Menu 2 Tasty Slovenia

We begin your culinary journey through Slovenia with a refreshing classic – esih flajš. This dish is a true tribute to Ljubljana's middle-class cuisine, where simplicity of ingredients meets a superb harmony of flavors. As part of the "Okusna Slovenija" menu, we present it as an elegant cold appetizer that awakens the appetite and takes us back to the times of traditional Sunday city lunches.

The name "esih flajš" originates from German (Essig Fleisch) and literally means "meat in vinegar." Traditionally, the dish was an ingenious way to use succulent boiled beef from the Sunday soup, which Slovenian housewives transformed into a brand-new culinary creation using vinegar, oil, and onions. Over the decades, this dish moved from domestic kitchens to become an indispensable part of the best Ljubljana inns.

As a warm appetizer within the "Okusna Slovenija" (Tasty Slovenia) menu, we will serve you a langoš, prepared for you by Langoš Atelier. Langoš is a traditional Pannonian dish made from leavened dough, representing an authentic connection to the heritage of the Prekmurje plains. At Langoš Atelier, they interpret this classic in a modern way, transforming a simple folk snack into a premium culinary starter.

The specialty of their preparation lies in the long-fermentation technique, which ensures incredible lightness and airiness. Unlike conventional versions, the langoš crafted by their masters features a perfectly non-greasy, crispy golden crust and a fluffy interior. Using top-quality local ingredients and aesthetic perfection, Langoš Atelier ensures that this warm appetizer becomes an elegant and harmonious introduction to your further exploration of Slovenian flavors.

For the main course, you will enjoy traditional žlikrofi with goulash, handcrafted for you by the family-run Vaški žlikrofi Tončič. Idrija žlikrofi were the first Slovenian dish to receive European Protected Traditional Speciality Guaranteed status, and this plate represents the very pinnacle of our culinary heritage.

The culinary journey of žlikrofi takes us to the heart of the mining town of Idrija, where these small, hand-shaped pasta pockets with a potato filling—distinguished by their signature "miner's hat" shape—sustained miners after their arduous work in the pits for centuries. This dish is a symbol of ingenuity and survival; it intertwines influences from the Alpine world and the Austro-Hungarian court, which shaped Slovenian cuisine into what it is today. The goulash accompanying these tiny masterpieces rounds off the story of the hearty, authentic food of our ancestors with its depth and slow-cooked flavors.

Thanks to the dedication of the Tončič family, who preserve the recipes of their ancestors, you can today taste žlikrofi made with the same love as in the past. Their approach is based on using local ingredients and respecting the strict tradition of hand-shaping, which gives the dish a softness and fullness that industry cannot replicate. Every žlikrof on your plate is a tribute to hardworking hands and the inexhaustible Slovenian tradition passed down from generation to generation.

For the perfect conclusion to your culinary journey, we will serve you a royal dessert – šmorn, prepared for you by the masters of Dvor Jezeršek. This fluffy and golden-brown delicacy is not just a dessert, but a heartfelt childhood memory, elevated to the level of haute cuisine in one of Slovenia's most prestigious restaurants.

Originally known as Kaiserschmarrn, this dish has its roots in Austro-Hungarian cuisine, where, according to legend, it was created as a "failed" but delicious attempt at making pancakes for Emperor Franz Joseph I.

At Dvor Jezeršek, where family tradition and culinary vision go hand in hand, the šmorn is prepared according to a time-tested recipe that ensures every bite is lightly caramelized, airy, and unforgettably succulent.