The most culinary month in Ljubljana has begun

This year's autumn in the capital is marked by a rich culinary scene. Between 2 and 30 November 2023, the seventh consecutive November Gourmet Ljubljana festival is taking place, offering a variety of culinary events, tastings, and experiences. Throughout the entire month, numerous interactive workshops, courses, and conversations with experts will also be available, delighting both food enthusiasts, beverage lovers, and those aspiring for a career in the hospitality industry.

Budimpešta © Blaž Žnidarič

The November Gourmet Ljubljana festival brings together restaurateurs, merchants, cafes, wine shops, breweries, distilleries, culinary studios, and educational institutions in Ljubljana. They collaborate to create a diverse program that contributes to the development and recognition of Ljubljana's gastronomic identity, spreads knowledge, and caters to the increasingly demanding tastes of both local and international food and beverage enthusiasts.

"November in Ljubljana will once again celebrate culinary arts and all those who contribute to it, including young and experienced chefs, bakers, mixologists, wine enthusiasts, and everyone else who enriches the culinary scene in Ljubljana with their creativity. At Ljubljana Tourism, we aim to connect all those who contribute to the vibrant culinary scene in Ljubljana and inspire the younger generation for careers in hospitality. They are the assurance that the future of Ljubljana's gastronomy will be even brighter, and Ljubljana will be increasingly recognised as a must-visit gastronomic destination," explains M. Sc. Petra Stušek, the managing director of Ljubljana Tourism.

Guided tours, tastings, and gatherings with good food and drinks

Throughout November, November Gourmet Ljubljana will offer various experiences, such as a taste of seasonal delights and breakfast from local ingredients at the Yummy Market Walk, guided tours of the Broken Bones distillery with tastings of spirits and cocktails, and the Ljubljana Beer Experiences. Restaurant Aftr invites guests to brunch daily, Bistro Mala Terasa offers mid-week urban dinners, the culinary studio Rashuska hosts Thursday gatherings with guest chefs and wines from Koželj Wines, while Švicarija presents Sunday lunches. The Drinx store in BTC Ljubljana will organize wine and fermented product tastings by Chef Luka Košir from the Michelin-starred restaurant Grič, and the Meat Business butcher shop will offer a selection of raw meat and fish dishes accompanied by natural wines. Numerous restaurants and retailers are also preparing special festival offerings.

Educational courses and workshops

KULT316 Culinary and Tourism Center and the culinary lab at the Center Rog will host cooking and pastry courses and workshops for children and adults, covering topics from understanding oils and baking cookies to cooking from popular cookbooks by authors Darja Končarevič and Mateja Delakorda. Various culinary workshops are also being prepared at the Rashuska culinary studio.

Visit from whiskey expert Jim Murray

A special highlight will be the visit of one of the foremost whiskey experts and critic, author of "The Whiskey Bible," Jim Murray, to the Broken Bones distillery. Their whiskeys have received excellent ratings in "The Whiskey Bible," impressing English critics to the point where he decided to visit. On November 7th, between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, he will be available for conversation and tastings of beverages. At 2:00 PM, an exclusive guided tasting and discussion for journalists will be held in the distillery (please RSVP for both meetings at [email protected]).

Saint Martin's Day celebrations and mixology

As part of November Gourmet Ljubljana, various Saint Martin's Day celebrations will take place, including one of the largest in Slovenia, the Ljubljana Wine Route (November 11). Wine enthusiasts can also participate in the 25th Slovenian Wine Festival at Cankarjev Dom (November 16 and 17). The autumn edition of the Brina Festival (November 25) will provide workshops by renowned mixology experts from the best Slovenian restaurants for those who enjoy mixing and tasting beverages.

Popularizing gastronomic professions

In collaboration with Gault&Millau Slovenia, the educational project "Znanje pod kapo" (Knowledge under the Chef's Hat) will be relaunched after a hiatus, aimed at popularizing the careers of chefs and waitstaff, especially among young people entering the hospitality industry. This project provides valuable practical knowledge to the younger generation.

November Gourmet Ljubljana festival program

For a detailed program of the November Gourmet Ljubljana festival, please visit the dedicated website or inquire at the Tourist Information Center on Adamič-Lundrovo nabrežje 2, or through the Gourmet Ljubljana social media channels.