After a challenging week, both mentally and emotionally, today was everything I needed. It was a day full of delicious food, solitude and nature. It was perfect.
FIRST STOP
I started my day by checking out Futoška Pijaca and picked up some figs (a new obsession).
VENTURING INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE
I took a bus into the countryside of Novi Sad, right in the heart of the National Park of Fruska Gora. What a difference from Novi Sad!
WHAT BROUGHT ME OUT HERE
Last Monday I met up with Youtubers, Stephanie and Jillian (Our Freedom Years), and they told me about this amazing tasting menu at Podrum Miljević by the most amazing hosts, Dragan and his wife.
A chemical engineer by background, he’s had this amazing livestock farm, vineyard and rural tourism business since 2011. Located in Stari Ledinci village, their facility has a wine cellar, tasting room, 5 rooms, and a tavern.
You can feel how much love they put into this place.
TAVERN
WINE CELLAR
HOMEMADE EVERYTHING
He makes everything himself, including bread, jam, tomato juice, ajvar, fermented grapes, paprika (grilled pepper), wine and rakia.
GARDEN
Along with his vineyard, he grows vegetables, strawberries, and herbs.
BEAUTIFUL DETAILS THROUGHOUT
The garden beds are lined with this beautiful mosaic.
CREATIVES
Dragan and his wife are true creatives. His wife makes jewelry and hand paints every single bottle of alcohol and their rakia shot glasses.
TASTING MENU
This incredible 6 course meal was 2400 dinars ($24)! I normally don’t drink, but since he makes his own wine, I of course drank the wine because I wanted the full experience (the other option was the rakia, but that’s a hard pass). Dinner was so lovely. Dragan and his wife are so kind and so attentive.
COURSE 1
Traminac dry white wine
Bruschetta:
- Hummus
- Eggplant, sunflower seeds, garlic, olive oil
- Homemade dried tomato + cow cheese from a friend’s farm (similar to mozzarella)
- Ajvar: 70% grilled sweet pepper, 30% grilled eggplant, chili pepper; cooked ~4 hours with olive oil and salt
COURSE 2
Pinot noir rosé
- White traditional Serbian bread, homemade whole wheat bread without yeast
- Beef ham, ham, traditional pork & beef sausage from this region
- Cream cheese with chives from garden, roll cheese
- Tomato from garden
COURSE 3
- Pumpkin soup with organic carrots, zucchini, and tomato paste
- Grapes from his vineyard
COURSE 4
Sarma: grape leaves, rice and beef topped with homemade cream
COURSE 5
Pinot Noir
- Beets
- Radish leaf salad with parsley, dandelion, lemon juice, olive oil
- Fermented grapes
- Paprika (grilled pepper), garlic, olive oil
- Duck, beef, baby goat, potatoes, carrot, rice
COURSE 6
Bermet (dessert) wine; a 400 year old recipe first made by a Hungarian king; made of 20 different herbs including wormwood
Cherry, blueberry and cream cake
POST-LUNCH READING
After 6 delicious courses and 5 glasses of wine, I sat in the front lawn on the recliner chair reading Eat, Pray, #FML and eventually fell asleep under the sun and took a brief nap. I thought, this is the life.
I took a deep breath and acknowledged how amazing this day was; how grateful I am to be here, in Serbia, traveling alone, living my dream.
PRE-SUNSET HIKE
Then I went on a little hike up to a beautiful view of Novi Sad and the Danube River.
As I stood there at the top, I took a deep breath and acknowledged how amazing this day was; how grateful I am to be here, in Serbia, traveling alone, living my dream.
SERBIAN HOSPITALITY
The hosts are so cute; they clearly don’t do takeaway (to-go) because they used what they had to wrap my leftovers. This is Serbian hospitality. I’m so grateful because I didn’t want to waste any of this goodness.
SUNDAY WELL SPENT
So that was my Sunday. From the moment I woke up to the moment I got home, I took my time with everything. I met some super sweet Serbians, ate some of the best local food I’ve had yet, relaxed, and enjoyed Serbian scenery. These are the days that I live for. I hope I never forget how beautiful today was.
10 COMMENTS
Kayla Luhrs
3 years agoHow much life do we miss by rushing through? Love this post as a reminder to experience, to enjoy, to LIVE! The food looks perfectly freshly cooked with deep colors; it makes my mouth imagine the flavors. So fun to see all this through your sharing!
rosecityoon
3 years ago AUTHORKayla!! Thanks for your support always ❤️ I know you would’ve loved all the homemade organic food made with so much intention and love!
Mariko
3 years agoThank you for sharing! That meal looked just incredible, and the scenery is stunning. I’m happy to be along for the ride. Hope you are doing okay!
rosecityoon
3 years ago AUTHORAw thank you Mariko! I appreciate your support so much 🙏❤️
Amy Springer
3 years agoLove that you are LIVING your life to the fullest ❤️ Please do keep us posted on what you’re up to and what you’re eating—I will miss seeing your frequent updates on Instagram! Continued safe travels cousin! 😘
rosecityoon
3 years ago AUTHORCousin!!!! Thanks so much, and most definitely will! I’m so happy you are following along! ❤️❤️❤️
Glaucia
3 years agoWow that sounds like a amazing day. Funny that I went to the same place back in June with my daughter and we stay over for the night and had a huge breakfast that was also delicious.
rosecityoon
3 years ago AUTHORWow you went there also?! How crazy. Breakfast there sounds so good! I would’ve loved to stay overnight!!
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rosecityoon
2 years ago AUTHORWow, that’s so incredibly kind! Thank you so much! This is not paid, I just did it myself!