Cosa fare e vedere a Poreč-Parenzo

Spiagge e sole

La maggior parte delle spiagge parenzane sono famose per la Bandiera Blu, un riconoscimento internazionale per l’alta qualità del mare. Numerose attività sportive e ricreative (terreni di gioco, minigolf, ping-pong, noleggio di bicicletta, parchi acquatici gonfiabili), servizio di assistenza bagnanti, ristoranti, bar e negozi si trovano a pochi passi dal mare e rendono la vostra giornata in spiaggia più confortevole.

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Christmas magic in Poreč

Christmas is almost here, the most important holiday and time of spiritual celebration. I was always interested in learning how Christmas is celebrated around the World. Sharing story about Christmas tradition and magic in my family and in Poreč is a great gift. It’s a perfect time to read about how we experience the joy of the season.

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It’s all about communication (useful Croatian words)

I remember that moment when my dad told me “Communication is the basis of all relationships. You have to speak the language of our guesthouse guests!“. I was 8 years old and thrilled at this possibility!

I learned German at school, later Italian and English language too. But I wanted to learn more and to practice my language skills and so I started pen palling. I found my pen pal friends in the magazine and newspaper advertisements 25 years ago. Today you can simply join a website (Interpals, Penpalworld,…), create a profile and find someone to write to.

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Food delights – Grilled marinated calamari

Istria offers a variety of excellent seafood, has its own style of cuisine and is a tasty gastronomic journey.

Grilled marinated calamari is definitely the food you have to try.

Here’s a receipt for my No.1 dish – Grilled marinated calamari a la Chef Biba (my mother) is a delight!

Ingredients:

  • 1 kg whole cleaned fresh calamari (tubes and tentacles) *
  • 4 minced garlic cloves
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • fresh lemon juice (2 lemons)
  • 2 rosemary branches
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • salt, pepper
  • lemon wedges for serving

* if you are using frozen calamari: thaw frozen calamari, drain, then sprinkle calamari with 2 tbsp of baking soda and chill for 45 minutes, rinse, then soak in apple vinegar for 15 minutes to make them tender, rinse, dry.

How to make it:

  1.  Start by rinsing the calamari and pat dry with a paper towel
  2.  Marinate calamari
  3.  Preheat a grill pan on high heat
  4.  Grill calamari turning on both sides (3-4 minutes each side), drizzle with marinade sauce
  5.  Transfer to a plate, sprinkle with a lemon juice and serve with tartar sauce and cooked potatoes with mangold vegetable.

Making of marinade and tartar sauce is very easy.

Marinade:

Place the calamari in a bowl and add 1/2 cup of olive oil, 2 tbsp of lemon juice, white wine, garlic, parsley, chopped rosemary, 1/2 tbsp salt, and pepper. Stir and chill for min. 1 hour (best will be 5 hours).

Tartar sauce:

  • 100 grams mayonnaise
  • 150 ml of sour cream
  • 100 grams of small-diced pickles
  • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • minced onion, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper
  • Mix together ingredients and serve

Potatoes with mangold (mangelwurzel, mangel beet) – recipe:

  • 3-4 medium peeled potatoes cut into cubes
  • 0,5 kg mangold into strips
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley
  • salt, pepper

Cook potatoes in salted water and after 10 minutes add mangold and cook for another 10 minutes. When cooked, drain. Heat olive oil for a minute in a pan and add the cooked potatoes and mangold. Season with salt, pepper, and parsley to blend the flavors.

And a delicious light meal is ready. Enjoy your meal with a glass of good white wine!

Grilled marinated calamari istria