Issue1 TasteBound compressed - Flipbook - Page 105
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Korčula, Croatia
Hvar may be a regular on the superyacht circuit, but
neighbouring Korčula flies under the radar. This pine-fringed
sliver off Croatia’s Dalmatian coast is fast earning a culinary
reputation to match that of its natural beauty. This evolution
hasn’t come via flashy imports, but through a swelling tide of
local talent, working with ingredients rooted in the island itself.
Start in the Old Town. Like a miniature Dubrovnik, its
honey-hued, stone alleyways funnel sea breezes. At the Aminess
Korčula Heritage Hotel, ex-Ledbury chef Matija Bogdan opened
7 Seas Restaurant & Bar in late spring, channelling the precision
of the London stalwart in a dreamy seafront setting. Around
the headland is LD Restaurant, helmed by fellow Croatian chef
Marko Gajski. His Michelin-starred dishes – lamb slow-cooked
in Prošek (a sweet Dalmatian wine) – feel right at home amid the
grandeur of an 18th-century palace.
It’s remarkable how quickly the elegance of the Old Town
gives way to wildness. Just a mile or so away lies the secluded
Zrnovska Banja Bay, where the barefoot luxury of Tara’s Lodge
and local taverns offer a welcome shift in pace. Inland, in the
tiny hamlet of Pupnat, Konoba Mate is one of Korčula’s most
authentic culinary experiences. Run by the Marelić family, it’s a
slow-food institution: think generous platters of wild greens,
goat’s cheese and handmade makaruni pasta; pastries filled
with figs; liqueurs infused with lemon verbena and fennel.
En route, pause at Tasovac Winery, a small family-run
vineyard where winemaker Kristina Tasovac champions native
grapes like grk and plavac mali – bold, mineral-driven wines
shaped by sea winds and sun-scorched earth. With a chilled
glass of Pošip in hand, it’s hard not to feel quietly triumphant
– a few steps ahead of the crowd on this Adriatic gem.
How to get there? Regular catamarans and ferries connect
Korčula to Split and Dubrovnik during the high season (approx.
2.5-3 hours). Cars can be brought across from Orebić on the
Pelješac Peninsula (approx. 15 mins).
Opposite: Korčula waterfront. Clockwise from top left: try bold, mineral-driven wines at Tasovac Winery; Tara’s Lodge, in Zrnovska Banja Bay; the Old Town
resembles a mini Dubrovnik; an artful dish at Matija Bogdan’s 7 Seas Restaurant & Bar; Aminess Korčula Heritage Hotel; the 7 Seas terrace; seafood at Konoba Mate
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