Get Your Foodie On: November Gourmet Ljubljana Culinary Festival
30 Oct 2024
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From 2 to 30 November 2024, Ljubljana will host the eighth annual November Gourmet Ljubljana culinary festival. Throughout the month, the capital and its surroundings will be filled with diverse culinary experiences, tastings, cooking classes, and workshops. Numerous restaurants will offer special autumn menus, and fans of beer, wine, and coffee will also have plenty to enjoy. A special part of the program will be dedicated to promoting careers in the hospitality industry among young people.
Culinary Experiences
As part of the festival, visitors can embark on a culinary journey through Ljubljana's central market with the Yummy Market Walk, sampling treats from nearly every region of Slovenia. They can also enjoy beer tastings at the Ljubljana Beer Experience or dive into the fascinating history of the Rog Center—a former factory turned creative hub—while preparing a brunch with local ingredients.
Wine, Beer, Spirits, and Coffee
Wine lovers will have the chance to taste a variety of wines along the Ljubljana Wine Route, at the Slovenian Wine Festival, and at the Pubec Young Wine Festival. Coffee enthusiasts will gather at the Slovenia Coffee Expo, where they can watch barista competitions or participate in interactive workshops. At the Broken Bones Distillery, visitors can enjoy tastings of their internationally awarded spirits, while craft beer aficionados can savor different flavors with a brewer during a boat ride on the Ljubljanica River or by pairing various bites in Ljubljana's popular beer pubs, Lajbah and Maister.
Culinary Workshops and Classes
For those eager to refine their cooking skills, the festival offers numerous workshops and courses. The Michelin-starred team from Grič will organize classes on fish, meat, and offal; Gaudi&Naan will teach holiday vegan recipes; BIC Ljubljana will offer training in preparing quick bites, mini desserts, and holiday cookies; and Jezeršek Catering will guide participants in making sushi, steaks, cakes, single-portion desserts, as well as traditional Slovenian festive pastries like potica and pogača.
Eco-Market and Special Restaurant Offerings
An eco-market will be held on Breg, offering high-quality local products along with entertainment for children. Numerous restaurants and local eateries will feature special autumn or St. Martin's Day-inspired menus of food and drinks.
Behind the Scenes of Hospitality at Jezeršek Catering
Hospitality students will have a unique chance to see behind the scenes of the industry. At the Jezeršek Catering premises in Medvode, students will explore interactive stations covering the workings of professional kitchens, the logistics of large events, the mobile kitchen of the Bahrain Victorious cycling team, and even try their hand at setting up a small catering event.
About the November Gourmet Ljubljana Festival
The November Gourmet Ljubljana festival combines a wide range of culinary content contributed by restaurants, cafes, pubs, distilleries, and educational institutions from Ljubljana and its surroundings. With its rich program, the festival invites locals and visitors from home and abroad to explore the gastronomic offerings of the capital and its surroundings. It also aims to expand knowledge and cultivate refined tastes among both connoisseurs and culinary enthusiasts, while promoting hospitality careers to young people. Through the festival, Ljubljana Tourism pursues its goal of reducing tourism seasonality, as the event takes place during a quieter period for visitor traffic.
A detailed program for November Gourmet Ljubljana is available on a dedicated website, at the Tourist Information Center on Adamič-Lundrovo embankment 2, and on Gourmet Ljubljana’s social channels.