Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Trip to Europe (Italy-Slovenia) Fall 2012...Luxury lunch in Ljubljana, Slovenia


(Monday, October 15)
From Mlecnik's winery, we kept going for a little over one hour to arrive in Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia.
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It was a scenic view of mountains and nature all the way.

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Our first destination in Ljubljana was its historic castle. By the recommendation of Josko Gravner, we had a reservation at Gostilna na Gradu restaurant in the castle.

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They serve classic Slovenian cuisine at this restaurant. So, I was really excited to try what the food was going to be like.

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At this restaurant, another unexpected amazing thing happened! Josko Gravner not only recommended this restaurant, but he also sent a case of his wines to the restaurant for us! So, we got to enjoy the amazing mariage of his wine and Slovenian dishes.
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Also we were treated with such warm welcome by the restaurant, and even the owner of the restaurant joined our lunch.

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Aperitif snacks were Ricotta with herb and olive oil, and fried pork and apples.

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Raw porcini carpaccio. Pumpkin gnocchi with save and olive oil, topped with smoked cheese.

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Poached seabass. Beef liver with polenta.

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Roasted lamb and fennels. Apple streudel with raisin and pine nuts.

I was so impressed by such sophisticated and quality dishes we tasted. And, unlike I imagined, these Slovenian dishes were so delicate and not heavy. I loved every dish so much.

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The wines were...
2004 Josko Gravner, Bianco Berg (Venezia Ziuria)
2004 Josko Gravner, Ribolla (Venezia Ziuria)


Gravner's amphora-aged wines were truly magical. They were so rich, yet so smooth and never tastes heavy. I couldn't believe we had almost "bottomless" Gravner wines!!

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The view from the castle was great, too. I could see the whole city 360 degrees. On the way out of the castle, we saw a big rainbow!

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After lunch, we walked around the city. Ljubljana has a nice relaxed atmosphere. We were invited to another restaurant by the same owner of Gostilna na Gradu for digestive. I don't remember the name, but it was made from medicinal herbs and tasted very good.

Power nap in the bus on the way back to Gorizia!