Meat Me: Zadar’s biggest autumn culinary event returns

(Photo: Bojan Bogdanić)

Mid-October in Zadar is once again set aside for the city’s most exciting and popular gastronomic event: the Meat Me festival, which returns this autumn for its fifth edition.

From Wednesday, 9th October to Saturday, 12th October, the old marketplace at Zadar’s City Market on the Peninsula will host the latest edition of this unique tourism and food event, showcasing traditional Dalmatian meat dishes and wines, as well as part of the region’s rich gastronomic heritage.

First organised in 2019 as a modest boutique festival, Meat Me quickly became a hugely popular multi-day celebration, attracting locals and tourists alike with its mouth-watering meat dishes. This year will be no different.

(Photo: Bojan Bogdanić)

To ensure there are enough ingredients for the hundreds of meals prepared, four of Zadar’s largest and most renowned butchers—Paleka, Biloglav, Gobin, and Lukin—will once again participate.

Representing the restaurateurs whose chefs will be preparing daily meat specialities are Zadar’s Hedonist restaurant, Konoba Martina from Zaglav on Dugi Otok, and meat products from Tabay. As in previous years, the Meat Me 5.0 programme will also include the involvement of teachers and students from Zadar’s Hospitality and Tourism School, led by Renata Kraljev.

(Photo: Bojan Bogdanić)

Delicious portions will be sold at symbolic prices, significantly lower than usual restaurant rates, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity.

The festival will also feature wine and cocktail bars, as well as a special corner for olive oil producers. Additionally, free wine workshops will be held, offering interesting insights for attendees.

(Photo: Bojan Bogdanić)

Entertainment will be provided by a DJ who will keep the atmosphere lively throughout the festival, with three concerts also planned: on Thursday, Lucija Marcelić & Pink Noise will perform, followed by the popular Zagreb rock & roll band Swingers on Friday, and Saturday will be reserved for the brilliant and eccentric ‘Kuzma & Shaka Zulu.’

(Photo: Bojan Bogdanić)

Meat Me 5.0 is organised by the Zadar Tourist Board with the support of its partners: the City of Zadar, the Zadar County Tourist Board, and in collaboration with Zadar Market.