EatIstria Cooking Classes & Wine Tours
EatIstria Cooking Classes & Wine Tours
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We invite curious visitors of Istria, the green Mediterranean, to join our Cooking Classes and Wine Tours and learn how we eat, drink and live on the largest Adriatic peninsula. Fresh, local and simple for more taste and less fuss. Let all your senses enjoy the magic of Istrian cuisine. All our programs are tailored for individuals and small groups (1-6 guests). What is included: transfer from anywhere in Pula area, all the ingredients that we source on local green and fish market, the lesson followed by a meal that you cooked, a bottle of wine for two persons, water and some authentic sightseeing… Experience Istrian wines on the spot, talking to them, not listening to boring talks about them. If you are a wine enthusiast eager to meet in person Istrian winemakers and taste their Istrian Malvasia, Teran and Istrian Borgonja, grape varieties indigenous to Istria, take one of our wine tours - Central, Western or South Istrian
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EatIstria Cooking Classes & Wine Tours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Paul N
The Hague, The Netherlands54 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
We love to sample local foods and try to take a local cooking course or experience wherever we go on holiday. This is the only one we could find in Istria.
We agreed to do a custom course in local food and bbq fish as that was our interest. We met Nicolai at the Pula market early in the morning to buy the fresh ingredients before driving to their outdoor kitchen in a modest cottage in the middle of an olive grove.
The 4 course meal prepared was delicious and Nikolai a patient teacher with a store of good tips and local food advice as well as being a gracious host.
Our teenage kids both participated in preparation and we all learned some new cooking styles.
We’d recommend this as a nice family or group activity if you have any interest in Istrian food, wine and culture.
Not as sophisticated as other courses we have taken (usually you receive copies of the recipes you cook to try and replicate at home though we were invited to email any questions etc) but no less charming.
We agreed to do a custom course in local food and bbq fish as that was our interest. We met Nicolai at the Pula market early in the morning to buy the fresh ingredients before driving to their outdoor kitchen in a modest cottage in the middle of an olive grove.
The 4 course meal prepared was delicious and Nikolai a patient teacher with a store of good tips and local food advice as well as being a gracious host.
Our teenage kids both participated in preparation and we all learned some new cooking styles.
We’d recommend this as a nice family or group activity if you have any interest in Istrian food, wine and culture.
Not as sophisticated as other courses we have taken (usually you receive copies of the recipes you cook to try and replicate at home though we were invited to email any questions etc) but no less charming.
Written August 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Garzafc
Houston, TX7 contributions
Nov 2020
I often try to do cooking classes when I travel to learn more about the culture and the people. None have impressed more than the Eat Istria class. I was a little hesitant at first at the cost being a bit more than I was looking for initially- but it was well worth it. Our guide, Goran, met us at Pula's market and treated us to a morning of shopping for fresh seafood and produce including green radicchio, an unusual & tasty leafy green that is unique to the area. From there we headed to the indoor/outdoor kitchen set up in the middle of an olive tree grove. From there it seemed that for the next 6 hours my group did nothing but eat, drink, and laugh. Goran was an excellent teacher showing us how to make Risotto and a Steamed Shell Fish Dish that I look forward to recreating at home. Our glasses of wine never seemed to be empty for long and the stories shared throughout the morning, afternoon, and early evening are the things I will remember most from my 2 week trip to Istria. We met at 9 AM and didn't leave till 5:30 PM... a bit longer than typical, but we weren't done laughing. The experience is definitely one you don't want to miss.
Written November 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JP S
Woodbridge, CT45 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
When we go on vacation we always like to experience the local cuisine via a cooking class. The class we did with Eat Istria was as about as authentic as it gets.
We met our “chef”, I use that term loosely since he told us at the start that he was not a trained chef but a lifelong cook raised at his grandmother’s side learning to cook authentic Istrian food from her. Let me just say, we couldn’t have asked for a better teacher.
The setting was a little surprising but wholly authentic and thoroughly charming - it could best be described as a small open air garage with a patio covered by grape vines at the edge of a family farm. The kitchen was well equipped with well used and well loved equipment. And, to enhance the mood, one section of the garage had two record turntables and over 100 record albums (vinyls) tolisten to while you cooked.
The menu consisted of Black Ink Risotto with Cuddlefish, Steamed Langostinos and Mussels, and a dessert of fresh figs (we picked the right off the tree) with a red wine reduction over farmers cheese.
