Holland, the original cool? Slovenia, Diversity to discover.

I’ve seen so many beautiful and really cool promotional destination clips. Why did Holland make such an uncool clip?

NBTC (Nederlands Bureau voor Toerisme & Congressen) receives government funding from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and cooperates intensively with relevant parties within and outside the hospitality sector.

That means that we, Dutch tax payers have funded this movie. It doesn’t look cheap, but I guess my biggest issue is that the guy talks too much… when I think of it, yes, that could be very Dutch (If you think away his unDutch accent).

Does anyone disagree? Who finds this clip cool?

Here’s what I find cool; Slovenia, Diversity to discover.

European Wine Wars: after Tocai, it is the time of Prosek… and Teran

Great article!

European Wine Wars: after Tocai, it is the time of Prosek… and Teran.

I prefer Prosek above Prosecco and Slovenian Teran above Croatian. BUT Any of the above are better price- & quality- wise compared to anything for sale in The Netherlands.

Terrano wine is primarily grown in Kras plateau within the Slovenian Primorska wine region (where it is called Kraški teran) and Italian Carso DOC (with two main varieties called Terrano del Carso and Carso Rosso (red Carso)), as well as in the West Istrian wine region of Croatia (called Istarski Teran or Terrano D’Istria in Italian). Teran is the principal red wine grape in these regions. 

This wine is a great appetizer and has always been appreciated for its medicinal properties. As with all other refosco family wines, some believe that Kraski Teran is the Roman puccinum (although some also believe that puccinum was a white wine similar to Prosecco). Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder wrote that puccinum was the favorite of Augustus‘s wife Livia who lived to the respectable age of 82. The medicinal properties of lactic acid and bivalent iron, that are highly contained in Kraski Teran, have been confirmed by a modern medicine. The wine stimulates the appetite and facilitates digestion of fatty foods

Grozde

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrano_(grape)

Sage – Queen of Medicinal Herb

Sage, Salvia, I love it. I’m forcing some of my friends (Sorry I.!)  to at least apreciate the healing powers of it, but I understand they don’t like the taste, it took me years to start loving it.

Just stumbled across this great blog, stressing the qualities of this amazing plant. Thank you Jelena & Nada.

Sage – Queen of Medicinal Herb.

 

Prekmurska Gibanica

Prekmurska Gibanica (layered cake from Prekmurje) is a moist dessert consisting of layers of poppy seed, cottage cheese, walnut and apple filling. It is protected under the Traditional Speciality Guaranteed Designation and can only be sold under its name when prepared according to the traditional recipe (Typical of Pannonian Slovenia, the region of Prekmurje.). The name Gibanica comes from dialectical expression güba and in this case refers to a fold.

For centuries Prekmurska gibanica was served as a festive and ritual dish in Prekmurje. The exact origin of the recipe is not clear. Early sources suggest that it evolved over centuries. The oldest extant document (1828) by József Kossics described the wedding (prek: “Gostüvanje) never goes by without gibanica, which is done as follows: “The dough is rolled until thin, sprinkled with grated cabbage, turnips or ricotta. All is covered by second layer of dough. It is sprinkled as previously. 10 or 11 such layers are thus composed and form a conspicuous cake.

One of these desserts is extremely filling and heavy. But sooooo amazingly tasty! Below you see a pic of our lunch after our visit to Trojane, Slovenia.

Prekmurska Gibanica

 

More info about what exactly is the Traditional Speciality Guaranteed Designation HERE.

Traditional Specialities Guaranteed

Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (aka TSG) is a European Union (EU) food designation. This Regulation establishes the criteria and procedures by which agricultural products intended for human consumption and foodstuffs can be recognised as traditional specialities guaranteed (TSGs).

This act or designation does not restrict a food item to a geographical area, as the other designations do. The emphasis is on the product being made with “traditional” ingredients, or techniques, rather than being on the place where it is made.

An agricultural product intended for human consumption or foodstuff with a traditional composition, or produced according to a traditional production method may become a traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG). This possibility encourages the diversification of agricultural production and has positive consequences in several areas. The introduction of a TSG boosts farmers’ revenues and maintains the population in less favoured or remote areas by promoting the rural economy. It also increases the market value of the products of economic operators, by guaranteeing that they are distinguishable from other similar products or foodstuffs. In addition, thanks to the introduction of this designation, consumers will able be to make more informed choices on the basis of clear information on the specific characteristics of the products they buy.

