Hvar Foods to Try
Of all the Hvar foods there are to try on vacation, many tourists report that the biggest surprise is the octopus.
In places like the UK, for example, eating octopus is virtually unheard of, but it is one of the main staples of the Hvar diet, and once tried, a surprising number of visitors come back for more.
The most popular dish, and the most delicious, is the humble octopus salad, which can be found on the menus of most of the island's restaurants.
While recipes obviously vary, the core ingredients are octopus, onion, garlic, capers, parsley, lemon juice and olive oil. Try it once and you will become a loyal fan.
The most popular way to serve cooked octopus is with a "peka", or under the bell, slow cooked with potatoes and vegetables under a big domed metal or clay bell. The juices of the octopus seep into the rest of the dish to produce a delicious and flavoursome meal.
This traditional dish you can not find in every restaurant - but we will be happy to tell you where you can. The best ones. Anyhow, we recommend you to call a restaurant beforehand if you want to try "peka", because the preparation takes time.
Our biggest problem is that we can not decide what we love more - so usually we start with a light octopus salad and finish with mighty peka. Yummy.
*Author - Paul Bradbury
*Photo Credit - Romulić & Stojčić multimedia studio
