Last night, the exclusive "4 Hands Dinner" took place at Cracco Restaurant in Milan, organised by the Croatian National Tourist Board, the Zagreb County Tourist Board, and MICHELIN, the world-renowned restaurant guide. The event aimed to promote Croatian gastronomy on the global culinary map by highlighting the richness and diversity of Croatian cuisine. Chefs Bernard Korak of Restaurant Korak and Carlo Cracco of Restaurant Cracco combined their skills and culinary expertise to bring the premium quality and authenticity of Croatian cuisine to an international audience.
"Presenting Croatian gastronomy, with a special focus on the eno-gastronomic offerings of Zagreb County, in the heart of Milan, is extremely important for promoting and increasing the visibility of our country in the competitive Italian market. This is a unique opportunity to showcase the wealth and diversity of Zagreb County—a region proud of its authentic cuisine, top-quality wines, and local products—and Croatia as a whole, which is increasingly recognised as a premier gastronomic destination in Italy,"said Viviana VukelićDirector of the Croatian National Tourist Board office in Milan.
The event was attended by Italian influencers specialising in gastronomy and lifestyle, who, alongside other guests, enjoyed dishes combining contemporary Croatian and Italian cuisine, paired with carefully selected wines that highlighted the harmony between tradition and innovation.
"This was a wonderful dinner and, personally, a very enriching experience. I am especially delighted that we had the opportunity to work with ingredients characteristic of our county and present our dishes to such an important audience," said Bernard Korak. At the same time, Carlo Cracco highlighted his pleasure in collaborating with Bernard, the first Croatian chef to prepare dishes in the Cracco kitchen.
"I have visited Croatia before as a tourist and was captivated by its beauty, especially the Kornati Islands. But discovering a country through a colleague you work with gives a whole new dimension. Bernard introduced me to Croatia and Zagreb County, not just as a destination, but as a gastronomic region rich in tradition. Croatia and Italy share similarities, proximity, and some common ingredients, yet we use them differently, giving our cuisines unique character. It is these differences, alongside cultural similarities, that inspire chefs, enrich us, and motivate collaboration. True quality lies in exchange, learning, and creating together," added Chef Cracco.
The menu featured dishes such as a soft saffron salad with caviar and wild onions, puffed nori algae with horseradish and mortadella, smoked trout with figs and goat yogurt, vineyard snails paired with KORAK Sauvignon & Riesling 2017, ravioli with garden sauce and black truffle with La Ciola 2022, black pork with KORAK Pinot Noir 2023, and desserts including pomegranate, chestnuts, green juniper, and Montebianco with fresh persimmon sauce paired with Moscato d'Asti 2024.
"The evening in Milan marked the pinnacle of our eno-gastronomic story and a moment when Zagreb County shone on the global stage. Our MICHELIN-recognised Bernard Korak presented the very best of Croatian cuisine—authenticity, simplicity, and excellence. Thanks to the attention of over 2.4 million followers of leading foodie creators, this evening became a showcase proudly conveying the spirit and taste of Croatia. In close collaboration with the Croatian National Tourist Board, we continue to strengthen the international visibility of our gastronomy, with MICHELIN as a key partner and a symbol of excellence that places us among the region's most recognisable destinations," concluded Ivana Alilović, Director of the Zagreb County Tourist Board.
The "4 Hands Dinner" concept is designed as a dialogue between two chefs sharing a passion for authentic local ingredients and refined culinary aesthetics. Guests experienced Croatia through six courses and carefully selected wines.
Croatia is proud to feature one 2-MICHELIN-star restaurant, 12 one-star MICHELIN restaurants, and 12 Bib Gourmand establishments, out of a total of 98 restaurants included in this year's prestigious MICHELIN Guide selection.
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