Become masters of preparing wild food
Learn how to identify, forage, and use healthy natural ingredients and prepare them the way they were once made.
Join a cooking workshop that combines traditional Istrian cuisine, storytelling, and an authentic nature experience around an open fire.
First, you will gain basic knowledge and then step into the world of fishermen, hunters, and foragers, creating delicious culinary dishes from local, seasonal ingredients. We draw inspiration from the wisdom of our ancestors, who wasted nothing and believed that every ingredient had its purpose – which is why their dishes were simple, healthy, and full of flavor.
During the four-hour workshop by the seaside, surrounded by the Istrian hills and the Piran salt pans, you will gain knowledge about identifying, preparing, and combining ingredients, while together preparing several traditional recipes in a natural way – with your own hands and by the warmth of an open fire.
THE EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:
- Guidance from an experienced forager, hunter, and chef, along with an introduction to traditional Istrian recipes.
- A hands-on cooking workshop over an open fire, from ingredient preparation to cooking under the bell.
- Practical exploration of natural, local, and seasonal ingredients and their use in cuisine.
- A multi-course gastronomic experience featuring dishes prepared from ingredients sourced from nature.
- An authentic culinary nature experience by the seaside, surrounded by the Istrian hills and the Piran salt pans.
- Tasting of dishes and local wine, along with relaxed socializing by the fading fire.
The experience is available for a limited time only:
every Saturday from the end of March until the end of May.
A unique culinary workshop:
Cooking over an open fire with traditional ember baking.
A boutique and green experience in nature:
Local and seasonal ingredients, zero waste, with deep respect for nature.
Choose your favorite Istrian ingredients:
When booking, you will create the menu together using local delicacies such as game meat, fish, or octopus.
Small groups for an authentic experience:
A boutique experience in a smaller group allows for personal connection, participation, and a relaxed atmosphere.
A unique location by the sea and salt pans:
A peaceful seaside location on the edge of the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park for a complete connection with nature.
From nature to fire – the beginning of an authentic experience
The experience begins right by the sea, at a peaceful and picturesque location at the end of the Jernej Canal in Seča near Portorož, right on the edge of the :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}. Surrounded by the blue sea, Istrian hills, and salt pans, you will arrive at a place where nature calms down and time slows. You can reach the meeting point by driving along the coast to the very end of the road, past an old olive tree, where a private courtyard with visitor parking opens up. For those who wish to begin the experience at a gentler pace, the location is also accessible on foot from Lucija – via a pleasant seaside path past the campsite, offering an immediate connection with the sea and nature while setting the relaxed rhythm of the experience.
In a relaxed introduction, you will discover the basic principles of traditional food preparation as practiced by our ancestors. Natural, local, and seasonal ingredients form the foundation of every dish, shaping the rhythm of cooking and highlighting the authentic character of the final flavors. Every ingredient has its own purpose and story – nothing is discarded during preparation, as everything is respectfully used, just as our ancestors once did. It is precisely this holistic relationship with food that gives the dishes depth, authenticity, and a rich natural flavor.
From the very moment you arrive, you will be embraced by aromas, flavors, and stories that announce a unique and authentic culinary experience.
Stories of a forager, hunter, and chef
The central part of the experience is shaped by your host and local guide, Jurij Kavčnik – a forager, hunter, and chef, who does not merely work with nature, but truly lives and understands it.
Jurij’s knowledge comes from his daily connection with nature, observing the seasons, and the experiences gathered through life by the sea in Slovenian Istria. As an amateur chef and local guide, he continuously deepens his understanding of natural, seasonal ingredients and traditional culinary practices, enthusiastically sharing it through stories and personal experiences that enrich the entire workshop.
Through his stories, you will gradually enter the world of fishermen, hunters, and foragers, discovering the small secrets that make all the difference in the flavor and character of each dish. His approach is based on seasonality, a responsible relationship with nature, and knowledge that has, through generations, developed deep roots in respect for the local environment.
It is precisely this authenticity and personal connection that creates a bond between stories, ingredients, and people, remaining with you long after the experience has ended.
When booking the cooking workshop, you will have the opportunity to choose your favorite Istrian ingredients in advance – by arrangement, part of the program may include game meat, fresh fish, octopus, or other local delicacies that you especially appreciate and wish to discover through hands-on preparation.
Authentic, wild flavors of Istria by the open fire
The central moments of the experience unfold around an open fire, where time slows down once again and attention turns to creating together. With your own hands, you will prepare ingredients using traditional cooking beneath glowing embers, while the fire gradually works its magic, giving the dishes depth and character. As the meal slowly cooks, the preparation and tasting of cold and warm appetizers create a relaxed gathering beneath the pine trees, filled with aromas, flavors, and conversation.
When the cooking is complete, a true Istrian feast follows – the main dish prepared beneath the embers, served in a pleasant seaside setting alongside a glass of local biodynamic wine. The evening ends peacefully with tea made from wild olive leaves and dessert by the fading fire, as conversations grow quieter and the experience slowly settles into memory.
The experience concludes gently and authentically – with a sense of connection, inspiration for your own culinary creations, and the feeling that you have been part of something truly special.
You are warmly invited to secure your place in advance and surrender to the wild flavors of Istria, just as they were once known.
