Croatian restaurant in New York celebrates 10 years promoting Croatian cuisine
- by croatiaweek
- in Business
Marking a decade of promoting Croatian food in NY (Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
A Croatian restaurant is celebrating ten years of promoting Croatian cuisine and also traditional Dubrovnik cuisine in New York City.
Located in the heart of New Rochelle, Dubrovnik Restaurant first opened its doors back in 2013 and for the past decade it has been serving classic Croatian cuisine.
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
“We miss Croatia. We miss the smell of the sea, the fishing culture and the sounds of our mothers grilling whatever was freshly caught in the morning. We miss being in a land where football is played with feet. Despite the Croatian affinity for the sea, it’s difficult for us to go home as much as we want to, so we did the next best thing, we brought our home to us and established Dubrovnik Restaurant,” says the Dubrovnik-born owner Zeljko Tomic.
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
Since opening, the goal at Dubrovnik Restaurant is to make customers fall in love with Croatia through its cuisine, with an emphasis on Dubrovnik-inspired dishes.
“Dubrovnik features the best of Croatian cuisine, including succulent meat roasts, fresh grilled fish and a variety of other favorites.
The menu boasts such delights as the Dalmatian platter, with pršut and cheeses, fish soup, octopus salad, pasta ‘Lopud’ and the famous Dubrovnik dessert ‘Rozata’. The wine list is also stacked with Croatian wines.
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
On Thursday night, the restaurant celebrated its 10th anniversary.
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
Guests at the restaurant were entertained by Josip Velčić from the Astoria NY vocal group and Vukan Stanišić from the famous singer-songwriter duo Srđan and Vukan from NY.
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
On the terrace surrounded by fig trees and grapevines, Ema Jusić, the new young Croatian sensation and talented singer, along with Zvonimir Antolos from the Astoria vocal group, performed traditional Dubrovnik songs.
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
For the authentic Dubrovnik dishes, for which this restaurant is renowned not only in New York but throughout America, renowned chefs Antonio Selendić and Srećko Žarak took care of the culinary delights on the night.
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
The staff, led by manager Matija Žarko, were delighted with the large number of loyal guests who have recognized the quality of food and the warm hospitality this restaurant has provided for a whole decade.
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
Among the regular guests were representatives from Croatian Radio in NY, Gordana Skugor and Zvonimir, well-known importers and promoters of European and Croatian wines Duško and Samir Ramić, and the well-known Ane Mljećka, not only a promoter of Croatian cuisine but also of Croatia in America.
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
In addition to guests of Croatian descent, there were many American patrons who relished the specialties of Croatian cuisine.
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
“The atmosphere was fantastic, with the finest Croatian wines flowing freely. Guests savored dishes like black risotto, octopus salad, squid, mussels, oysters, marinated anchovies and tuna, grilled sardines, and Swiss chard with olive oil. There was also roasted pig and lamb on the spit, pancakes, and other delicacies. The dedicated staff ensured that everyone left satisfied,” said Ane Mljećka.
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
There was singing and dancing into the late hours of the night, and nearly all the guests, as they bid farewell, expressed the hope that such evenings should be repeated more often.
(Photo credit: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
