A Taste of Slovenian Fusion Dishes at Vander Urbani

Food is a big part of a nation’s identity. But to be honest, we knew nothing about Slovenian cuisine prior to visiting the country. Fortunately, we had the opportunity to indulge in a 4-course dinner at Vander Urbani. They introduced us to an exciting combination of local and regional dishes with contemporary cuisine.

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Where busy life meets an urban resort whose goal is to relax and have fun. Why not try one of our amazing dishes, relax in one of our rooms or simply take a swim at our beautiful terrace? #vanderful #designhotels #love . . . . photo by @dimarx.travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . #rsa_streetview #ljubljana #exploringtheglobe #igslovenija #visitljubljana #gearednomad #thisisslovenia #urbanandstreet #mytinyatlas #instapassport #shotzdelight #focalmarked #ig_masterpiece #travelog #symmetricalmonsters #quietthechaos #uncalculated #aroundtheworldpix #ig_slovenia #mkexplore #visualmobs #vscoportrait #theglobewanderer #flashesofdelight #campinassp #forahappymoment

A post shared by Vander Urbani Resort (@vanderurbaniresort) on Oct 8, 2019 at 8:44am PDT

Vander Urbani

Located by the banks of Ljubljanica River, right in the heart of old Ljubljana, you can’t miss the orange building not too far from the Triple Bridge.

Vander Urbani prides itself with featuring fresh locally-produced ingredients prepared and presented using modern methods. The menu is updated according to seasonally available ingredients from the local markets and farms.

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Lets start this day right. Visit us for breakfast or early lunch. Not hungry? Come for a coffee or some tea. We are looking forward to meeting you and making you feel great in our hospitality. Don’t forget. It’s Friday, feel adventurous? Come join us at the Open Kitchen 😁 #VanderFul #designhotels #vanderurbaniresort photo by @districtnowhere . . . . . #archimasters #iphoneography #iphoneography #iphoneonly #focalmarked #igslovenija #vscoportrait #gearednomad #arkiromantix #iphonesia #ig_slovenia #creative_architecture #shotzdelight #jj_architecture #thisisslovenia #quietthechaos #ljubljana #symmetricalmonsters #excellent_structure #urbanandstreet #visitljubljana #uncalculated #tv_architectural #mkexplore #rsa_streetview #icu_architecture

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Riz and I agreed that she would order the Chef’s Menu while I went for the recommended Slovenian dishes. But of course, we couldn’t help but try each other’s orders out. lol

The four-course menu consisted of two small plates or starters, a large plate or main dish, and dessert.

Small Plates

Sauteed Prawns with Grilled Zucchini and Spicy Sauce

Beef Tartare with Confit Egg Yolk, Shallots and Sourdough (to be doused in Istrian olive oil)

Daily House Soup (Leek Soup)

Fried Dolenjska Cheese with Herb Mayonnaise and Honey. Dolenjska or Lower Carniola is a region in Slovenia.

The prawns were fresh and juicy and went well with the sauce. In fact, it was so good we used it as a bread dip. 😀 Riz’s second small plate was the beef tartare. I’m not a fan of raw food, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try something new. Since it was prepared and seasoned well, it was palatable. As for my starters, I started with the daily soup. The warm and creamy leek soup was perfect for the chilly weather especially since we dined alfresco. Another winner for me was the fried Dolenjska cheese with herb mayonnaise, but I may be biased since I like anything cheese.

We felt somewhat full just from the four small plates. At the same time, it made us excited for the mains.

Large Plate

Grilled Salmon Fillet with Chimichurri, Green Pea Puree, and Miso Glazed Carrots

Buckwheat Risotto with Oyster Mushrooms and Parsley Infused Oil

We were both delighted with the grilled salmon. Its crispy skin and juicy meat went well with my buckwheat risotto which had an earthy flavor. I was surprised that it’s not the usual risotto with a creamy and heavy consistency. I liked it! We learned that buckwheat is a staple in Slovenia like rice is to The Philippines. It grows abundantly and its flowers are a favorite of bees – making the country a producer of buckwheat honey.

Medot Brut, an exquisite Slovenian sparkling wine

Since we both had light mains, it was best paired with sparkling white wine.

Dessert

Coconut Panna Cotta with Mango and Basil gel

Chocolate Trio (Chef’s Selection of Three Chocolate Desserts

The basil gel provided a stark contrast to the mild coconut taste of the panna cotta. It was quite interesting. As for the Chocolate Trio, it was exceptionally delicious as expected! With creamy white chocolate, dark chocolate truffle, and rich chocolate brownie, we couldn’t have chosen a better ending to our dinner. It was absolutely #vanderful!

You could host private parties or events at Vander Urbani’s rooftop terrace.
The rooftop pool overlooking Ljubljanica River is the perfect place to cool down in the summer months.

Whether you’re looking for a hearty brunch, coffee or snacks by the Ljubljanica River, some cocktails or oysters and champagne, or cozy lunch or dinner, Vander Hotel has a dining option that will suit your needs.

Vander Urbani Resort
Krojaška ulica 6
1000 Ljubljana
E: reception@vanderhotel.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/VanderUrbaniResort