In November of 2019, Luxury Travel Designer Tia Lovisa Moreira, with Mirela Benic, our Tasteful Croatian Journeys Concierge, traveled through northern and eastern Croatian for site inspections. Site inspections are a critical part of what we do. Before we “propose” anything to our travelers, we personally explore, experience, test, taste, and only once it has met our approval, approve, then we invite our travelers to join in the experience.

Part of their journey included the heart shaped peninsula of Istria. Istria is Croatia’s truffle capital, home to some of the world’s finest truffles. This valuable mushroom grows best in the Mirna River Valley and it can only be found with the help of trained dogs or domestic pigs during a “truffle hunt”.
The winter truffle (Tuber brumale) has the most intense aroma of all dark truffles.

The team was charged with the challenging task of participating in a truffle hunt with our dear friends at Miro Tartufi, Mrs. Mirjana and Mr. Miroslav Kotiga. The experience begins at their home situated at the base of the hill atop which the town of Motovun sits crowning its peak. After being welcomed with traditional Istrian brandies, Miroslav (Miro for short) leads the small group into the nearby forest together with his very well-trained dogs, Bella and Lila. The dogs run ahead, playing with sticks and jumping over logs until suddenly one catches a scent. Without hesitation they begin to dig. This signals Miro to approach the spot and gently unearth the valuable truffle – white in winter, black in summer. After about an hour’s walk in the forest at a leisurely pace, it is time to return home with the day’s bounty.

Upon arrival back at Miro and Mirjana’s home, guests are met with a sampling of gourmet truffle products such as truffle cheese, salami, oils and spreads as well as Istrian wine, Malvazija. Mirjana inspects the truffles found earlier – on this particular day, they had a most successful hunt – and as guests snack she begins a cooking demonstration. With eggs from local chickens, she delicately shaves truffle atop light, fluffy scrambled eggs, a classic Istrian specialty. For dessert, chocolate cake topped with truffle honey and more freshly shaved truffle offers the perfect finishing touch. In total, the experience takes roughly 3 hours.

We are so pleased to share this experience with you, and these photos captured on that day. Watch how lovingly the special tubers are handled by Chef Mirjana… watch my team forcing themselves to enjoy the special moment and unforgettable flavors. It is hard work, but someone has to do it.😉

I with my Tasteful Croatian Journeys team, invite you to be seduced by the flavors, the pleasures and the warm hospitality of the heart shaped peninsula that is of one of my favorite regions of Croatia.