Bračka Marenda (Brač Brunch) is a cookbook inspired by the gastronomic heritage on the island of Brač. The book was released in 2015 by author Maja Duka and photographer Mario Kučera.
Brunch is known as a time for family and friends to get together, share bites, exchange stories, and most importantly laugh – and that is exactly what the cookbook “Bračka Marenda” emulates.
The idea for the book was born in 2015 by author Maja Duka – organizer of the Bol festival “Imena” – and Mario Kučera, one of the best culinary photographers who is known for his work in the highly popular Croatian magazine Gloria.
In an effort to share not just the beauty of the island but also the culinary secrets and specialities the island embraces, Maja Duka delivered the old recipes of Brač cooks through interesting and instructive stories alongside the stunning photos by Kučera – bringing all of the elements inside the book to life. Without greed, the cookbook highlights the simplicity of life on the island, where supermarkets are foreign lands and everything is grown and picked in their immediate environment.
Bračka Marenda is a gastro and cultural guide for the island of Brač, which tells the stories of brunches and cult dishes known throughout the whole of Dalmatia. Because brunch is an essential part of the day, the book truly captures the daily Dalmatian ritual which takes place before noon, with a platter food, a great glass of wine, a great group of people, and of course a whole lot of chatter.
The cookbook was a finalist for the prestigious Gourmand World Cookbook Awards which gives significant recognition to the gastronomic heritage on the island of Brač and Dalmatia. The book entered the finals in Category C – Countries – Local with 11 other nominees. The competition involved 209 countries in various categories.
Bračka Marenda has been released in both the Croatian and English language, with the English translation provided by Maja Šoljan. You can purchase the book here.
