A magical evening in ancient Jelsa celebrating divine wine and cuisine
One of the charms of Dalmatia is that there is a hidden story behind every door, and a surprise where you least expect it, and nowhere is this more true than in the back streets of the old town of Jelsa, a charming harbor town on Hvar’s northern shore.
While most tourists relax on its pretty and compact main square or wander around its picture perfect harbor, the more intrepid visitor will find plenty to delight in the ramshackle alleys of its old town, with no greater treasures than some of the top winemakers of Hvar. For here is where legendary Hvar winemaker calls home, his private cellar turned into a tasting room, but if you venture just a little further, one of the undiscovered gourmet gems in all Dalmatia awaits.
Meet Teo Huljic, a local man through and through, with a strict adherence to local traditions and quality. An experienced chef from one of Zagreb’s finest restaurants (Marcelino), Huljić is also an outstanding winemaker, preserving the island’s traditions, and working with some almost extinct grape varieties. Try the Mekuja grape variety, you will not find it anywhere else, just one of the indigenous wines of Hvar on offer.
This is a food and wine pairing off the charts, and the location for your exquisite Hvar experience is almost as magical as the food itself. At the back of Huljić’s home is a courtyard with two distinctive features. Above two majestic lemon trees, whose annual yield is half a ton, and whose fruit you can pluck from the tree, and some stunning (and a little uneven) stone dining tables, paying tribute to the island’s stone traditions.
A perfect setting then for an authentic, indigenous experience, and the food and wine pairing will not disappoint. All food is prepared by Huljić himself, washed down with his own wine produce, a molecular dining experience bringing out the very best taste in the most local ingredients. A fish plate to start for example, comprising tuna in fig sauce, sea cucumber salad with capers, grilled shrimps, tuna sashima in wild orange sauce pasta with sea snails, shellfish in salsa sauce with oregano and Pag cheese.
Never tried sea urchin caviar, a Huljić specialty? A highlight for many guests is the so-called Three Island burger, combining the very best of three of Croatia’s top gourmet islands – Hvar boar, Brac lamb and Pag cheese. Unique and delicious.
A seven-course special in all, each course paired with a Huljić wine, a dining experience after which you will truly understand what is to unique about real Dalmatian cooking, and you will leave Jelsa having really experienced the taste and textures of the fruits of its fields and seas. An outstanding and highly original gourmet experience not to be missed.
Tour description:
This is a food & wine paired lunch or dinner experience.
Jelsa is located in the geographic center of the island, about 25 km – 20 – 30min max by car from Hvar Town. The restaurant is located on the old town of Jelsa.
After the food & wine paired dinner we will return You to Your hotel, villa, private accommodation, boat or in advance agreed place.
Meeting point:
We will pick you up at your hotel, villa, private accommodation, where your boat is moored or meet you at one of our four tour booths in Hvar Town. We will agree on this when the tour is booked.
Departure time:
For luncheon, 12Noon – 2PM and for the evening experience 6 – 8PM. This exclusive program can also be arranged at a time that is convenient for you, so please ask us what your unique requirements are and we will be happy to get back to you with the particulars and our price.
End location:
We will end this tour where you wish – at the marina, your hotel, villa or private accommodation. Just let us know!
Duration:
Allow 4 – 5 hours to fully enjoy this program
Tour Price:
135 EUR/person for 1 – 2 people
110 EUR/person for 3 – 12 people
What’s included:
Pick up, the program as described, transfer to our Jelsa restaurant, one of the 4 course menus paired with glass of wine for each course. Water also included.
Fish Sample Menu:
Mussels baked with home made salsa and cheese from the island of Brac. – paired with Mekuja (authentic and almost extinct grape variety from Hvar Island)
Seafood mousse in white wine and olive oil – Kap sunca (blend of bogdanuša & parč)
Adriatic wild fish in saffron sauce – Parč (traditional and authentic Hvar grape variety)
Local dessert – prošek sweet desert wine
Meat Sample Menu
Meat Carpaccio – Merlot Huljic
Veal steak in a sauce of prosciutto and sage from Hvar on a bed of bread and leek – blend of Cabernet & Merlot Huljić
Burger island of Hvar and Brac (chopped boar from island Hvar and minced lamb from Brač island) on rocket salad with goat cheese au gratin – paired with Mali Plavac southern slopes Medvid bad
Local dessert – prošek sweet desert wine
What’s extra:
Gratuities to guides and items and other articles out of the specified menu purchased for personal use..
Tour type:
Gastronomy, history and culture, for individuals, couples and families.
Transportation:
Comfortable air-conditioned 8 seat van or 4WD.
Activity level:
Light
Disabilities friendly:
Yes
Kid friendly:
Yes
Min:
2 people
Contact HVAR TOURS
Plusculus putnicka agencija d.o.o.
Trg sv. Stjepana 7
21450 Hvar Town
Office: + 385 (0)21 741 824
GSM: + 385 (0)91 5821 824
GSM: + 385 (0)91 1741 028
Email: [email protected]
Skype user name: mthvar