Register of products

TSGs recognised at European level are entered into a register, which is kept by the Commission. They are divided into two lists according to whether or not the use of the name is reserved to those producers who comply with the product specification. A product may only be registered if:

• it is produced using traditional raw materials;
• it is characterised by a traditional composition or by a method of production/processing that corresponds to a traditional production/processing method.

In order to be registered, the name must:

• be specific in itself;
• indicate the specific character of the agricultural product or foodstuff.

Product specification

In order to be recognised as a TSG, an agricultural product or foodstuff must comply with the product specification, and must include the following elements:

• the name, given in one or more languages, and an indication whether the application for registration is being made with or without reservation of the name;
• the description of the product, with an indication of its main physical, chemical, microbiological and organoleptic properties;
• the description of the production method to be applied by the producers, including where relevant the nature and characteristics of the raw materials or ingredients used and the manufacturing method;
• the key elements that define the product’s specific character;
• the key elements that demonstrate the product’s traditional character;
• the minimum requirements and procedures for checking its specific character.

Protection

The Member States must take the necessary measures to ensure legal protection against any misuse or misleading use of the term “traditional speciality guaranteed”, the abbreviation TSG and the associated Community symbol and against any imitation of names registered and reserved. Registered names must be protected against any practice liable to mislead the consumer, including practices suggesting that a product is a traditional speciality guaranteed recognised by the Community.

• Perhaps you know about the quarrel Slovenia and Austria have about one of my favourite foods; the Kransjka klobasa from Slovenia (‘Carniolan sausage’) or the Krainer wurst as the Austrians call it (See THIS article in the UK Telegraph) 
• Or perhaps you are from a region which has local specialties which fall under the Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (aka TSG) European Union (EU) food designation? 
• What is your favourite Traditional Speciality Guaranteed food (Check Wikipedia HERE for a list)?

Kranjska klobasa

More info and the full legislation: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/agriculture/food/l66043_en.htm

Toilet in the mountainhut

When I was in Slovenia, we visited the mountains and spent some nights up. Everything up there was an incredible experience, even a visit to the toilet…

Toilet in mountainhut

Toilet in mountainhut

The lake you see down there, is drinkingwater which tasts amazing.

Souvenir from Slovenia

Mlekomat (milkomat)

The Dutch consider themselves a milk-nation (They even drink milk for lunch with their raw herring iiiiiieeeeew).

Then why don’t we have any milkomats here? I love this concept which is spread all over Slovenia.

F.Y.I. : I very much dislike the Dutch milk, I did not consume any untill I was introduced to Slovenian milk about 10 years ago, I love the Slovenian Alp milk. The stuff the Dutch call milk, is for me a flavourless watery substance..

Mlekomat in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Mlekomat in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Mlekomat in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Mlekomat in Ljubljana, Slovenia

 

Krofi or krofe from Trojane (‘Trojane doughnuts’)

Slovenian krofe are filled doughnuts. They are round (without the American hole in the middle) and usually filled with jelly, marmalade, jam, chocolate, custard, or cream. The name comes from German Krapfen, and it is a variation of the Central European pastry, known as Berliner. The recipe for home-made krafne includes yeast, milk, sugar, flour, salt, butter, eggs, rum, lemon peel, marmalade and powdered sugar.

In Croatia they’re known as krafne or krofne. To you they might be comparable to doughnuts. I had tried the Trojaner version before, but this was the first time I went to the shop myself, since we were driving through Slovenia and we were in the neighbourhood. 

In different historical periods, Trojane was always an important spot for ancient travellers on the road from the middle to the eastern part of Slovenia (looking at the borders as they are today). Ancient Romans who travelled from Emona (today’s Ljubljana) to Celeia (today’s Celje) and onwards to Petovia (today’s Ptuj), established their army and post office in Trojane. They named it Atrans. The oldest known written record mentioning the present name of the place goes back to 1229.

At the beginning, in 1961, Trojane barely produced about ten doughnuts a day, but since then the demand has grown in such manner that they now produce and sell between 2000 and 5000 doughnuts every day, and even more during the carnival period and on special occasions.The trojane doughnut acquired several awards. The most important ones are its place among slovenian active souvenirs, and the slovenian quality mark (sq).

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In the neighbourhood?

Donut shop:
Monday – Thursday 5.30 – 23.00
Friday 5.30 – 24.00
Saturday – Sunday 5.30 – 23.00

More info? http://www.gp-trojane.si/indexen.html

Back in Amsterdam- recap summer vacation 2012

You have noticed… I am back in Amsterdam.

After so much beautiful nature I find it hard to be back in the city.

Here’s a recap of my summer vacation 2012 in Croatia and Slovenia, detailed blogposts will follow!

Let me show you what I will miss most;

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