Baš Naš advent gastro guide: A selection of must-try favourites 

Baš Naš advent

The winter season of the Baš Naš festival in Zagreb has begun, and if you are looking for new, interesting dishes that capture attention with their original recipe, but also the way they are served, Baš Naš advent brings together the best of gastronomy, famous culinary names and a holiday menu that will take your breath away.

For a special gastronomic experience, it’s worth waiting in line, because this year the most enticing smells and tastes are due to excellent Croatian chefs: Marin Medak, Mario Mandarić and Stjepan Gojšić and the most famous chef’s trio – Damir Tomljanović, Stjepan Vukadin and Melkior Bašić. You will find a rich selection of food at as many as 9 advent houses, and we have singled out some favourites that you should not miss.

1. Chefs’s trio by Damir Tomljanović, Stjepan Vukadin & Melkior Bašić

The famous trio that conquered television screens with MasterChef, were inspired by holiday tastes and smells. From the finest meat delicacies to sweet flavours, they will welcome you with a smile, and in the realisation of the dishes they are helped by the candidates of the most watched gastro shows.

So at the Chef’s trio house, you can try Melikor Bašić’s dishes, Faširanac with coleslaw salad and milk pastry that melts in your mouth, and the sweet delicacy Ima se, nema se, sweet toasted bread with Lino Lada in fruit of the forest sauce, sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Chef’s trio house – Faširanac

Chef’s trio house – Ima se, nema se

Stjepan Vukadin’s rich-looking preparation Strgalo se june – shredded beef with salad and chips in a pastry, and the meatless dish Skoro pa vege – pumpkin, gnocchi with mushroom ragout.

Chef’s trio house – Strgalo se june

Chef’s trio house – Skoro pa vege

Damir Tomljenović found an exceptional combination of flavours in dishes such as Zdimio buncek – ham hock with sauerkraut and mustard, and Jagnje, ne dagnje, lamb sausage in dough with onion pesto. This combination turned out to be more than excellent, and who could resist good meat and fine dough in a refreshing sauce.

Chef’s trio house – Jagnje, ne dagnje

2. Porchetteria by Mario Mandarić

Mario Mandarić, an internationally recognised chef who was included in the Forbes 30 under 30 list, received a recommendation for the Michelin guide this year and is recognised for his preparation of top meat specialties. 

At his house, dishes such as the Pulled pork burger await you, made of slow-roasted pork shoulder with coleslaw salad, bbq sauce and a brioche bun that melts in your mouth. Pork poke bowl with potatoes is a bowl full of fine flavours that will fill you up well, or Porchetta sandwich of rolled pork belly with walnuts, caramelised apple, honey Dijon and sweet raisins.

Porchetteria by Mario Mandarić – Porchetta sandwich

Mario also offers a veal hot dog with dried onions, melted cheddar cheese and salad, called Tele, a ne svinja. The fascinating and ingenious tastes and smells of Christmas come together in all these dishes that will keep you coming back again and again.

Porchetteria by Mario Mandarić – Pork poke bowl 

3. RougeMarin by Marin Medak

Among the restaurateurs at Advent, RougeMarin house by chef Marin Medak, stands out. With this year’s theme “Bečka škola”, at the RougeMarin house you can try specialties such as kranjska sausage with melted cheese, debrecener sausage with pickled vegetables, Vienna hot dogs with potato salad and sugar at the end the Imperial crumble, better known as Kezeršmarn, a traditional Austrian recipe that we enjoyed eating as children.

RougeMarin – kranjska sausage with melted cheese

RougeMarin – Imperial crumble

There are also other sweet delicacies such as hot chocolate with marshmallow cookies or pretzels, they will not leave anyone indifferent.

RougeMarin – Hot chocolate 

RougeMarin – tea

4. Kobasito by Stjepan Gojšić

The well-known team at the house of Michelin star chef Stjepan Gojšić offers as many as 7 different types of sausages and hot dogs, as well as crispy fries and onion rings.

They emphasise the street food variant of beans with sausages, which consists of a debrecener sausage in a bun with baked beans, sweet sauce and salad, and they completed this bombastic combination with crispy fried sweet potatoes.

Kobasito

In addition, you can try various sausages with Guinness, mustard and honey sauces in combinations with cheddar cheese, onion marmalade, salads and winter classics – sauerkraut or greens. There are many variations, and it is up to you to choose the one that suits you best.

