This day trip covers all the highlights of Dalmatia such as historical cities and towns, beautiful architecture and stunning nature. A perfect backdrop to enjoy local cuisine: fresh seafood such as exquisite oysters or a regional signature dish peka, along with prized Dalmatian wines.
The true Mediterranean heart of Croatia, Dalmatia is traditionally the land of fishermen, wine and olive makers. Seafood is definitely Dalmatian staple food. Local menus rely heavily on all sorts of Adriatic fish, tuna, prawns, oysters, mussels, clams, calamari and octopus. Seafood comes in many variants: grilled, cooked al bianco, in risottos and various light stews or as a refreshing clear soup – something for each and every palate. Oysters are often eaten raw, straight from the sea, with a little seasoning, just enough to bring out all the fantastic natural flavours.
The simplicity of traditional dishes using exclusively local ingredients is the must of every Dalmatian meal.
When it comes to meat, local cooking lore follows the same guidelines: the fresher, the simpler, the better. Take peka, a signature Dalmatian dish, a recipe that goes thousands years back. Preparing peka is not simple as it looks, since it requires certain fire-tending skills. It’s a dish which can be done with veal, lamb, octopus, goat meat or even poultry – just name it. First, the meat is first mixed with potatoes, vegetables and plenty of aromatic Mediterranean herbs. This mixture is then placed under the bell and slow-cooked for hours, allowing juices to eventually produce the wonderful and salivating aromas.
Dalmatia is also a world-class wine region, with many wineries and world-awarded wines. Some of the highly regarded varieties are Plavac Mali, Postup, Pošip, Dingač, Debit, Grk, and Bogdanuša. World wine experts have recently confirmed that Dalmatian variety called Crljenak or Dobričić is the ancestor of famous Zinfandel. All Dalmatian wines pair perfectly with seafood, peka or appetizers such as prosciutto. As to the sweet treats, they are to be enjoyed with Prošek, a Dalmatian dessert wine made from dried grapes. A welcome alternative is liquors made from locally grown fruits or traditional herbal brandies.
This is a dynamic food tour offering many complementary experiences. The historical city of Split is a buzzing Mediterranean port, a UNESCO world heritage site with lots of fine little restaurants. On the other hand, Skradinis an idyllic town, situated at the edge of National Park Krka and its pristine waterfalls. Similar in size, Ston is the home to world famous oyster farms and many authentic taverns offering supreme gastronomic pleasures. Both Skradin and Ston boast a long history, with beautiful and romantic architecture.
