Elis Caffe- A micro roastery and espresso bar

If good coffee is what warms your heart then look no further than Elis Caffe.  This is a micro roastery and an espresso bar with no detail overlooked.  The interior is simple, clean and efficient and the light features are brilliantly quirky.  They pride themselves on sourcing and importing roast and sell 'what we believe is among the best coffees from coffee producers around the world'. I ordered an espresso and a soya latte..YUM, drink in or take away (a service not so widely offered in Zagreb for professionals on the go) and to crown this caffe they also provide training for the public as well as for professionals.!

Summers Tea

Instead of sugar filled drinks..I shall name no names :) I find the best non-alcoholic drink that hits the spot on a summers day is a chilled glass of fruit tea. I like to buy loose tea from the Green Tea House (Illica 14, Lovački Rog), my most recent purchase (pictured) is their lemon and ginger tea.  The selection in the Green Tea House is extremely vast and the servers are more than willing to recommend to you a tea based on your preference if you find the selection overwhelming.

The ingredients for the tea I bought are:

Ginger
Lemon Grass
Cinamon
Apple

Brew a large jug full, keep it in the fridge and help yourself! Great to share with friends and the family!

Zoran

Amelie

Amelie is a very quaint and cosy patisserie, beautifully decorated with chic rustic furnishings. The cakes, pasteries and macarons are all home made, they are deliciously mourish and light.  A must visit!

Vlaška 6, Zagreb, Croatia

Salad

To avoid cooking on a hot day I like to put togther a hearty salad base full of fresh findings on Dolac, like tomatoes, cucumbers, spring onions, yellow peppers and parsley. Prepare enough for 2-3 days, cover and place in the fridge and serve each time with young salad. Other serving suggestions include, adding tuna, chicken breast, ham or boiled eggs. Look out for my tuna salad tomorrow!

Zoran Osmokrović

How to check your oil is hot enough?

Wondering how to check your frying oil is hot enough? Sprinkle a very small amount of flour into the oil and if it goes golden brown then you have reached the correct temperature :)

Zoran Osmokrović

Chicken Pate

Overview

Very versatile dish! Great as a starters to an evening meal, a light snack or fast breakfast. Dig in and enjoy!

Zoran’s Tip!*

The sour cream is the main ingredient for the consistency of the pate, too much and you create soup, so we shall stick with the same theory, ‘less is more’.

Ingredients

Serves 4

1. 1 medium sized chicken fillet
2. 1 tsp sour cream
3. 40g butter
4. 2 cloves of garlic
5. 1tsp mayo
6. Salt & pepper (to taste)
7. few sprigs of parsley

Preparation

1. Grill the chicken fillet in a frying pan on a medium heat until fully cooked.
2. Leave to cool and then cut into cubes
3. Place them in a bowl and add the sour cream*, butter, finely chopped garlic and mayo to the bowl and blend well with a hand blender, until the texture is smooth
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste
5. Add freshly chopped parsley
6. Serve on brown french bread with cherry tomatoes and young baby salad

Try it. Taste it. Enjoy it.

Zoran

Fresh Fried Sardines and Young Salad

Overview

Very cheap, very health, very fast lunch, dinner or snack!

Ingredients

• Cooking oil
• 3 tbsps flour
• 500g sardines
• 500g young salad
• Olive oil
• 1 lemon

Method

1. Clean the sardines, by removing each fishes insides, scales and head
2. Wash the sardines and leave them to drain for a few moments
3. Heat the cooking oil in a deep frying pan
4. Cover the sardines in flour and place them in the hot* oil for 4 minutes, until golden brown
5. Remove the Sardines from the oil and place them on kitchen towel to remove excess cooking oil
6. Serve with young salad and drizzle with fresh lemon juice and olive oil.

Try it. Taste it. Enjoy it.

Zoran

*How to test if your oil is hot enough?

Sprinkle a very small amount of flour into the oil and if it goes golden brown then you have reached the correct temperature. :)

Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry

Fast. Healthy. Versatile.

Ingredients

Serves 2

• 1 carrot
• 1 celery stick
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 handful of chinese cabbage
• 1/2 tin of bamboo shoots
• 5 Small mushrooms. I used Portobello and Champignon
• 1 Spring Onion
• 1 Chicken Breast
• 2tbsps Sesame Oil
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• Soya Sauce (to taste)
• Couple sprigs of parsley

Method

1. Add sesame oil to wok and throw in the garlic and vegetables (sliced into thin strips) and stir for 5 minutes on a high heat.
2. Add the chicken (also cut into thin strips) stir together with vegetables for 5 minutes
3. Season with salt and pepper (to taste)
4. Add soya sauce (to taste)
5 Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley

Try it. Share it. Enjoy it

Zoran

www.zoranosmokrovic.com

Pea and Barley Soup

Great to prepare in advance as a 'Go-To' meal when your hungry and looking for a healthy, warm option quickly.

