Rijeka: Mosaic of Kvarner flavors and the International Wine-Gastro Festival WineRi

With the grand opening of the gastronomic event 'A mosaic of Kvarner flavors - Kvarner at the table' in the Rijeka Exportdrvo area, a series of gastronomic events celebrating the prestigious title of ​​​​

The goal of the event was to present the diversity and authenticity of the Kvarner culinary offer, traditional dishes and products, and the cultural heritage associated with gastronomy.

A unique gastronomic mosaic of Kvarner presents its authentic dishes and products in one place. subregions: Rijeka and the Rijeka Ring, Opatija Riviera, Gorski Kotar, Crikvenica-Vinodol Riviera and the islands of Krk, Rab, Lošinj and Cres.

Rijeka has been increasingly profiled as the urban gastronomic center of Kvarner in recent years. On Friday, it presented itself with pastry creations with interesting names: summer rose, nun, nutcracker, almond, coconut, mango and macaron.

Guests could try fish specialties such as risotto with shrimp and asparagus and monkfish medallions in white wine with shrimp and asparagus, along with a selection of liqueurs and alcoholic beverages. Behind Rijeka's gastronomic story are the Nautica restaurant, the Slon by Moreno Debartoli pastry shop, the Babushka artisan bakery and the Vergilas craft distillery.

Others a cross-section of Kvarner flavors The participants at the event consisted of Bakar maneštra made from black mullet, squid, lentils and barley, tuna brodette and squid on saft, as well as cuttlefish salad or Cres lamb goulash.

The offer included Grobnik cheese ice cream, as well as traditional snacks that are not often found in everyday offerings, such as grašnjak (a sweet specialty with chestnut cream), Veprinac cookies, or Grobnik cookies.

A special place was also occupied by island products such as Cres cheese, as well as local olive oil. The sweet part of the offer was further enriched by traditional Kvarner desserts such as Rab cake, copper cake, mustačon, and Creska Rožica cake. The entire gastronomic story was completed by a rich selection of wines, craft beers, brandy and liqueurs from Kvarner.

Director of the Rijeka Tourist Board Petar Škarpa At the opening, he pointed out that Kvarner, Rijeka and the Rijeka Ring have a strong gastronomic tradition, but also great potential that is increasingly coming to the fore today.

"In recent years, a lot of effort has been invested in improving the quality of the offer and in giving Rijeka's gastronomy a recognizable identity on the tourist map of the region. It was not an easy or quick process, but projects such as the Rijeka Gastronomic Ports have shown how local tradition, top-quality ingredients and the creativity of our chefs can be transformed into an authentic and modern tourist product. We are particularly pleased with the growing interest in Kvarner dishes and local products, as guests increasingly recognize the value of local ingredients and unique gastronomic traditions that make up the identity of this region.", said Škarpa.

Director of the Kvarner Tourist Board Irena Persic Zivadinov She pointed out that the aim of such events is to highlight the uniqueness of each Kvarner subregion and thus build the common recognition of Kvarner as a European region of gastronomy. She added that the Mosaic of Tastes confirmed the importance of authentic and indigenous gastronomy as a strong identity of the region, while visitors have the opportunity to experience the diversity of flavors and traditions that make Kvarner a unique gastronomic destination.

"This event shows how the Kvarner Tourist Board, in cooperation with local tourist boards, through the European Region of Gastronomy project, contributes to the valorization and promotion of the region at the European level, highlighting the richness and uniqueness of Kvarner gastronomy.", said Peršić Živadinov.

The mayor of Rijeka, Iva Rinčić, believes that the title of European Gastronomy Region 2026 is a great recognition for Kvarner, but also a confirmation of the work of our restaurateurs, winemakers and producers who have been building a recognizable identity of the region through top flavors and experiences.

Project Kvarner - European region of gastronomy Through a series of events throughout this year, it will further promote the richness of Kvarner gastronomy, connect local producers, caterers and the tourism sector, and present Kvarner to visitors as a destination of top-quality food, tradition and authentic flavors. The opening is organized by the Rijeka Tourist Board, the Kvarner Tourist Board, and the Kvarner subregion tourist boards.

On the same day, a traditional fair was opened in Rijeka's Exportdrvo International wine and food festival - WineRi with a significant additional emphasis because this year it is being held in the year in which Kvarner proudly bears the title of European Region of Gastronomy. It will also be remembered for the fact that the glass of Žlahtina was officially presented at it, putting this indigenous wine queen among only a few Croatian varieties with its specially shaped glass.

This year's Rijeka Wine Fair brought together not only the local, Kvarner elite gathered in the association Kvarner Wines, but also many winemakers from Istria, Slavonia and Dalmatia, as well as from abroad. The gastronomic note is also noticeable, as is the offer of strong alcoholic beverages.

Additional events are also planned for the two-day festival. Part of them will take place at the nearby Wine&Co wine shop, where a series of events are planned. professional workshops and masterclasses, while the second is in Exportdrv itself. This part is in charge of members of the Rijeka humanitarian association Srce za nju, who have prepared medically expert lectures, which confirms WineRi's educational dimension. The festival is open until Saturday, March 14, in the evening.

/ / / The "Punch Food" festival in Matulji opened the Kvarner - European Region of Gastronomy 2026 program.