The European Food Summit, one of the most important European culinary events, has come to an end. As part of an unparalleled three-day event, it provided an interlacement of gastronomy, culture, art and architecture.
Slovenia, a boutique country which has recently become one of the most recognisable European destinations for top gastronomic experiences, has just hosted the increasingly established European Food Summit, organised by the renowned catering company Jezeršek gostinstvo, in cooperation with the event's partners, Ljubljana Tourism and the Slovenian Tourist Board and. Between the 6th and 8th November, the European Food Summit served a series of unique culinary events which took place in Ljubljana and elsewhere in Slovenia.
The recipient of two Michelin stars and seventh on the list of the best chefs in the world and co-creator of the event, Ana Roš, believes that "The European Food Summit is an outstanding event which connects food that is art –, the culture, writing about food and thinking about the future of food." According to her, sustainability and finding answers to the problems which arose during the period of lockdown nowadays play an important role in the culinary world, not only in Slovenia but also elsewhere in the world.
"The European Food Summit is wider than Slovenia and wider than the culinary world itself," was pointed out by Martin Jezeršek, the event organizer and general manager of Jezeršek gostinstvo, with whom Andrea Petrini, the most influential man in the culinary world, agrees: "I am convinced that we have something really important, which will also prove itself, as it is a Slovenian story. Small or micro-stories of Slovenian villages can take a certain answer out into the world and are important for others as well."
This time, unique stories were created by top domestic and foreign chefs, renowned speakers, media representatives and other outstanding individuals who co-created many accompanying culinary events at the European Food Summit under the common vision "FOOD for future’s GOOD!" - better food for the individual, local level and the planet.
At the opening Saturday culinary walk Gourmet Ljubljana Crawl, the top chefs of the association JRE Slovenia served their stories in various cultural temples and sights of the city of Ljubljana, under the auspices of Tourism Ljubljana. Luka Košir (Grič, Michelin star), one of the most promising chefs of the younger generation, welcomed the participants at the Slovenian Tourist Information Center (STIC) and with a greeting from the kitchen sent them on a unique culinary journey. Guests were inspired by the appetizers of Marko Magajne (Galerija okusov, Plate Michelin) at the Dobra vaga gallery, and Jorg Zupan (Atelje, Michelin Star, in Breg), a chef with boundless imagination and the youngest two-time Michelin star recipient, at the Town Hall. Nature on a plate was served by Nina Čarman (Danilo – restaurant& wine, Plate Michelin) at the Natural History Museum of Slovenia. Jure Tomič (Ošterija Debeluh, Plate Michelin), greeted us into the world of illusions with his main course, taking the visitors of the House of Illusions to an unforgettable illusionist experience. Miha Dolinar (Mama Marija/Skipass) offered the riches of the cuisine from the kingdom of the Goldhorn on a plate to admire and taste at the Bankarium, the Slovenian Banking Museum. The dish of the talented young chef Leon Pintarič (Gostilna Rajh, BIB Gourmand) saw the light of day at certainly the most picturesque venue, the beautiful ambience of Ljubljana's Križanke, Peklensko dvorišče. At the end, the culinary path also took us to the green hill in the middle of the city, to Ljubljana Castle, where Jernej Bende (MaK Restaurant, Plate Michelin) was waiting for us behind the ancient castle walls with a special dessert.
On Sunday evening, in cooperation with Tourism Ljubljana, a real culinary adventure took place in selected restaurants – the Ljubljana Soul Chefs, where Ljubljana chefs united their culinary souls and created unique and unforgettable dishes. Joined in culinary tandems top chefs created menus from local ingredients; Jakob Pintar (TaBar, BIB Gourmand), and Mojmir Šiftar (PEN KLUB) at the Ljubljana restaurant PEN KLUB. Young chefs, Gregor Jelnikar (Monstera, Plate Michelin), under the mentorship of Bine Volčič, and Sebastjan Elbl (Gostilna na Gradu, BIB Gourmand), under the baton of Luka Jezeršek created together at Gostilna na Gradu, while the extremely popular Igor Jagodic (Strelec, Plate Michelin) and the pioneer of modern Slovenian cuisine, Janez Bratovž (Restaurant JB, Plate Michelin), reigned at the JB Restaurant.
What will be on our tables in the future was discussed by guest speakers at the Monday’s professional symposium. The European Food Summit served up an interesting selection of topics, whose main idea was to challenge the audience and decision-makers to address serious issues the industry and our society as a whole will be facing in the next years and decades. The curator, Andrea Petrini, with the help of the renowned Slovenian master chef Ana Roš and the organizer Martin Jezeršek, assembled a group of top-notch speakers from various fields of expertise, ranging from art critics to microbiologists.
The European Food Summit concluded with a unique Experience dinner at the Cukrarna Gallery, where Slovenian Michelin star recipients joined forces for the first time, namely Ana Roš (Hiša Franko, two Michelin stars), Gregor Vračko (Hiša Denk, Michelin star), Tomaž Kavčič (Pri Lojzetu, Michelin star), Uroš Štefelin (Vila Podvin, Michelin star), Uroš Fakuč (Dam, Michelin star), Jorg Zupan (Atelje, Michelin star) and Luka Košir (Grič, Michelin star).
The European Food Summit, the central gastronomic event in Slovenia and one of the most important European culinary events, which represents a unique platform and co-creates sustainable future of European gastronomy, shall return in November 2022.
It’s time we bring more to the table!
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