Ingredients

Serves 6-8

• 150g barley
• 400g of green peas
• 2 tbsps cooking oil
• 1 medium red onion
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 spoon of Ajvar*
• Tomato paste
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• 1 tbsp white flour
• 3 litres of water

Method

1. Boil the barley in salted water until tender.
2. Saute finely chopped onion and garlic in the cooking oil for 3minutes.
3. Add green peas and season with salt and pepper, stir and leave to simmer for 5mimutes.
4. Stir in 2 spoons of tomato paste and pour in 3litres of water.
5. Add 1 spoon of ajvar and leave to cook on a medium heat for 20minutes
6. Add the barley to the soup and leave to cook for an additional 15 minutes
7. Take the flour in a seperate bowl and stir in 100ml of water, then pour the mixture slowly into the soup, stiring continuously until you feel the soup begin to thicken slightly.
8. Taste and add salt or pepper if needed.
9. Serve or store for later.

Try it. Share it. Enjoy it.

Zoran

*Ajvar is a mixture of roasted and peeled vegetables such as aubergine and peppers which have been cooked for approx 30minutes (small quantity only) with onion, garlic  and a litle bit of chillie.  It's a traditional South Eastern Europe relish. Delicious!


www.zoranosmokrovic.com

Fresh Fish

On saturday i went to Dolac looking for lunch ideas.  The choice of fresh fish was superb and I decided to buy 0.5kg of Sardines for 5kn (70cents!). Fish tends to be an overlooked option, it's fresh, healthy, cheap, fast to cook and simple delicious! Recipe to follow :)

Zoran

www.zoranosmokrovic.com

Wild Blueberry Strudle

I found a charming place in the middle of the wood in Gorski Kotar, Croatia, with delightful homemade strudle and  freshly picked wild blueberrys.  Needless to say, it was delicious!

Wild Asparagus Risotto

I used the wild aspargus I bought on Dolac market, you can get them only at this time of the year, so I have included them in a beautiful risotto, prepared in under 15minutes, it can be served as an appertiser or as a main dish.

Ingredients (serves 2)

1tsp butter
180g risotto rice
1 small red onion
2 cloves of garlic
200ml vegetable stock
1tsp mascarpone
Grana Padana (to taste)
Salt and pepper (to taste)
1 bunch of fresh wild asparagus

Method

On melted butter, saute finely chopped red onion and garlic. Add the risotto rice with salt and pepper and gradually stir in the vegetable stock until the rice is half cooked*.  Add asparagus tips (approx. 3cm long)  and stir in with the risotto rice. Add the mascarpone cheese and grana padano and stir well to finish. Garnish with a few drops of olive oil.

Texture of fully cooked risotto should be sticky in texture and hold its shape when presented on the plate.

Try it. Share it.

Zoran

Parmesan Dough Balls

You can find these in Mario Mar d.o.o bakery inside Dolac.  These are hit and miss, sometimes they’re FANTASTIC, other times not so tasty, but a must mention! On their good days their soft, warm and oozing with flavour, they are also gluten free and light on the tummy. Good luck. Try it. Share it.

Caffe Galerija Lav, Upper Town, Zagreb

Galerija Lav is an Art cafe, located in upper town, Zagreb.  Go here if you like great service, good tea suggestions and a peaceful, non-pretentious ambiance, surrounded by a bubble of creativity.  Furnishings include products by Philippe Starck and original paintings and sculptures which are for sale. Porcelain tea cups and reasonable pricing.

Jutarnji List's Top 20 restaurants, Zagreb

Jutarnji List

An interesting read, noting that Gallo restaurant is missing.  I shall have to pay a visit to some of them and will update you all with my findings.

Fresh Tortelini with Cheese Sauce!

Very fast to prepare and a great lunch idea.  The tortelini was bought fresh from Tjestenina Italjana, Dolac, Zagreb. Boil the tortelini in salted water for 6 minutes and serve onto a bed of bechamel sauce.

Base Bechamel Sauce. Serves 2.

