An exclusive “4 Hands Dinner” took place on October 21, 2025, at Ristorante Cracco in Milan, organized by the Croatian National Tourist Board, the Zagreb County Tourist Board, and MICHELIN — the world’s most renowned restaurant guide. The event served as a showcase of Croatian gastronomy, featuring a culinary collaboration between Chef Bernard Korak of Restaurant Korak and Chef Carlo Cracco of Ristorante Cracco.

“Presenting Croatian gastronomy, especially the food and wine offerings of Zagreb County, in the heart of Milan holds great importance for promoting and enhancing our country’s visibility in the demanding Italian market. This is a unique opportunity to highlight the richness and diversity of Zagreb County — a region proud of its authentic cuisine, fine wines, and high-quality local products — as well as Croatia as a whole, which is becoming increasingly recognized in Italy as a top gourmet destination,” said Viviana Vukelić, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board in Milan.

Among the attendees were prominent Italian influencers specializing in gastronomy and lifestyle. Together with other guests, they enjoyed a selection of dishes blending contemporary Croatian and Italian culinary artistry, paired with carefully chosen wines that harmonized tradition and innovation.

“This was a wonderful evening and a personally enriching experience from which I learned a lot. I was especially glad that we had the opportunity to work with ingredients characteristic of our county and present our dishes to such an important audience,” said Chef Bernard Korak.

“I had visited Croatia before as a tourist — it’s a beautiful country, and I was particularly impressed by the Kornati Islands. But discovering a country through a colleague you collaborate with brings an entirely new dimension. Bernard introduced me to Croatia and his Zagreb County not only as a destination but also as a gastronomic region rich in tradition. Croatia and Italy share similarities, proximity, and even some common ingredients, yet we use them differently — giving our cuisines unique character. These contrasts in tradition, alongside cultural similarities, are what inspire us chefs, enrich us, and drive us toward better collaboration. True quality lies in exchange, learning, and creating together,” said Chef Carlo Cracco.

The menu featured dishes such as soft saffron salad with caviar and shallots, puffed nori seaweed with horseradish and mortadella, smoked trout with fig and goat yogurt, vineyard snails paired with KORAK Sauvignon & Riesling 2017, ravioli del plin with garden sauce and black truffle served with La Ciola 2022, black pork paired with KORAK Pinot Noir 2023, and desserts of pomegranate, chestnut, green juniper, and montebianco with fresh persimmon sauce accompanied by Moscato d’Asti 2024.

“The evening in Milan marked the highlight of our food and wine story and the moment when Zagreb County shone on the global stage. Our Bernard Korak, a MICHELIN-recognized chef, presented the best of Croatian cuisine — authenticity, simplicity, and excellence. Thanks to the attention of over 2.4 million followers of leading foodie creators, this event became a postcard proudly conveying the spirit and flavor of Croatia. In close cooperation with the Croatian National Tourist Board, we continue strengthening the international visibility of our gastronomy, with MICHELIN as a key ally and symbol of excellence placing us among the most distinguished destinations in the region,” concluded Ivana Alilović, Director of the Zagreb County Tourist Board.

Croatia proudly boasts one restaurant with two MICHELIN stars, twelve with one star, and twelve Bib Gourmand restaurants, a total of ninety-eight establishments featured in this year’s prestigious MICHELIN Guide selection.

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