LJUBLJANA Travel Agent Manual

www.visitljubljana.com

37

Taste Ljubljana The traditional dishes of Ljubljana, which are made from local ingredients, prepared by using modern cooking methods and seasoned with a pinch of creativity from the best chefs. The author of the Taste Ljubljana project, renowned Slovenian ethnologist Janez Bogataj, selected dishes which were popular among Ljubljana’s citizens in the 19th century and in the first half of the 20th, but which were later increasingly replaced by international cuisine in restaurants. Local chefs, including internationally recognised names such as Janez Bratož, Igor Jagodic and Andrej Kuhar, have followed his instructions and adapted these dishes to modern times. Some of the most typical dishes that you can taste are frogs’ legs, Carniolan sausage, beef tongue, “leteči žganci” (flying žganci - fried and roasted chicken legs and wings) and Ljubljana pancakes with tarragon. Search for the Taste Ljubljana label in menus and on the doors of restaurants – more than 60 restaurants in Ljubljana boast this indicator of authenticity.

Ljubljana Quality Selection

Ljubljana QualityMark (LQ)

Get to know the best that Ljubljana offers in terms of culinary delights – the top rated restaurants as selected by local experts bear the Ljubljana Quality Mark.

The quality of restaurants in Ljubljana and Central Slovenia is assessed every two years as part of the Ljubljana Quality project, run by Ljubljana Tourism. The quality assessment is based on carefully defined criteria and carried out by an expert commission using the mystery shopper method . The Ljubljana Quality Mark winners include not only fine dining restaurants, but also a whole range of more affordable modern restaurants , traditional gostilna-type restaurants , and cake shops .

Taste Central Slovenia While discovering the green surroundings of Ljubljana, you can enjoy Slovenian cuisine in its authentic environment, in traditional village gostilna-type restaurants , homesteads , open door farms and mountain cabins in the Central Slovenia region. There, the dishes have a hint of domestic cuisine and are often prepared according to old family recipes. Many of them boast a tradition passing from one generation to another and a reputation reaching beyond local boundaries.

Ljubljana, the city of wine and beer Even though Central Slovenia is not a wine-growing region, Ljubljana has been awarded the international title of a “City of Vine and Wine” , and that is no coincidence. The choice of Slovenian wines and the range of wine-related events on offer in Ljubljana are wide and varied – Slovenia boasts three wine-growing regions divided into 14 wine-growing areas , and the selected wines are ranked among the best in the world in terms of quality. Apart from having a large number of dedicated wine bars and shops, Ljubljana hosts several wine fairs and events such as the Ljubljana Wine Route , held annually in November in the city centre. One of the two largest Slovenian breweries is situated in Ljubljana and in recent years the city and the Central Slovenia region have seen an increase in the number of micro- breweries, which brew more and more popular beers.