“Stari fijaker 900” becomes the first branded restaurant in Croatia

“Stari fijaker 900”, a Zagreb restaurant owned and run by the Juras family, is the first Croatian restaurant that bears the Croatian Autochthonous Food Certificate. This means that at least 70 percent of the menu comprises original Croatian specialties; in this case, dishes typical of north-western Croatia. (more…)

As of early September, Croatia boasts its first branded restaurant bearing the Croatian Autochthonous Food certificate: the well-known “Stari fijaker 900” located on Mesnička Street in the very heart of Zagreb. If you wish to sample original Croatian food – in this case, the autochthonous dishes typical of Zagreb and the Croatian Zagorje region – head to “Stari fijaker 900” to sample some of its time-tested recipes.

The restaurant offers as many as 87 authentic Croatian specialties, which means that approximately 70 percent of the menu comprises typical Croatian dishes – thus satisfying one the main criteria for obtaining the certificate. The certification project started with an official compilation of some 500 autochthonous dishes from all over Croatia. Restaurateurs, prospective certificate holders, can consult the list and choose the dishes that their restaurants will feature on their menus.

In 1994, “Stari fijaker 900” was taken over by the Juras family but the restaurant, even under the management of previous owners, had long specialized in food typical of Zagreb and Zagorje so its menu did not see any major changes as a result of the certification process. While enjoying a warm domestic atmosphere, patrons can savour dishes such as: pork cracklings; home made sausages and black pudding; sarma (stuffed cabbage leaves) and bell peppers stuffed with meat; soups with homemade noodles; various types of goulash; vegetable and meat stews; tripe; strukli (a fresh cottage cheese dish); pork crackling scones; and local cheeses. The certification – in the form of a stylized board that was mounted on the restaurant’s façade by the Croatian tourism minister, Damir Bajs himself – is the result of many months of work on the implementation of this major project to brand Croatian national restaurants and dishes typical of Croatia. The main goals of this project, which was spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism and implemented in cooperation with the Croatian Chamber of Economy and the Croatian Culinary Association, were to standardize and enhance the profile of autochthonous Croatian culinary heritage.

The great interest shown in the first branded restaurant in Croatia confirms that this development model could indeed enhance the profile of the Croatian autochthonous heritage. “We have barely had time to get used to the certificate and already we are getting calls from all over the world, from embassies and tourist agencies, from those who would like to offer their partners and clients a taste of original Croatian specialties,” says the “Stari Fijaker 900’s” proud owner, Mr. Tomislav Juras. Though the certification project has just been launched, it is expected that Croatia should soon boast a number of such autochthonous and branded restaurants. Moreover, the project is also adapted to the needs of those who do not want to brand their whole restaurant but, rather, just a particular delicacy on their menu, which will be marked by the logo of “Croatian Autochthonous Cuisine”.