Top Croatian restaurant gets a Michelin star
- by croatiaweek
- in Food & Wine
Croatia’s new Michelin star restaurant (Photo credit: Korak/Instagram)
Great news for Croatian gastronomy as MICHELIN, the globally most significant and prestigious gastronomic guide, has awarded the prestigious Michelin star to one more Croatian restaurant, the Croatian Tourist Board has confirmed on Thursday.
Korak in Jastrebarsko has just been awarded a Michelin star, brining the number of establishments with this prestigious recognition in Croatia to 11.
Korak joins Pelegrini (Šibenik), 360º (Dubrovnik), Monte (Rovinj), Noel (Zagreb), Draga di Lovrana (Lovran), Boškinac (Novalja), LD Restaurant (Korčula), Nebo (Rijeka), Alfred Keller (Mali Lošinj), and Agli Amici (Rovinj) who all successfully retained their stars in the lates guide which was announced today.
Korak is a fine dining restaurant situated within a family winery in the Plešivica area, a renowned wine region often referred to as “the Croatian Champagne.” The chef’s mission at Korak is to forge connections between local producers, gastronomic heritage, and the natural environment. The unwritten rule of the chef is: “If it’s not in season, it’s not on the table.”
The culinary experience at Korak encompasses a harmonious blend of clean, precise flavors and visually appealing aesthetics. The interplay of textures and the restaurant’s distinctive gastronomic identity create an experience that is as unique as a fingerprint, Korak says.
“The new selection of Croatian restaurants by MICHELIN confirms that the gastro scene in our country is progressing year by year and following global trends. It shows that Croatia offers top-quality recognised by the MICHELIN inspectors themselves. The fact that Croatia now has 11 restaurants with the prestigious Michelin star and a total of 89 restaurants recognised by MICHELIN is something we will certainly leverage in our promotional activities and efforts to position Croatia even stronger as a quality, sustainable, and desirable year-round food and wine destination,” said Kristjan Staničić, the director of the Croatian Tourist Board, extending sincere congratulations to all the awarded and distinguished restaurants.
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In the new MICHELIN guide for Croatia, restaurants Zinfandel’s (Zagreb) and Konoba Mate (Korčula) successfully retained their MICHELIN Green Star, while the restaurant Korak (Jastrebarsko), in addition to the prestigious Michelin star, also received this recognition given to restaurants dedicated to sustainable and environmentally-friendly gastronomy.
“This year, MICHELIN guide inspectors have noticed a growing emphasis on the quality of local ingredients and chefs and restaurant owners showing increasing commitment to sourcing from local farmers. Whether it is restaurants with the Michelin star or the Bib Gourmand label, the appreciation for quality ingredients is a priority because our teams strive for quality culinary experiences,” said Gwendal Poullennec, the international director of the MICHELIN guide, adding that Croatia is an example of genuine sensitivity towards sustainability and eco-friendly culinary practices.
In addition to these recognitions, MICHELIN has added three more restaurants to the Bib Gourmand list, bringing the total number of restaurants in Croatia with this MICHELIN distinction to 14. The Bib Gourmand label is awarded to restaurants offering quality menus at affordable prices.
“The new MICHELIN guide shows that modern Croatian gastronomy is becoming one of the most interesting in Europe and represents the best invitation to numerous tourists who want to enjoy their visit to Croatia, thanks to elements of Mediterranean and Central European culinary traditions, excellent local ingredients, and particularly the creativity and passion of Croatian chefs. Therefore, in our Strategy for Sustainable Tourism Development until 2030, the development of food and wine tourism holds an important and special place. Inclusion in globally relevant gastronomic guides like MICHELIN is recognition and a significant encouragement for everyone working to improve the diversity of Croatian gastronomy. I sincerely congratulate everyone who has earned their stars this year. I believe that each new MICHELIN guide will include new Croatian chefs because they undoubtedly deserve it,” concluded Minister of Tourism and Sports Nikolina Brnjac.
These new distinctions are the result of the secret visits to Croatian restaurants by professional MICHELIN inspectors, the most significant and prestigious restaurant guide globally, whose pages feature the list for Croatia.
