Taste Dalmatian Veal or Octopus Peka with optional Wine Tasting

Traditional Croatian cuisine is wide and varied, yet its hard to distinguish dishes that are exclusive to Croatia. Because, Croatian food has been influenced by tastes and traditions from neighboring countries, and different nations that ruled territory of Croatia throughout history.

Dalmatian food, found along Dalmatian coast, and on the islands, is based heavily on fish, greens, olive oil, and seasonings like garlic, rosemary, parsley, etc. Dalmatian cuisine is typical Mediterranean cuisine. Baking meat, seafood and veggies under a bell-like lid covered in embers, is a unique cooking method found in Dalmatia.

Basically you can put any kind of meat and veggies in a tray, salt it, add spices, oil, and cover it with a bell-like lid. Placed in a fireplace, the lid is then covered with embers. Its cooked for two hours, but after about an hour or so, the lid is lifted, meat is turned, and some other spices are added, like a mix of honey and cognac with Mediterranean herbs.

Peka can be made with any kind of meat (chicken, veal, sausages, etc.), but my all time favorite peka is either octopus or veal peka. Both octopus and veal really turns tender and succulent, while the potatoes become specially sweet and tasty. Sauce is delicious, and if served with bread baked also ispod peke (under a bell-like lid), then its a festival for taste buds.