The restaurant Noel in Zagreb and Draga di Lovrana in Lovran have received a Michelin star, while the restaurants Pelegrini in Šibenik, 360º in Dubrovnik and Monte in Rovinj have successfully retained their Michelin status, reports HTZ on February 28, 2019. In addition, the Bib Gourmand list now boasts a total of eight restaurants, which is twice as many as last year, while 51 restaurants now carry the Michelin Plate label!
“We are extremely pleased that Croatia now has five restaurants with a prestigious Michelin star. After Rovinj, Dubrovnik, and Šibenik, the stars have been awarded to Kvarner and Zagreb. New stars and recommendations to Croatian restaurants prove that our gastronomic scene meets very demanding international quality criteria, but also that we are increasingly recognized in the world for a quality gastronomic offer. At the same time, this is a strong impetus for further development and promotion of this segment of our offer, and I am sure that destinations and selected restaurants will be able to make use of these acknowledgments and recommendations to further position them on the market,” said the director of the Croatian Tourist Board, Kristjan Staničić, adding his genuine congratulations to all the selected restaurants.
“This selection shows the potential of the Croatian gastronomic scene, enriched by multiple influences; from Mediterranean tastes in Dalmatia, Italian influences in Istria and Slavic tastes from Zagreb to Slavonia, which together creates a unique culinary identity,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide.
“I congratulate all selected restaurants on the great acknowledgment for their hard work, their skill and their desire to develop, and present the best that Croatia offers. Some 93 percent of tourists are looking for a ‘special experience in food and drink’ during their trip, which indicates that all almost tourists are interested in eno-gastronomy. I believe that this will be an additional motivation for everyone to continue improving and connecting with local producers to become a recognizable eno-gastro icon of Europe,” said Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli.
The inclusion of new restaurants in the Michelin selection is a powerful incentive for further improvement of the local gastronomic scene, as well as the great global promotion of Croatia as a top gourmet destination