This pleasant corner for an abundant breakfast or quick lunch is becoming more gastronomically ambitious
For many boat owners, the Punat marina on Krk Island, the closest and northern-most Adriatic Island, is an ideal port where they can berth their vessel year-round, but also an excellent starting point for a summertime exploration of the Adriatic or for weekend relaxation. Considering it is only several hours away from many middle European towns, and located in one of the naturally most protected coves on the Adriatic, sheltered from all winds – it is very popular.
Besides, Krk Island represents the beginning of a line of Adriatic islands, which mariners from around the world praise and consider one of the most beautiful nautical areas. The marina was declared marina of the year several times in Croatia, and its quality has been recognised by international associations as well. The German ADAC recommends it to members with the highest rating: five helms, and the British association TYHA rated it with a maximum of five anchors. On the Croatian side of the Adriatic only two marinas bear this prestigious mark, while there are only around fifteen in all of the Mediterranean.
The restaurant in the Punta Marina has an authentic nautical ambience and many seasoned sailors already know it as a place to meet before sailing and as a corner to have the first morning coffee with croissants. But this pleasant corner for an abundant breakfast or quick lunch is becoming more gastronomically ambitious. It is ideal for evening socialising with the lights of anchored ships and yachts. With 80 seating places, the restaurant is open year-round, known for excellent seafood and meat dishes, young Krk lamb and handmade pasta, although the domestic Krk prosciutto and cheese, Adriatic calamari, anglerfish in white wine, crabs and shells go well with local and other wines…
On June 23 the Marina hosted, with Women on Wine and Miva Wine Gallery as co-organisers, a promotional dinner of the new menu with chosen wines of the renowned wine label Villa Sandi. Offered were sparkling and still wines with excellent appetizers such as codfish crème, marinated gilt with green apple and domestic olive oil. The specialty here is the Krk sausage by the famous prosciutto-making family Žužić from Vrh, as well as crumbled sheep cheese 48 months old with an onion marmalade.
Next came a dense seaside fish soup with Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Dry Villa Sandi, and for warm appetizers came domestic Krk šurlice pasta with lamb pašticada along with Incrocio Manzoni Bianco Villa Sandi. Although the main fish dish – terina from anglerfish and vegetables, grilled octopus on rucola with potatoes – calamari with Tardo, Sauvignon Blanc Villa Sandi, created excitement, women mostly enjoyed the dessert. It was a warm Krk ravioli, presnac (traditional Krk cake from sheep cheese), homemade ice-cream from dry fig and curd with Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Dry “cuvée Oris” Villa Sandi.
From this season, the marina restaurant also promotes Krk cuisine evenings along with the tambouritza group Mistral and female a capella group Hreljin. On Sundays you can enjoy excellent domestic specialities, the way our ancestors used to eat, an excellent introduction to the season, and as Krk is abundant with olive groves, at the end of October and in November there are numerous olive festivities with olive picking and tasting of young olive oil. Just the Punat Marina area alone has over 500 olive trees which give excellent cold-pressed oil of highest quality. Boats, fine food, wine and olives. Is there a better combination?
