Andrej Barbieri, top chef from Zagreb and one of the judges in Croatian MasterChef, opened his long-awaited bistro yesterday.
Andrej says that, after years of joking about it, he and his cousin Frane Barbieri finally conducted market research half a year ago and decided to open a bistro because they felt that that’s what the city lacks. They chose Zagreb because it’s currently the best restaurant market in Croatia and one of the rare places in the country which is alive and filled with people both during summer and winter.
The restaurant is located in Kaptol centar, at a location formerly occupied by Takenoko restaurant. Andrej thinks that this is a smart move because the people are already used to going there and they don’t need to adjust to the new location.
Andrej’s main idea was to make the menu appealing to a broader audience, so customers can find Mediterranean meals inspired by Italian, French, Spanish, and even West African cuisine, but with Andrej’s signature twists. His sous chef, Nikola Knežić, also plays a crucial part in the bistro.
Andrej imagined his bistro as a place where guests can eat a full meal, but also have small snacks, cicchetti, and drink a glass of good wine or a unique cocktail made by Dominik Bečvardi, in a cozy, but aesthetically superb interior.
The meat is organic and locally produced, and pasta and bread are homemade.
The bistro is a great addition to Zagreb’s booming restaurant scene, and theme dinner parties and various other interesting plans are in the making, so stop by Tkalčićeva 90 and be sure to follow Barbieri’s FB page here.
Source: Dobra hrana, Journal.hr
