We want to restore the restaurant to its former glory while honoring tradition, culture, and history. We have modernized the cuisine somewhat, but without any intention of turning it into fine dining. Local specialties will remain the foundation of our menu, though prepared and presented in a more modern style, said Domagoj Vujnović, a restaurateur with international experience and the new owner of the renowned restaurant, which hosted the 33rd edition of Vino uz žlicu (Wine with a Spoon) food and wine gathering.
Before dinner began, guests had the opportunity to taste the renowned Samobor Bermet Philipecz. Antun Filipec, a seventh-generation member of the famous Samobor family, explained that it is a bittersweet wine made from select grape varieties from the Samobor Hills, flavored with wormwood, tropical fruit, and ingredients kept as a closely guarded secret.
Bermet pairs perfectly with muštarda
They also produce muštarda, a mustard made from crushed mustard seeds blended with a specially prepared grape preserve. The Filipec family also produces classic wines such as Cuvée Roko Prestige, Rosé Tia, Pinot Gris, Graševina, Frankovka, and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as Joco sparkling wine.
Alongside homemade bread, extra virgin olive oils from the Pavletić Cunj Krbavčić family farm, located in northern Istria near Buzet, were served. Nikolina Krbavčić Ratoša presented the Ena (Leccino), Lana (Istarska Bjelica), and Selekcija (a blend of Istarska Bjelica, Leccino, and Pendolino) oils.
Mediterranean Meets the Mountains
The family’s 400-tree olive grove in the village of Cunj is a unique olive-growing oasis in this part of Istria, where Mediterranean mildness meets a harsh mountain climate, creating the perfect conditions for premium olive oil.
Pumpkin seed oil from the Hukavec family farm in Šašinovec, near Sesvete, was also available for tasting. Renata and Dražen Hukavec have been producing it for 11 years, assisted by their daughters. They grow pumpkins on 15 hectares of land and produce between 2,500 and 3,000 liters annually.
Chocolate-coated seeds
In addition to hot-pressed and cold-pressed pumpkin seed oil, their product range includes salted and chocolate-coated pumpkin seeds, as well as pumpkin seed flour. At the 8th Alpe-Adria International Pumpkin Seed Oil Exhibition in Varaždin, which saw the largest field of competitors to date, the Hukavec family farm's virgin pumpkin seed oil was named the champion.
The dinner began with cured meat products from Samobor’s Igomat and the Turn Premium Extra Brut sparkling wine from Klet Krško. Three types of Samobor salami, with pumpkin seed, walnut, and classic, paired beautifully with the elegant sparkling wine, which featured lively acidity and fine bubbles. It is produced from the Kraljevina grape variety using the traditional method.
Renowned for Cviček
Oenologist Gašper Repše noted that Klet Krško brings together around 200 winegrowing families cultivating 200 hectares of vineyards in the Dolenjska region, close to the Croatian border. They are renowned for Cviček, a light red blend. Their headquarters are in Krško, and their cellar is located within the 18th-century Šrajbarski Turn castle. Their premium line of wines and sparkling wines, Turn, is named after this castle.
Next came a zucchini and zucchini blossom risotto paired with the 2023 Pinot Blanc from Maruševec Castle. The delicate flavors of the zucchini and the creamy texture of the risotto harmonized beautifully with the fresh, elegant wine. Winemaker Marija Martinez highlighted the wine's intense, pale straw hue, a result of aging, noting that it had nonetheless retained its freshness.
Wine from the Glembays' Castle
Maruševec Castle is located 15 kilometers from Varaždin and is surrounded by an impressive park. It is owned by the Slovenian branch of the noble Pongratz-Lippitt family. Thanks to its Baroque architecture and well-preserved setting, it frequently serves as a film location. Scenes from The Glembays were shot here, as was the more recent docudrama Zrinski.
During the dinner, Taplito, an app designed for the hospitality industry, was also presented. Sandro Kalaica and Valentino Dujić explained that it is a Croatian B2B platform allowing guests to view menus, place orders, and make payments via QR code, without needing to install an app.
Ordering and paying via mobile phone
The system integrates with the Remaris POS system and runs directly in mobile browsers (Safari, Chrome). It is designed for restaurants, cafes, and bars, enabling them to provide fast and efficient service.
The third course was trout coated in cornmeal, paired with the Jakobović Vetovo Cuvée 2024. It is a blend of four varieties, Graševina, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Rhine Riesling, named after the specific vineyard site in the Kutjevo region, which is considered one of the area's finest locations.
Fruity and Rounded
Each of the varieties contributes its best qualities to the blend, creating a distinctive bouquet and a medley of fresh fruit aromas. In the glass, the wine leans more towards a full-bodied semi-dry style than a dry one, owing precisely to its pronounced fruitiness and rounded character.
The pairing of game stew with dumplings and Petrač Karizma 2022 was particularly successful. Journalists present at the event named it the best pairing of the day. The rich, aromatic, slow-cooked venison and wild boar called for a wine with a bold character, and the ripe fruit notes, solid structure, and harmonious tannins beautifully complemented the dish's intensity. ž
Plum Jam and Vanilla
Karizma is the flagship wine of the Petrač winery, located on Hršak Breg near Krapinske Toplice, and ranks among the finest red wines of the Zagorje region. It is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. The nose is dominated by blackcurrant, blueberry, and plum jam, accompanied by subtle notes of vanilla.
The Josić winery’s Rosé Dea Pannonium 2025 was served alongside Samobor's kremšnita (cream cake). Notes of strawberry, raspberry, and red berries perfectly complemented the light cream and crisp puff pastry.
Four French varieties for the kremšnita
The wine’s freshness prevented the end of the meal from feeling too heavy, ensuring this pairing delivered a signature Samobor-style conclusion to the culinary experience. The grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot.
The eno-gastro project Wine with a Spoon is run by Renata Cisar and Mustafa Topčagić, and the Pri staroj vuri restaurant was a great host for the 33rd edition.
Photos: Nikola Zoko