Advent Food and Drinks
In a nutshell, Advent is the period of preparations for the celebration of Christmas, lasting throughout December. It's the time when many European capitals dress up and turn into a big street festival full of events. Advent in Zagreb is getting bigger and more interesting every year, and now it boasts as one of the most attractive December destinations. Hordes of people roam the bright streets in the evening and on weekends, sharing these festive moments with their friends and families. And while you’re out there enjoying and having fun, you’re bound to eat and drink something.
Author: Sanjin Kaštelan
You’ll never see so many food and drink stands and huts all over downtown Zagreb as in this period. And the luring smell of sausages will make your mouth water everywhere you go. Yes, winter in Zagreb without sausages is like a Christmas tree without ornaments. There are plenty of kobasice to choose from, as native pečenica (pork and bacon), češnjovka (pork and garlic) and the controversial krvavica(blood sausage, especially yummy when there’s barley or buckwheat in the stuffing) krčkati side by side with Slovenian kranjska (pork and bacon), Hungarian debrecinka(pork with paprika), German frankfuterka (minced lean pork) or Bavarian white sausage (veal and pork bacon). If you dig deeper, you’ll also find some specials like vatrogasna (“firemen’s”, meaning - very hot), istarska (Istrian), konjska (horse meat) or divljač (wild game). Mostly they’ll be served in the simplest possible way - in a bun, with the condiment of your choice. That’s your walk-and-eat sausage kit. The upgraded version for eating while standing or sitting is a sausage with sauerkraut. Surely the winner in the category of winter perfect matches.
Image credit: Taste of Croatia
All these familiar crowd-pleasers can be found on Ban Jelačić Square and in Bogovićeva/Gajeva Street, in large amounts. If you’re not that into classics, food stands on Europski trg offer something a little bit different. A number of Zagreb’s bistros, catering businesses and restaurants use these huts as seasonal branch offices with their take on winter street food, like RougeMarin, Cheese Bar or Bistro 75. In the mood for crossing borders and trying something with international flair? Kurelčeva Street is transformed into a “travel around the world” food zone, where vendors with ethnic specialties represent cities like Havana, Paris, Moscow, Florence, Barcelona, Schladming, Tokyo, Berlin, New York, Istanbul, London and Antwerpen.
Advent on European Square, Author: Sanjin Kaštelan
Craving for something sweet at the end? Local specialties like štrukli, medenjaci (honey biscuits) and all kinds of strudels are the usual suspects, beside the omnipresent Dalmatian newcomer, traditional fritters called fritule. Kuhano vino (mulled wine) is withount any doubt the most popular winter drink, ideal both for washing the food down and warming you up. There are dozens of recipes and opinions on which wine, combination of spice or fruit is the best, and what ratio to use, so take some time to find your ideal mixture. As long as it’s hot. Cold mulled wine is as sad as warm beer on a summer day. There will be lots of rakija shots (brandy) circulating around, and definitely, it is the best body warmer, but you can’t really sip and savour it for an hour or two while socializing.
“Giant snow globe in Zrinjevac Park.” Image credit: Taste of Croatia
Use all the riches of the open-air holiday season in Zagreb wisely and be part of the happy crowd. It is cold, sometimes very cold, but there’s nothing to cheer and warm us up like good food and drinks in good company. And that’s what holidays are all about.
Header image credit: Advent on European Square
Author: Taste of Croatia