GALA DINNER

The main goal of the gala dinner is to motivate and support young people who have been investing their time and energy in their education. In this way Dubrovnik FestiWine, together with you, our dear guests, offers such young talents an opportunity to start their culinary and wine adventure under the mentorship of the leading experts in that area. This initiative was created primarily with the noble intention of supporting ambitious, young and talented individuals with the ultimate purpose to raise the overall quality of the catering industry, but also to enrich the gastronomy of the city of Dubrovnik.

The delicious dishes prepared by Vesna Miletić, chef at the iconic restaurant Tač in Zagreb, continually leaves her many guests in absolute awe. Every dish in her restaurant is a signature dish. Her culinary story has been developed on top quality ingredients. Over the years, she has gained immense experience in meal preparation and the ability to extract the best from each ingredient, that authentic taste that is habitually lost in modern kitchens. Although the Istrian and Mediterranean cuisine are closest to her heart, Vesna draws inspiration from traditional cuisines and familiar flavours typical of the wider region.

Damir Agović, the new chef at Dubrovnik Palace Hotel, has an enviable 18 years of culinary experience that he has acquired as chef at luxurious Dubrovnik hotels and fine dining restaurants. Damir Agović says that, when it comes to cooking, the most important thing is how one approaches the ingredients. Besides choosing the highest quality food, the proper way of preparing is of utmost importance, as is cooking out of love, which he specially emphasises.

The chefs will be joined by 2019 Dubrovnik FestiWine Challenge – the young chef Tony Kužnin and sommelier Nikša Karaman. The proceeds of this year's Dubrovnik Festiwine Gala will go to providing scholarships for the young Dubrovnik talents, and two competitors will win the prestigious 2020 competition award and attend a month-long training at the Tač restaurant under the mentorship of chef Vesna Miletić. This year's winners will also be attending the Gala Dinner.