JRE chefs will mentor restaurants in Zagreb County: Call for pilot program open.

Zagreb County Tourist Board in cooperation with the association JRE-Croatia (Jeunes Restaurateurs) publishes invitation to catering establishments from the Zagreb County area to participate in the mentoring pilot program.

The call is being implemented as part of the project Sustainable AgriGastro Innovation Hub - From Soil to Signature, co-financed by the Croatian National Tourist Board through the Fund for Underdeveloped Tourist Areas and the Continent.

He will be selected as a mentor pilot one restaurant with which the expert project team will work on concrete improvement of the gastronomic offer, cooperation with local suppliers, wine offer, service and digital communication. The goal of the program is to recognize the existing value and potential of the selected facility and, through individual professional work, develop it into an applicable example of good practice that can serve as a model for the continuation of the program in 2027.

"The gastronomy of Zagreb County is growing quietly and persistently, through the families, fields and vineyards that stand behind every plate. With this program, we are not looking for the perfect restaurant, but one that is ready to work and has the ambition to tell its story in its own language. Quality is not imported, it is patiently built on its own terrain, and From Soil to Signature is exactly that: about the journey from the soil to a recognizable signature", pointed out Ivana Alilović, B.A. political scientist, director of the Zagreb County Tourist Board.

Who can apply?

The call is intended for restaurants operating in the Zagreb County area and preparing or serving food as an important part of their offering. Applicants are expected to have an existing level of quality or clear potential for development, an operationally stable team, an interest in stronger inclusion of local and seasonal ingredients, and an openness to professional feedback and changes in real business.

What the selected object gets

Participation in the program is free. The selected facility receives individual work with a team of experts across four related areas:

1. Cuisine and gastronomic offer: analysis of the menu and gastronomic identity, connecting with local producers and developing new dishes or recognizable elements of the offer.
2. Wine and service: overview of the wine offering, recommendations for including wines from Zagreb County, proposed wine by the glass offering and pairings, and an overview of key service procedures.
3. Digital communication: review of existing channels, definition of content topics and guidelines for a more consistent digital presentation.
4. Documentation and presentation of results: professional photo and video production, presentation of results at the final event of the project and creation of a case study.

The cost of expert mentoring and agreed professional photo and video production is covered by the project funds. The selected facility will receive an agreed portion of the resulting materials for its own communication, and visibility will be ensured through the communication channels of the project, the Zagreb County Tourist Board and JRE-Croatia.

Project expert team

Chefs participate in the mentoring program, depending on their field of work. Bernard Step i Tibor Valincic, sommeliers and maîtres d' Branimir Vuksic i Dinko Lozica, Lucija Bilandzic Matic, country manager JRE-Croatia, and Ivana Alilović, director of the Zagreb County Tourist Board.

Duration of the program

The mentoring program will be implemented from the end of September to December 15, 2026., through approximately four to six working and mentoring meetings, live in the facility and online, depending on the area of ​​work and the needs of the selected participant.

Deadline and method of application

The application is submitted in one Word or PDF document, at the latest until September 15, 2026 at 23:59 PM, simultaneously to the addresses info@jre.hr i info@visitzagrebcounty.hr, with the subject of the e-mail: Application for the mentoring program - [facility name].

Applications will be evaluated by the Mentoring Pilot Program Selection Committee according to pre-determined criteria, with a maximum of 100 points. The selected participant will be notified and publicly announced no later than September 22, 2026.