5. Alpine house 

Just as real winter food is eaten in the Alps for refreshment, so at Baš Naš Alpine House you will taste various variations and street food combinations of sausages and hot dogs made from various types of meat. The dish Ko konj is actually horse sausage with baked beans, corn, salad and a warm brioche bun.

Alpine house – Vege san

You can also try Vege – san, a vegetarian version of sausage with hummus, beetroot ketchup, salad and pastry, at this restaurant. In addition to savoury delicacies, sweet germ dumplings with plum and chocolate filling and various sauces and sprinkles await you.

Alpine house 

Alpine house – sweet germ dumpling

6. La fiesta 

There is never a shortage of entertainment here, and along with musical hits and lots of dancing, there is also no shortage of good food to warm you up. So at this house you can refresh yourself with meat dishes like La chica debrecen, accompanied by even two top-quality debreceners, fried onions, pickles and sauce.

La fiesta – La chica wild

Then, La gorda honey, smoked sausage with caramelised onions and bbq honey sauce. There are also La picante slavonica, Happy hot dog, La chica wild and La fiesta kids hot dog, for those who prefer light versions without a lot of sauce and spicy spices.

7. Magical fritule

In a small house under the music stage, food is prepared according to a traditional recipe under the watchful eye of chefs from restaurants with the Michelin Bib Gourmet label. The traditional dessert has adapted to some new trends, so they offer fritule and germ dumplings with various fillings, sauces and sprinkles. They are always ready warm, and you can try Jaffa fritule with chocolate and orange, then chocolate fritule with Lino Lado, dark chocolate and Oreo or kit kat sprinkles. Other sauces that you choose yourself are caramel, strawberry, bourbon vanilla and Baileys.

Fritule

8. Winter house 

Winter house offers various versions of burgers, sandwiches, tortillas and quick snacks such as nachos with cheese, mozzarella sticks, chicken nuggets and fries. Among the large selection of dishes, burgers in various combinations stand out, such as chicken, classic and Italian beef burgers, and rustic with delicious dark rustic buns, salad, tomato, arugula and cheese.

Winter house – Rustic burger

For all sandwich lovers, you can find and try Zagreb style schnitzel and pulled pork sandwiches. There really is something for everyone, and we’re sure you won’t go hungry.

9. Mangosta 

If there is an Advent bucket list, we believe at the top is Mangosta with its popular hot cocktails, but you can also eat well at this house.

Barba slaw, New York style and češnjovka classic variations of traditional sausages made from Slavonian, češnjovka, debreceners and veal. With quality ingredients, sauces and accessories, the phrase we hear most often these days is – “I have to get another one”!

Magnosta – New York style sausage

Magnosta cocktails

10. Drinks at Baš Naš advent 

In addition to good snacks, at Baš Naš advent you can warm up with black and white Šoškić mulled wine. Marin Medak has included in its offer hot apple and cinnamon liqueurs and hunting tea, which is actually more than just tea. This warm drink is basically rum and black tea enriched with spices and aromas of citrus, cinnamon and cloves.

Marin Medak refined his hunting tea with a little red wine and secret spices to make the aroma more intoxicating. If you are not a fan of wine and liquor, you can try the hot Beefeater boiled gin with the interesting names Brbljava punica and Buddy the Elf with paragon, apple and lemon.

Mulled wine

Lovers of Jameson whiskey can try hot cocktails like Whiskey sour and Fig in the pocket with honey, orange liqueur, honey jam and lemon. The biggest hit are the photogenic, colourful and warm Mangosta bar cocktails with dry ice, which you will surely capture with your cameras.

Hot cocktails

We believe that you don’t need a reason to visit Baš Naš advent anymore. At least during Advent, you simply have to forget about your diet and head for your favourite Gornji Grad plateau.

In addition to good food, salsa rhythms and Cubismo hits await you on Friday, December 9. Numerous DJ performances are responsible for a good time every day – on Christmas Eve RNB Confusion Santa’s Club, while the performers and concerts of Vatra, Psihomodo Pop, Vesna Pisarović and Zgroove band on New Year’s Eve will be responsible for the great atmosphere throughout December.

Until January 7, Gradec Plateau will surely be a favourite location in Zagreb and the main destination of all those who want good company, lots of laughter, infectious songs and dances. You can follow the entire program on the official Facebook page and Instagram profile.