This year’s Food Talk conference was held on Monday, November 10, at the City Museum of Podgorica, under the patronage of the Secretariat for Entrepreneurship and Investments of the Capital City of Podgorica
The first regional conference dedicated to gastronomy, wine, and beer was organized in 2013 at Salaš 137 near Novi Sad. Since then, the conference has been held not only in Novi Sad but also in many cities across the region: Belgrade, Skopje, Budva, and finally this fall — on November 10 — Food Talk took place for the first time in the capital of Montenegro.
The conference was opened by Nađa Ljiljanić, Deputy Mayor of Podgorica, Robert Čoban from Color Press Group, and Danijela Radeč, Secretary for Entrepreneurship and Investments of the Capital City of Podgorica.
The first panel, titled “Taste of Planet,” featured ambassadors of foreign countries who spoke about their national dishes and Montenegrin specialties they would take with them when leaving Podgorica. The discussion explored how foreign diplomats perceive local gastronomy, which Montenegrin dishes are their favorites, and what delicacies from their own cuisines they would recommend to Food Talk participants.
The panel was moderated by Robert Čoban, with participants including Branimir Jukić, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Montenegro; Christian Steiner, Ambassador of Austria to Montenegro; Veselko Grubišić, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Montenegro; and Velibor Zolak, tourism marketing expert.
Panel 2, titled “How to Get More Dušan Đorđevićs: The Challenges of Motivation in the Regional HoReCa Industry,” examined how something that should be “normal” has become an “exception.” The discussion focused on how managers in the HoReCa industry manage to attract and retain people like Dušan Đorđević, a young waiter from Niš who became a social media star thanks to his spontaneity and smile.
This panel was moderated by Milica Stijepović, editor of the TVC program Agrosaznanje. Participants included Muhamed Kurmemi (Harmonia Hotels, Durrës, Albania); Jelena Đaković (Huma Kotor Bay, Montenegro); Dimitrije Acevski (Eichen Group, Serbia); Nikola Vesić (Head Chef, Dukley Hotel & Resort, Montenegro); Dušan Šofranac (Area Director of Food and Beverage, Mamula Island by Banyan Tree and Centrale Luštica Bay by Angsana); and Marija Martinović (Maestral Hotels and Casinos, Budva, Montenegro).
Panel 3, titled “Food, Wine & Art: Food as Inspiration for Artists,” was moderated by Petra Čelebić, editor of Diplomacy & Commerce Montenegro magazine. Speakers included Nenad Novak Stefanović, writer from Belgrade; Ljiljana Karadžić, art historian from the Public Institution “Museums and Galleries of Podgorica”; and Vlasta Mandić, architect, gastrotourist, and author of the book Bokeška kužina.
Panel 4, titled “We Ate Our Hearts Out There: Branding Destinations Through Food and Wine,” was moderated by Vladimir Fustić from Euronews Montenegro. Speakers included Vladimir Živanović, Director of the Zlatibor Tourist Organization; Stevan Stešević from the Montenegro Luxury Association; tourism expert Željka Radak Kukavičić; Milonja Blagojević, owner of the ethno-village Montenegro; Bojana Otašević, founder of the Mille Baci brand; and Jaroslav Stupavski, Director of the Agribusiness Sector at Voli.
Panel 5, titled “The Menu: Regional Chefs on the Tastes and Demands of the New Audience,” was moderated by Sandra Manojlović, Marketing Director and author of the food blog Cook on the Bright Side. Panelists included Srđan Jerinkić (Challenge Rekonstrukcija, Novi Sad); Andrej Raičević (Executive Chef, Hotel Centrale Luštica Bay by Angsana); Nikola Rosić (Thyme Hospitality Platform, Belgrade); Goran Tatar (One&Only, Portonovi); Duško Miladinov (Sous Chef, Lazure Hotel & Marina); Filip Nišić (Executive Chef, Gorski Hotel & Spa, Kopaonik, Serbia); and Nikola Markotanović (Head Chef and co-owner of Square Portonovi restaurant).
The final panel, “La Traviata,” focused on the wine scene in Montenegro and the region, featuring Andrija Martinović (sommelier), Goran Brnović (owner of restaurant Odiva), Damir Moskov (chef and food blogger), and Luka Bešić from the Montenegrin Sommelier Association.
The conference was also supported by Voli, Energy Star, and Plantaže companies.
