Zinfandel’s New Autumn Collection of Exceptional Courses Created by Executive Chef Ana Grgić
An attractive new rhapsody of flavours inspired by autumnal ingredients highlights original flavours, local farming, a cosmopolitan attitude and creativity.
·
The Esplanade’s Zinfandel’s Restaurant has for many years been representing the essence of haute cuisine according to world standards, and this autumn it will surely be the finest meeting place for both Zagreb’s locals and hotel guests.
·
Charming service, the highest possible attention to detail, strict hygiene precautions for food preparation and serving, and an elegant ambience with the loveliest terrace in the city make Zinfandel’s a must-visit destination on Zagreb’s culinary map.
From today, guests of the restaurant can enjoy a new autumn version of the à la carte menu, authored by the Esplanade’s talented Executive Chef, Ana Grgić. This autumnal interpretation brings a range of distinctive and surprising must-taste combinations, such as pickled Jerusalem artichoke in a soup of smoked Jerusalem artichoke with salted shrimps and caper oil, kale roll filled with homemade duck confit served with black lentil cream and juniper berry and cardamom sauce, then foam gnudi with beetroot fluid gel, hazelnut pesto and Stilton cheese cream or turbot fillet next to velouté of black garlic and pine nuts. ‘The menu is fully inspired by aromatic autumn ingredients such as chestnuts, maize, black truffles, fava beans, parsnip, oranges, nectarines, apples and pears. I am particularly proud of our gourmet collection of winter pickles that we ourselves have pickled and brined such as Jerusalem artichoke, beetroots and lives, which now have a special flavour. The new menu focuses on fresh home-grown ingredients that we get from carefully selected family farms. For example, the delicious duck, every part of which we use in our meals, comes from the Orehovec family farm in Varaždin, while our goat cheese comes from the award winning Moravec family farm,’ said Executive Chef Ana Grgić. For those who are more inclined towards verified hedonistic combinations, the new autumn menu brings a delicious Kagoshima Wagyu steak, this time paired with caramelised shallot and shiitake mushrooms, which are perfectly complemented with marinated pears in port wine and red pepper, served with warm brioche and orange butter. The creative dessert menu brings citrusy flavours of orange and tangerine, delicious rhubarb and superb chocolate, and certainly deserving of a taste is the unique sweet corn ice cream with apple terrine, as well as crunchy ginger biscuits served with milk jam and candied ginger, which bring to the table a touch of the orient. The new autumn collection is complemented by indispensable Zinfandel’s classics that guests particularly appreciate: Tartar steak, the famous Esplanade štrukli oven-crisped in cream, fuži with truffles or sea bass roasted in salt crust. This true fine dining experience is rounded off with a list of premium wines and champagne from Croatia and the world, freshened up with new labels, presenting an excellent upgrade to Ana’s autumn flavours. Holding a special place in the wine list is the recently launched first limited edition of Zinfandel 2019 with the Esplanade label and the signature of the Krauthaker winery. In addition, Ana’s culinary team bakes their own crackers, focaccia and delicious homemade bread daily, which is served with homemade hand churned butter with herbs and supreme organic olive oil Nai 3.3 from the island of Dugi Otok, awarded with numerous certificates of quality.
‘The restaurant’s cosmopolitan quality and elegant ambience, within the very heart of Zagreb, combined with Ana’s creative dishes, charming service, the highest degree of attention to detail and strict hygiene precautions, rank Zinfandel’s among the must-visit destinations on the city’s gastronomic map. Zinfandel’s is the essence of haute cuisine according to world standards and this autumn, it will surely be the finest meeting place for Zagreb’s locals and hotel guests,’ said Stjepan Okun, Head of Zinfandel’s Restaurant.
###
MATERIALS DOWNLOAD:
• PHOTOGRAPHS (photo credit: Esplanade Hotel Archive)
• Autumn à la carte menu
• Wine List
• COVID-19 video and the Esplanade’s precautionary measures
###
About Executive Chef Ana Grgić
This young but already experienced executive chef has been running Zinfandel’s Restaurant, one of the best restaurants in Croatia, as well as the charming French restaurant Le Bistro and Esplanade Catering, for more than eight years. Ana pursues the tradition of the Esplanade Hotel’s cuisine while keeping up with world-class culinary trends. Her creative and imaginative menus have impressed many guests and celebrities over the past years, as well as members of royal families, such as the Swedish King and Queen, the Japanese Prince and Princess, the Prince of Saudi Arabia, the royal couple from Denmark and many others who did not remain indifferent to Ana’s ingenuity in preparing dishes. Ana has received a number of accolades for her personality, excellence and style of cooking. Prestigious publications have nominated her for Woman of the Year and Person of the Year, and the renowned Guida Gallo guide included her risotto among the 101 best risottos in the world in 2013 and 2016. Anna’s style of preparing dishes and her personality led her to participate in the popular TV cooking programme Celebrity MasterChef as a jury member. In addition, Ana proudly bears the title of ambassador for the Fish Forward Project in Croatia within the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) initiative, setting an example for raising consumer awareness of the global environmental and social consequences of the consumption of fishery products. The Gault&Millau guide awarded Ana the title of Great Chef of Tomorrow, specially emphasising her respect for the seasonality and quality of ingredients, as well as consistent and carefully refined dishes. Her culinary virtuosity and creativity have been recognised by the gourmet association Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, which awarded Ana with the prestigious title of Chef Rôtisseur.
About Zinfandel’s Restaurant
The one-of-a-kind ambience of Zinfandel’s Restaurant and cuisine that combines top-quality local ingredients and flavours from around the world guarantee a truly delightful culinary experience in the very heart of Zagreb. The excellent cuisine of Zinfandel’s is run by the Esplanade’s chef de cuisine, Ana Grgić, whose many years of experience and training with world-renowned chefs guarantee an unforgettable gourmet experience. Her repeatedly awarded and talented culinary team, offering fresh and witty interpretations of Croatian traditional cuisine, also includes excellent pâtissiers. Innovative cuisine in a pleasant setting includes views of the legendary Oleander Terrace and outdoor dining. Continuing with the Esplanade’s tradition of supreme gastronomy, with its selection and combination of flavours, this charming chef introduces a freshness and creativity that connect Zagreb with the Mediterranean and continental Europe. Zinfandel’s has received a host of awards for culinary excellence: the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame, the Falstaff Restaurantguide, the Great Rail Journeys Gold Food Award, the Guida Gallo by Riso Gallo in 2013 and 2016, and the Michelin Guide Recommendation for the third consecutive year, the Gault&Millau Gourmet Guide’s three hats, the LTG Award for Contemporary Restaurant of the Year, and numerous other accolades.
###
ESPLANADE HOTEL PR CONTACT:
• Sanda Sokol, PR & Marketing Manager, T. +385.1.4566.036, M. +385.91.4766.647, E. [email protected]
• Andrea Ožegović, PR & Marketing Coordinator, T. +385.1.4563.888, M. +385.91.4766.648, E. [email protected]
