Exams over!

Today I finally finished my exams. I went home and did not do, what people normally do after exams - have fun with friends, went to a club or at least have wine and put my feet up for a while. No, because I have to work on my master thesis. But what a pleasant suprise was waiting for me at home! Coconut and cherry Kraš pralines, a cute little bottle of wine and a water with motivational quote.

I am leaving Dubrovnik in two day so I am trying to enjoy sweets and wine which I cannot buy in my country. It is a pleasure though! :)

Fruits and vegetables market

When I want to buy fruits and vegetables, I go to visit one of my favourite place in whole Dubrovnik. Yes, I am talking about the market in Gruž! The point is, you can buy fresh and local fruit and vegetables. I am always uneasy, when see all that nice oranges and zuchinis in supermarkets come from Italy and Spain. I am for supporting local producers and the best way to do that, is to buy their products. When I returned from Christmas holiday, I was very curious whether there will be still some people selling their food in the market, but it was a pleasant suprise! You can still buy fresh fruits and vegetables, even during the wintertime.

And that is not all.

You can also buy eggs from happy hens, olive oil, legumes, goat or cow cheesse or arančini, what is orange peel covered in sugar, very popular in the south Dalmacia.

Moreover, there is a fish market right next to the market with fruits and vegetables. All in one! :)

In the winter, the most usual fruits you can see are mandarines or oranges. Their taste have nothing common with imported citrus fruits.

Dried figs, chickpea, olive oil, potatoes...

Oranges and a homemade orange jam.

Oranges everywhere... and olive oil.

OK, I guess, that bananas are imported though...

A little slideshow of my Dubrovnik food

Christmas anticipation

"Oh, Marilla, looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them."

Anne Shirley

Anne is right! What I like the most about Christmas? The time before... Waiting for it. Looking forward. That is the time when miracles happen.

This year I am spending this wonderful and for me the most favourite time of the year in Dubrovnik. Of course, I am going home for Christmas. But now, I am here. And I have to enjoy it. And to be prepared. Christmas is coming!

Btw, it was my boyfriend's birthday on the 4th of December! This is his birthday cake.

I was waiting for Mikuláš and put my shoes on the balcony. And he came! I am not sure if it was Mikuláš or Sveti Nikola, who brings presents and sweets in Croatia, but it does not really matter. Important thing is, he did not forget.

I decided to bake pre-Christmas muffins. They were full of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, liqueur and happiness.

Start with breakfast

It may seems to be automatic, but many people don't realise how important the first meal of the day is. It doesn't matter if I eat breakfast at 7:00 or 11:00 I always try to slow down and just enjoy. I do this no matter where I am. Of course I change my breakfast depending on the time of the year and country where I am. I use as much local food for my meals as I can. What did I find in Dubrovnik?

I use carob (in Croatian "rogać") in my oatmeal. It tastes just as good as cocoa. Carob grows in Mediterranean. This plant is also called St. John's bread. You can see it on the top of my meal on the picture. Also, to find local almonds isn't hard at all. I like them peeled in my oatmeal, too.

It would be the shame to be in sunny Dubrovnik and eat inside. I eat on our terrace as often as I can.

Dubrovnik is located near the Neretva Delta Valley. This wetland is very fruitful and that's why you can buy so many fruits and products from fruit here. Sweet plum jam on my morning toast is just delicious!

Food in menza

As students, we cat eat in the school restaurant - menza for very favourable prices. One meal costs 7 Kuna and it includes a soup, main meal, salad, water and bread. Moreover, you can take a soup with bread and salad ilimitable. I think menza is clear choice where to eat for most of the students. 

However, not for me. I am a vegetarian and have an experience that finding a vegetarian food in school restaurant is truly challenging. Well, I tried. I went to menza and ask about vegetarian options, but there were zero that day. But I did not give up and tried again. The lady said they have pasta and green beans with carrots. Nice, I thought to myself, I like green beans! And the soup was also vegetarian - tomato soup. How suprised I was, when I found a pieces of bacon in my beans! So it is decided. I cannot eat in menza.

Fortunately me and my boyfriend enjoy cooking very much, so we cook at home almost every single day. Our meal is always a little bit different and we can discover a new tastes by buying local food.

Food in menza - cost-effective option for students, but not a vegetarian's cup of tea.