Special Awards Mediterranean 2023Establishment

Zigante

Matej Lončar

Livade, Croatia

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Hidden Gems

Restaurants that deserve to be discovered for their unique culinary experience and the interpretation of their terroir.

Giancarlo Zigante, a tool maker from Plovanija in Istria, stumbled upon the biggest white truffle ever found in the 90s, in an ancient forest in Motovun. The discovery of the white truffle, registered in the Guinness Book of Records at a weight of 1.31kg, inspired Zigante to open his restaurant with rooms dedicated to truffle dishes in the heart of Livade, and organize a truffle festival. He transforms Istrian truffles into dishes such as egg with fresh black truffle, creamed potato, salted quail egg yolk, and Gruyere cheese, or oyster mushroom with amaranth and horseradish.