May 21, 2018 – A nice boost for Korcula’s gourmet promotion, as British food critic Bill Knott discovers Grk and an island restaurant which “is easily at Michelin-star level.”
“This is an island for grown-ups.”
It is always interesting to hear the first impressions of new arrivals to a destination. I myself was still revelling in a magical night at Korcula’s legendary boutique hotel, Lesic Dimitri, a night made all the more special by the fact that it coincided with the 20th anniversary of the King of Grk, Lumbarda’s delightful white wine which is in increasing demand as its secret gets out. You can read what happens when the Bire winery meets Lesic Dimitri during the excellent Korculanske Pjatance festival here.
Strolling along the old town’s outer walls the next day, Lesic owner Michael called me over for a glass of wine with his luncheon partner, British food critic Bill Knott, whose Twitter handle describes himself as “The FT’s Gannet, wine writer in The Oldie, recipe columnist for Restaurant Magazine, ambassador for Action Against Hunger. Never skips lunch.” In the company of two gourmet experts, I decided to take a back seat in the conversation and enjoyed their exchange over the next couple of hours.
An island for grown-ups. I thought that summed up Korcula rather well, as the island positions itself as a more discerning destination, where its high-quality local food, excellent indigenous wines, and endless history, tradition and culture are the pillars on which Korcula is building its tourism promotion story. It really is an island for grown-ups.
As for the impressions of the food and wine of the island, I was very curious to see what this distinguished food critic would write, given that his work means a tough life dining in Michelin-star restaurants and the like on a regular basis.
The result? A rather glowing tribute to all things Grk in his article for The Oldie, Drink, a corker from Korčula by Bill Knott. The article was centred on the wines of the island, particularly Grk, but I was also pleased to see a positive impression of the food:
In Korčula Town, the best wine list is at Lešić Dimitri Palace, where the amiable sommelier, Dražen Matković, will happily pour you the best of the island’s vintages and suggest vineyards to visit, while chef Marko Gajski’s cooking makes the most of local produce and is easily at Michelin-star level.
Learn more about Bire wines of Grk and beyond, as well as the culinary delights awaiting you at Lesic Dimitri.
