Dealchecker Vanessa recently travelled to Slovenia, and was pleasantly surprised by the country’s gastronomy scene. Read on for her top foodie tips…

On my recent trip to Slovenia, I didn’t know what to expect from the cuisine, nor did I expect the food to be the highlight. How wrong I was! Slovenia has some incredible dishes, so here’s a round-up of my favourites.

Istrian Breakfast

What’s better than a wobbly tower of scrambled eggs? A wobbly tower of scrambled eggs with shavings of truffle! Top that with ham and you’ve got yourself an Istrian brekkie. In case you were wondering, Istria is a peninsula in the Adriatic Sea – shared by Slovenia, Croatia and Italy – and is the area of Slovenia where truffles are found aplenty. They are said to be some of the best in the world, and you’ll find them bringing a touch of earthy luxury to various meals. This is a good and hearty way to start the day.

Stuffed Pasta

Slovenians have found a great way to pimp up pasta. Idrijski žlikrofi is the national dish of Slovenia and consists of little hazelnut-sized balls of dough filled with lard and potatoes. It’s as carby as it sounds, and can be served as a side to meat or as a saucy main. My pasta was also filled with bacon and served with a duck ragu. It’s a heavy meal however you take it – you have been warned.

Cheese Dumplings

Not every traditional meal is meaty, and discovering Struklji was a delicious break from the carnivore life. These little dumplings are traditionally made with filo pastry and can have various fillings, but cottage cheese is quite typical. My meal with was completed with a rich, creamy sauce and porcini mushrooms. Thankfully, I took the waiter’s advice and didn’t add a side, because despite being ravenous, this was another super filling meal.

Desserts

Three courses can sometimes be a struggle, so if I have to pick two, I usually focus on the savoury. However, I’d heard that Slovenian desserts are the bomb diggy, so I made sure I left room for a sweet treat. The one you absolutely must try is Bled cream cake. Made of delicate layers of pastry and cream, it reminded me a little of a custard tart. You’ll find this anywhere, but the ones in Bled are tops. Another must-try is a Potica cake. Usually served on big holidays and birthdays, it’s pretty doughy and heavy, so I’d recommend pairing with a cup of tea. They come with a variety of fillings, many of which reminded me of Christmas like raisins, honey, nuts and spices – it really is a festive delight.

Wine

Slovenia doesn’t export much of its wine, so if you’re visiting then make sure you take the opportunity to sample some. Most restaurants recommended that we tried the Merlot, which is what the country is known for, and in my non-wine expert opinion, it’s pretty good. If your trip to Slovenia includes Lake Bled, then you must stop by Vinoteka Zdravljica. Almost every glass of wine is under 3 Euros and the staff are more than happy to help you select the right one for you, so it’s my top tip if you want to really get to know Slovenia wines.

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