Matching Food and Football
You really can't escape football in Zagreb – there are big screens and organized viewings all over the city, every cafe or a bar has switched to the World Cup mode. Newspapers say that reciprocally with the success of our national team, the sales of beer, potato chips and ćevapčići has increased and went sky high. Of course, beer or gemišt and snacks are part of the experience, but why not use the opportunity and do better than cheap industrial beer, mass-produced junk food and the omnipresent grilled meat standards. Let's try to match good football matches with something local, more special and a lot tastier.
“Čvarkuša bun and beer go together like footballers and models.” Image credit: Pivovara Medvedgrad
Of all the football-focused events and organized viewings in the city, Foodballerka is my favourite. It really revolves around football and lasts throughout the World Cup period, but adding extra value to just watching a match in a public space with a bunch of other people. Set in one of the main parks in Zagreb, Strossmayer Square, it combines football, high-quality street food, craft beer, music and family-friendly chilling out. Many well-known Zagreb restaurants have their huts with an adjusted selection of street food dishes, but we're talking largely about artisan burgers, grilled meat sandwiches, Mexican food and similar international palate-pleasers. There's really a lot to choose from, but my pick is BarBaQ hut on the far eastern side. Just look out for a big black barbecue smoker, and ask them what's fresh from it. I had amazing pulled pork and ribs. But I do admit, that's not very local food.
“Just a small part of all the yummy international street food found at Foodballerka festival.” Image credit: Foodballerka
Hmm, are there any tapas-like snacks that would be typical for Zagreb area, easy to prepare, and can be paired well with watching football? If you’re too lazy to prepare anything yourself, I guess my perfect choice, together with a nice cold beer, would be čvarkuša and kiflica as they serve them in Medvedgrad Brewery’s pubs. Seasonal zeljanica (spinach) and bučnica (squash) pies from downtown Pithos can also save the day. If you want to be your own chef, even better – be creative and explore the possibilities. Mazalice make a great football snack for carnivores. For inspiration, check out how they make them in Batak grill restaurant chain. Basically, it’s just a minced meat mixture like for ćevapčići, with some paprika, but spread on pieces of flatbread and oven-baked. Another favourite spread is made with lard and minced čvarci. Igomat has an excellent one, if you need a benchmark. And if we’re playing with variations on bruschetta with local flavour, don’t forget the stuff that Zagreb gastronomy is based on – fresh cottage cheese and cream. Buy both from a small producer at a farmers’ market, mix them well and upgrade with chives, garlic, paprika, pumpkin seed oil, diced bacon, whatever suits you. Serve it on toasted bread. Or use this tasty dairy mixture to stuff bell pepper halves; they’re in full season right now.
“Power snack for football binge-watching – spread made from čvarci, lard and paprika.” Image credit: Taste of Croatia
The point is, watching football matches and rooting loudly with your friends should be a full-scale, enjoyable social gathering. If you’re doing it somewhere out, choose a place that can also satisfy your hunger properly. If you’re doing it at home, don’t take the path of least resistance and buy the nearest six-pack with a bag of peanuts and salted sticks. At least have the decency to serve some good cheese and charcuterie, and throw in a pickle or two. Although much longer than a football match, life is too short not to make every moment matter. Take a look around and you can find great local foodstuff to make a feast even out of this frenzy called the World Cup.
“Keep it simple – go grab some kiflice rolls and bučnica pie, like these from Zdravljak Sršek.” Image credit: Zdravljak Sršek
Header image credit: Foodbalerka
Author: Taste of Croatia / Morana Zibar