First we learned how to make a fresh fish stock. Then we clean, debone and cut the cuddle fish without bursting the black ink sacks we would use later to add color to the risotto. Then we made the risotto and steamed the langostins and mussels.
After devouring the meal we set about making dessert by pan searing the figs, adding wine and the magical ingredient of vanilla sugar.
We drank about four bottles of wine throughout the evening, enjoyed a beautiful sunset and crest moonlight night.
A wonderful experience. And the food was incredible!!! I highly recommend Eat Istria!
We met our “chef”, I use that term loosely since he told us at the start that he was not a trained chef but a lifelong cook raised at his grandmother’s side learning to cook authentic Istrian food from her. Let me just say, we couldn’t have asked for a better teacher.
The setting was a little surprising but wholly authentic and thoroughly charming - it could best be described as a small open air garage with a patio covered by grape vines at the edge of a family farm. The kitchen was well equipped with well used and well loved equipment. And, to enhance the mood, one section of the garage had two record turntables and over 100 record albums (vinyls) tolisten to while you cooked.
The menu consisted of Black Ink Risotto with Cuddlefish, Steamed Langostinos and Mussels, and a dessert of fresh figs (we picked the right off the tree) with a red wine reduction over farmers cheese.
First we learned how to make a fresh fish stock. Then we clean, debone and cut the cuddle fish without bursting the black ink sacks we would use later to add color to the risotto. Then we made the risotto and steamed the langostins and mussels.
After devouring the meal we set about making dessert by pan searing the figs, adding wine and the magical ingredient of vanilla sugar.
We drank about four bottles of wine throughout the evening, enjoyed a beautiful sunset and crest moonlight night.
A wonderful experience. And the food was incredible!!! I highly recommend Eat Istria!
Written August 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
roxanneoudealink
Kingussie, UK4 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
We booked the hidden treasures wine tour and went to 2 wineries in the region of Rovinj. We had the best day with Goran as he himself is most excited about the stories he tells. Goran is such a nice and happy man and knows very very much about wines, food, Istria, Croatia, but he is also seriously interested in your own stories. We learned a lot during the day without being overwhelmed with too much information. Also, for lunch he takes you to a local restaurant where you eat local food, it was so good. So if you really want a great experience, please think about Eat Istria.
Written September 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Latina Food Vibes
Long Beach, CA10 contributions
May 2023 • Solo
Without question the most memorable food experience from my entire Croatia Slovenia trip! Starting with an informative educational market trip with Goran, the stop at the amazing bakery on the way back to the cooking studio in the beautiful Istrian forest. Then it was time to pick your music from the vinyl record collection to play while you cook. We enjoyed the bread with their amazing olive oil and some prosciutto while we made pasta and sauce and a myriad of other amazing dishes. Goren and Nicolas were warm, informative and entertaining and made everyone feel included. This did not feel like a class it felt like a gathering of new friends enjoying food, stories and camaraderie. A true core food memory I will never forget and cannot recommend enough!
Written June 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon R
8 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
The Truffle and Wine tour around Motovun was a fantastic day-long adventure! Truffle hunting yielded both black and white truffles with the help of 3 dogs. We then ate a fabulous truffle brunch made with the truffles we brought back to the chef. 2 wineries filled the afternoon and introduced us to some terrific Istrian wines. Goran was our enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide/driver who was clearly well liked by the proprietors we visited. We can think of only positive things to say about the day! Highly recommended!
Written September 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
oliveandluna
Atlanta, GA54 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Just finished the wine and truffle tour today and already missing Goran! Today was wonderful and as a Croatian-American I was so proud to learn about this region in such a thoughtful way. Goran is a wonderful human and knowledgeable beyond words about Istrian food and wine. He is so passionate and it shows! We met great families, ate wonderful food, and drank absolutely fantastic wines we would not have been able to find outside of this tour. This is an amazing tour for people who want to engage in slow thoughtful travel. Thank you Goran and can’t wait for our next trip to Istria so we can do this again!