• One scoop of butter melted in a small pan.
• Stir in 50g of flour.
• Add 300ml of milk and stir.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Bechamel with cheese sauce

• As above +
• Stir in 70g gouda cheese and parmesan shavings
• Fresh chopped parsley (optional)

Try it. Share it

Tjestenina Italjana

Young Potatoes

It’s the time of year where our markets are over flowing with young potatoes, why is this great? No peeling required! Simply wash and roast, boil or fry. Have fun! Try it. Share it.

Fresh Salmon and Chips!

I bought all the ingredients fresh from Dolac this morning, the salmon fillet was grilled for 2 minutes on each side after leaving it for 15 minutes in rock salt.  The potatoes were cut into wedges and deep fried for 10 minutes, (until golden brown).  The rucola and fresh tomatoes were the perfect accompaniment to this healthy and fast lunch.  To finish, the dish was drizzled with fresh lemom juice and a few drops of olive oil. Bon apetite!

Tasty sandwich!

Spotted this stall on the main square this week. Fresh handmade bread with damlatian prsuto.  Try  to resist this delight! :)

Happy Easter! Roasted lamb with potatoes

It's sunday afternoon, and my kitchen is fragrented with rosemary after roasting this for 1hour 30minutes at 170 degrees. The first slice revealed soft, succulent lamb, perfectly accentuated by the roast potatoes and rosemary enthused gravy to accompany.

Rosemary for Easter Sunday marination

The abundance of Rosemary on Dolac this morning was mouthwatering.  I am using the rosemary to marinate the 1kg of lamb I bought fresh from IVIS PROM tonight in preparation for Easter Sunday. It's going to taste beautiful.

Marination method - an approximation, it really depends on the quanitiy of meat :)

• Rub some rock salt into the lamb and then chop some garlic and rosemary leaves and mix with roughly 2tbsp of good olive oil and rub this also into the meat, cover in tin foil and place in the fridge until Sunday. Smells yummy!

Wild Asparagus

Wild asparagus season is here and has arrived on Dolac. The ones featured here came to Dolac from Zadar.

IVIS PROM 94 - Dolac

#Goodfriday Early morning que for fresh meat at IVIS PROM 94. I bought lamb from here for an Easter Sunday roast, marinating tonight :)

Share it. Enjoy it.

One wish of mine is for people to simple stop. To take one day from their week and go to their local fresh food market and look around, taste, touch, smell and awaken your senses to the food that surrounds us, that we depend on everyday to fuel our bodies.  This one day shouldn't be a chore, this day should become a new love, a passion. Buy foods that inspire you, whether it be a fistful of rikola for a hearty salad, a fresh piece of salmon from the fishmonger or a bunch of wild asparagus, invite your friends around for a great meal which you'll take the time to prepare for them.  On this day there is no rushing from A to B, this is the day to step back and look at what the world provides for us and how we can enjoy it with the people we love. Simple good food. Good conversation. Shared with good friends. What else can you ask for?

Strawberries!

Dolac is simply over flowing with these naturally sweet and very versatile beauties and they taste as good as they look. Heres a few quick and easy serving suggestions.

• Served with your morning museli
• Blended as a smoothie with yoghurt and fresh mint leaves
• Tossed into a healthy fruit salad
• Delicious with crepes/pancakes
• Dipped in warm melted chocolate
• OR simple as they are!

Whole wheat pasta tossed in a fast creamy tomato and spinach sauce

Tonights dinner!

A reduce carb option is always an alternative. Healthy, fast and light on the tummy.


Ingredients
Serves two.

• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 medium onion
• 50g unsalted butter
• 1tbsp flour
• 200ml milk
• 100ml cooking cream
• 500g fresh spinach leaves
• 1 medium organic tomato
• Grated Grana Padano
• 200g Whole wheat pasta
• Salt
• Pepper

Method

1. Boil the pasta in salty water for 8 minutes, drain and leave to the side.
2. Blanch spinach in salty water on a medium heat for one minute.  Place the spinach in ice cold water and leave to the side. Tip: This maintains the vivid green colour whilst you prepare the sauce.
3. On a medium heat, melt the butter in a frying pan and add the onion and garlic, stir until golden brown.
4. Dice the tomato and stir in with the onion, garlic and butter.
5. Slowly add the flour, stiring continuously.
6. Pour in the milk and cream and season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Tear up the spinach leaves and add them to the sauce. Stir well.
8. Toss the whole wheat pasta together with the sauce.
9. Stir in some grated Grana Padano (to taste).
10. Serve. Enjoy. Yum.

Taste it. Share it.