slow food preparation. Jack Daniels will fit perfectly with the BBQ workshops, as it is an ideal partner for grilled dishes. The food court will also feature Polidog, the Ina Fresh Corner truck, as well as a wine shop with wines from Osijek-Baranja County. You certainly won’t go hungry at this year’s Weekend Food Festival!
Last year at the Weekend Food Festival, visitors attended amazing masterclasses where they were able to taste chocolates, olive oils and wines, and learn how to prepare sourdough bread and excellent coffee at home. This year again, visitors can expect numerous masterclasses on the topics of olive oil, coffee, wine, cocktails, and even water. The schedule of masterclasses will soon be released and registration will begin soon after — the number of places will be limited, so be sure to reserve your spot!
During Friday and Saturday on the show cooking stage, domestic and international chefs will share their knowledge, and everything will be prepared live — from biodynamic ingredients from Međimurje prepared by the young chef Amos Novak, to Israeli cuisine performed by chef Yehi Zin, who is coming to Rovinj on the initiative of Izraelska embassy in Croatia. The chef of the Croatian football team, Tomica Đukić, will also arrive in Rovinj, showing visitors how he prepares meals for top athletes.
Last year, the Weekend Food Festival brought together more than sixty exhibitors who presented their products to visitors during the three days. Yet again, this year exhibitors will present numerous well-known names from the worlds of wine, oil, and coffee, delicacies like cheeses and truffles, and last but not least producers of top domestic distillates, craft beers and alcoholic beverages. Visitors will also be able to view the most modern and advanced catering equipment in the Expo part of the festival. Exhibitions will be open from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon, so we recommend you join us this year’s Weekend Food Festival!
At last year’s edition, seats were in high demand at our gala dinners, where local and foreign chefs cooked together, creating incredibly imaginative menus that immediately sold out the dinners. The gala dinners will be held in the Maistra restaurants Adriatic, Cap Aureo, and Wine Vault. You can reserve the remaining free seats by clicking this link — hurry up because there are fewer and fewer free places.
The festival will also talk about another segment of the food industry, focusing on the food that is on our table every day, as well as the habits of consumers who buy daily, yet throw away large amounts of food. Numerous experts in this field will discuss what we can do differently, how small producers can find their way to consumers, and the direction the food industry is going. Experts that will come to this year’s Weekend Food Festival include Fabris Peruško from Fortenova, Nenad Klepeč from Vindija, Martina Dalić from Podravka and many others.
Entertainment and gastronomic events make a great combination, and the organizers of the Festival are truly fun chefs who know that there is no good weekend without fun. This year, they have prepared an exciting entertainment program that will allow all food lovers to connect and relax in one of our favorite areas of the Old Tobacco Factory. After watching Franco Pepe make the world’s most famous pizza live on stage, the fun will continue Friday evening with a pizza party and live music from the Montefiori Cocktail band, and Saturday evening, where a delicious BBQ party will take place.
The first edition of the Weekend Food Festival, held in May last year, put Croatia and Rovinj on the map as the most influential of European gastronomic events — gathering more than 2,500 visitors in one place. This is what makes the Weekend Food Festival the best place to gather, socialize, create connections, and network, in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere, with great food and even better entertainment.
In just three short weeks, Rovinj will yet again become the most desirable destination for food lovers, with an even larger number of visitors — secure your tickets today at www.weekendfoodfestival.com with a special 1+1 offer available only until the end of March! The Weekend Food Festival will gather everyone for whom food and drink are an integral part of their work “around the same table”, creating a unique place for socializing, exchanging ideas, inspiration, and education. Don’t just take our word for it – come and see for yourself! You can follow all the news about the festival on the official FB and IG channels, as well as on the festival website. We can’t wait to see you in Rovinj!
