TASTE BOHINJ - MORE ABOUT BOHINJ'S CULINARY SPECIALTIES
Bohinj Mohant
This semi-soft cheese is sharply scented with a bitter spicy taste and is a speciality of Bohinj cheese-making. The cheese is indigenous and is trademarked as foodstuff with geographic origin.
Buckwheat and corn "žganci"
It was often emphasised as early as the 19th century that »žganci« were the pillar of Carniola. Buckwheat and corn, or less frequently barley, are cooked in two ways and are still today one of the basic and typical dishes of Gorenjska.
Mavžlji or maželjni
Chopped pork and/or intestines wrapped into a pork net and roasted. It is very typical all over the Slovenian Alpine world. Stewed sour turnips or cabbage and boiled potatoes are served with it.
Buckwheat pockets
Although there are many recepies for these, they are most often cooked dough and filled with cottage cheese or colostrum. An excellent dressed dish on its own, served in summer with salad or in winter with stewed sauerkraut or turnip.
Buckwheat porridge with mushrooms
A tasty and aromatic combination of boiled buckwheat mash and fried fresh mushrooms are most suitable, while various mixed fresh mushrooms are also excellent.
Govnač
This dish is also called »presnek« and is a thick dressed stew made of fresh chopped cabbage and potato. It's suitable as a dish on its own or as a side dish with boiled or roast beef.
Bohinj zaseka
Bacon is first desalted, then cold smoked and air dried. Then it's chopped or ground, put into a large pot and fat is poured over it. »Zaseka« is an excellent spread on bread or dressing for numerous dishes.
Carniolian sausage
This is the best known Slovenian foodstuff in the world, and is based on the rich heritage of turning the pig into meat products. The first mention of the sausage as »Carniolan« was in 1896.
Štruklji
One of the best recognised dishes, known all over Slovenia. It is made from different kinds of dough, with a diverse range of fillings, baked or boiled, sweet or savoury. They were once a characteristic festive and ceremonial dish, the best known of which are tarragon, cottage cheese, walnut, apple and poppy seed štruklji, as well as other varieties.
Potica
Alongside štruklji, potica is the most typical Slovenian dessert. It is made with more than 80 different fillings. Potica is a characteristic festive dessert made from different kind of dough. The most characteristic types of potica include tarragon, walnut.
FAIRYTALE ABOUT BOHINJ LAKE FISH - ZLATOVČICA (CHAR)
For many years the depths of Lake Bohinj were inhabited by plain fish despised even by the fattest and laziest carp who occasionally drifted into the lakes clear waters.
The storm of the Second World War raged over Europe and brushed the most sacred corner on earth: the paradise under Triglav - the kingdom of the Zlatorog (Goldhorn).
Every day a young German soldier contemplated with yearning the beauty offered to him by nature in this exceptionally beautiful corner of Bohinj. The rough surface of the lake, surrounded by mountains sinking into the depths of its waters.
The magnificent play of sunshine, and the profusion of colours in unique sunsets. But all this could not distract him from thoughts of home and his sweetheart, from whom he was separated by the cruel war.
One night as he was passing by it happened. A strange gust swept over the surface rippling the water, and the next moment everything was calm. On the shore he saw several girls whose faces had an unusual glow and whose eyes radiated an irresistible warmth.
The little dresses they wore were shabby and plain. He tried to approach them but a gust swept across again, rippling the surface, and they vanished.
He returned next day at the same time hoping to see them again.
They were there. This time they did not run away when he approached them. He was moved, indeed completely enchanted by their beauty. The girls confided in him and talked to him.
However, they would reveal their secret only if he brought a gold coin to each of them. The German soldier responded to their plea. He took a few gold coins from his booty and gave each girl one gold coin.
Afterwards they told him: "We are orphans and poverty has forced us into utter despair. We searched for peace in the waters of this lake. We live as fish at the bottom of the lake now."
"We are plain because of our poverty, and our colour is inconspicuous. You brought us some old gold which will make us rich and respected. But this gold was stolen, it does not belong to you. Therefore you will be punished! You will come with us to our kingdom from which there is no return. Somebody must suffer to remedy this evil. You will never again see your darling, your destiny is at the bottom of the lake, which you admired and with which you fell in love, and you will become a part of it."
The wind swept by, rippling the surface. The shore was empty. The girls disappeared and so did the soldier.
The plain fish at the bottom of the lake became rich with gold. Their bellies shone with the colour of the old gold. Because the gold was stolen during the war they also suffered punishment: people noticed them and started catching and eating them. And because of their colour, they called them Zlatovčice (zlato = gold), more commonly known as brook trout. |