Written July 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ash2501
Hong Kong, China127 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
EatIstria is a fantastic group of people, passionate about Istrian food and wine culture. We are a family of 4 and did the Motovun wine tour with truffle lunch with Goran our personal guide. The entire experience right from booking the tour to managing a few schedule changes was smooth and without any complaints. Goran who came to pick us up was a kind and knowledgable guide who took us through the history and business of wine making in Istria. One of our family members wasnt feeling too well and he was extremely attentive to make sure each of us were well taken care of. We visited 3 wineries Cosetto, Fakin and Benvenuti and truffle lunch at Konoba Dolina. Each of these wineries is family run and provide great experience of the Malvasian and Teran wines. Some of them make some unique blends as well which taste great. Cosetto makes some great olive oil too and should be on your must visit list. We couldnt have had a better experience of local culture, cuisine and hospitality. Special shout out to Goran our amazing amazing guide for a truly memorable experience. You trip to this partnof Croatia would be incomplete without a visit with EatIstria. Thank you guys and wish you the best for the future.
Written July 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate1228
Sea Girt, NJ12 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
We thoroughly enjoyed our full day Istrian wine tour with Goran! From the initial booking, I loved that Nikola was thoughtful in catering a tour around our interests. Our guide, Goran, was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the region, it’s food and wine, and the culture. His enthusiasm was contagious and his relationships with the various wineries made us feel special at each visit. As avid wine lovers that have traveled all of the world to taste wine, we were pleasantly surprised at the quality and deliciousness of the local Istrian wines we sampled. We focused on wineries around Motovun. My biggest regret was not having a bigger suitcase to bring more home to the US as these wines are not readily available outside Croatia! The local meat and cheese accompaniments were equally as delightful. I would definitely do another tour with Eat Istria on our next visit as there many more wineries that we did not have an opportunity to explore!
Written September 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Giles
Salisbury, UK18 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Brilliant day with whole family (50+ parents and 21 and 19 year olds).
Goran was an exceptional host. Day started with tour of the market buying the freshest ingredients for our day of cooking.
Travelled to private kitchen in olive grove (via a hidden gem of a baker).
Spent the day cooking, eating lovely food and drinking a good selection of the best local wines.
All in all would recommend this to any aged group for a relaxed and enjoyable day with great food and drink.
Goran was an exceptional host. Day started with tour of the market buying the freshest ingredients for our day of cooking.
Travelled to private kitchen in olive grove (via a hidden gem of a baker).
Spent the day cooking, eating lovely food and drinking a good selection of the best local wines.
All in all would recommend this to any aged group for a relaxed and enjoyable day with great food and drink.
Written August 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fletchsc
Delray Beach, FL24 contributions
When you go truffle hunting do you get to keep truffles if you find them?
Karen F
11 contributions
What courses are you running week commencing 17 Sept and how much are they please
Thanks
Karen Farnhill
Tourtheworld32
Las Vegas, NV172 contributions
hi Karen - if you contact Goran he can answer all of these questions for you. He is the best at organizing these classes for you. It was totally worth every penny.
Carol M
North Vancouver, Canada
I have emailed and sent whatsapp messages to you but haven't got a reply. Not sure of the problem. There are 4 of us that would like to take your fish cooking class on October 4,6,7 or 8th. Please advise. Thanks, Carol
Carol M
North Vancouver, Canada
t
Thank you
I have been in contact.
Carol
Юрий С
Kyiv, Ukraine
Good afternoon. My name is Yuri. I plan to be with my family in Pula from 19.08 to 25.08. All this time we will be in Apartments Duda (Pjescana Uvala III Ogranak 37 Pula, 52100). There will be a trichelove. We would like to get to one of your cooking classes. Let me know if this is possible? How much will it cost us? And on what day is it possible to do this?
Thank you.
Josee L
1 contribution
Hi Phoenix991, how did you book this tour?
Goran Z
Pula, Croatia15 contributions
Dear Josee,
Thank you for your interest in EatIstria cooking classes and wine tours. You can contact me via my EatIstria website eatistria com/contact/
Or, if you prefer, via Whatsapp:
+39 320 344 6206
Kind regards,
Goran Zgrablić
Hi! we will arrive 11:00 14th September.
Please provide details on how to book and prices.Thank you very much.
we are 2adults.
Hi! we will arrive 11:00 14th September.
Please provide details on how to book and prices.Thank you very much.
we are 4adults and 1child.
m
katrinal1961
London, UK28 contributions
Hi do you have availability for Saturday 25th June- two of us.
Your tour sounds amazing.
Many thanks
Katrina
Goran Z
Pula, Croatia15 contributions
Hi Katrina,
Yes, Saturday 25th June is still available. To settle all details please contact me via my webpage EatIstria.
Regards,
Goran
EatIstria Cooking Classes & Wine Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
EatIstria Cooking Classes & Wine Tours Information
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