“Pag on the menu” aims to brand the local and regional, and gastronomic offer of the island of Pag. This Friday, the first labels of the exceptional standard of Pag island’s traditional cuisine will be awarded, which will guarantee tourists and guests the originality and quality of the gastronomic offer.
Bartul Kašić High School Pag, in cooperation with the Tourist Boards of Pag, Novalja, Kolan, Povljana, Association of Craftsmen Pag, and Association of Craftsmen Novalja, on Friday, March 26, 2021, at 11 am, in the Rector’s Palace in Pag will ceremoniously award certificates of an exceptional standard “Pag on the menu” (traditional cuisine of the island of Pag). The first certificates will be awarded to seven caterers from the island of Pag who have met the public invitation requirements.
Such projects raise awareness of the importance of indigenous cuisine and help us remember our traditional recipes that need to be passed on to new generations. Local food, local recipes, tradition, and heritage, are the basis for the development of tourism, and the gastronomic offer based on original recipes is an absolute hit in every way.
It is excellent when schools enter into such projects, which indirectly changes the local population’s consciousness and promotes the importance of traditional cuisine in gastronomic tourism development. Through projects like this and similar, the local people, including young people, will gain more interest. Students learn about tradition and culture and ways to incorporate it into a new time and valorize it. The importance of such projects has been recognized by the Tourist Boards of the island of Pag.
Bringing back the somewhat neglected old island dishes from ancient times, made by its people’s skilled hands, Bartul Kašić High School students from Pag diligently collected recipes and advice from heritage keepers family members, and acquaintances. Afterward, the dishes were prepared in the school catering practicum and presented to the public once a year at a tasting event. Since 2014, most of the collected dishes can be found in the recipe book “Ca, ča, što se nekad kuhalo na mom otoku.”
The application for the Program “Occupation Promotion – Promotion and Strengthening of Competence of Vocational Occupations for Tourism” soon followed. Bartul Kašić High School in Pag receives HRK 48,746.25 in support from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
“The project aims to establish a unique standard for restaurants, family farms, small hotels, rooms, and similar facilities on the island of Pag, which offer local food and beverages. By creating and implementing an exceptional standard of autochthonous island gastronomy, we would improve and better position the tourist offer of the island of Pag through the expansion of the gastronomic offer and preserve it from oblivion. Spreading knowledge about local cuisine encourages its use in local restaurants and tourists. The authenticity of the destination experience and the recipe book serve as a reminder of the smells and tastes of the island of Pag,” emphasizes the director of Bartula Kašić High School Pag Marija Pećirko.
As HRTurizam has learned from the director of the Novalja Tourist Board, Marina Šćiran Rizner, the wish is to continue a step further in this direction and, in addition to certification, through such projects to develop the island brand, and funds will be found in the new European budget.
“Tourist communities with partners in this project and with their knowledge and support tend to brand the local and regional gastronomic scene. After the first phase of awarding certificates, they are preparing to expand the project to weekend programs and special events. It is also important to set the concept for long-term sustainability and apply for the upcoming operational programs for EU funds,” stressed Šćiran Rizner.
A great example of educational institutions’ synergy, professions, and tourism is a win-win situation for all. Well done to Pag!
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