David Skoko
The chef de cuisine of Konoba Batelina is the main figure behind Aminess Wine & Gourmet Nights, and after a successful first season, he has chosen to take on additional culinary challenges alongside the Aminess gourmet team. This fish lover will be presenting Istria's traditional seafood dishes. He mostly uses fresh fish with a focus on both exotic and local vegetables, spices, and even some partly forgotten ingredients, which he turns into inventive creations with an Istrian flair. Each dish has been designed to offer guests a dash of tradition and gourmet creativity to remember – paired, of course, with carefully selected wines.
Janez Bratovž
This world-famous chef and owner of Ljubljana's JB Restaurant attributes his culinary skills to his powerful desire for perfection. His carefully designed gourmet creations are eminently modern and unique. Bratovž's unique culinary approach is apparent in each dish, and his guests can always expect an exciting gourmet journey alongside his world-class specialities based on fresh local ingredients. If one was to describe Janez's cuisine, it would be a mix between Mediterranean, French and traditional Slovenian cuisine.
Aljoša Jakončič
Year after year, this well-known Slovenian winemaker from the Gorizia Hills continually raises the quality of his wines to an enviable level, as witnessed by his numerous awards. Jakončič nurtures his family winemaking tradition with a modern flair. His winery lies in Slovenia's westernmost winemaking region, influenced by the Mediterranean climate and the Alps, which greatly shapes the character of his wines. Carolina Jakončič Winery is a true surprise in what is currently the most dynamic winemaking region in Slovenia, where Jakončič's successful wine experiments have earned him the appreciation of critics.
Suvad „Suwi“ Zlatić
This Austrian sommelier champion and wine and champagne expert teaches others about the benefits of esteemed international varieties with a smile on his face. Aside from transferring his knowledge of the culture of wine, his skill has also been recognised by official juries, which have given him numerous awards in recognition of his love of wine and champagne. 16th ASI Best Sommelier of Europe (2017), 16th ASI Best Sommelier of the World (2016), Vineus sommelier (2016), Ambassadeur de Champagne (2015/16), and Best Sommelier of Austria (2014) are just a few of the distinguished awards he has won. He closely ties his profession to sales – he considers sommeliers to be wine salesmen, who sell their product in a resourceful, elegant way. Just like car salesmen, sommeliers use the same skills and characteristics to sell wine.
Željka Bohar
This creative, affable pastry chef uses her years of experience in the pastry kitchen to teach Slovenian chefs and pastry chefs the art of modern confectionery. She describes her dessert cuisine as an exploratory experience you want to relive, instead of the mere desire for something sweet. She gained her dessert-making experience at the Kul IN confectionery school in Sisak and the Chocolate Academy in Istanbul. Today, she is the proud owner of the "Torterija" creative workshop, where she prepares delicious desserts to order and organises educational seminars.
Tomislav „Tom“ Gretić
Well known by Croatian audiences as a jury member of the Croatian Masterchef show, this world-class chef reached culinary heights in 2014 when he was proclaimed the best chef in Croatia. This eternally creative and adventurous chef who loves to experiment and learn about new cultures began his career in Zagreb before moving on to Warsaw, Egypt, Dubai and Switzerland. One of the most important experiences in his career was working at the Dolder Grand Hotel in Zurich, where he cooked for international music and film stars. In Croatia, he spent his best culinary days as chef of the Monte Mulini Hotel restaurant, which skyrocketed him to the top of the Croatian gourmet scene. His artful style came to the fore here, and his minimalism and exceptional knowledge of both foreign and local ingredients allowed him to create a unique style of cooking. Participating in Aminess Wine & Gourmet dinner has allowed him to return briefly to hotel cuisine, which he moved away from in order to travel and dedicate himself to finding new ways and styles of preparing unique gourmet specialties.
Jorg Zupan
This brave, creative young Slovenian chef from Ljubljana's Atelje restaurant continuously surprises lovers of the gourmet experience with his exceptional specialties. He is currently one of the leading chefs on the Slovenian gourmet scene, thanks to his modern interpretations of traditional Slovenian specialties and dishes inspired by modern Asian and Scandinavian cuisine.
Hrvoje Zirojević
World-class chef, teacher, lover of traditional and modern cuisine – this is Hrvoje Zirojević. He is one of the best chefs in Croatia, and he currently works as chef de cuisine at Laganini restaurant on Palmižana, where he has worked the long, demanding summer season for the past four years, all the while succeeding in keeping quality and presentation on an enviable level. His complex dishes look like works of art. For Zirojević, the plate is actually a canvas he enjoys painting daily. He believes education is a key factor in developing both chefs and gourmet cuisine in general. Thus, he dedicates his free time to lecturing at professional institutions.
Dragan Jovanović
This versatile rising star chef from Pula is known to Croatian television audiences from "Three, Two, One - Cook". Today, he is the proud leader of Pula Gastro Club, a place that brings together enthusiasts interested in learning and having fun while preparing specialities. Another good friend of the club is David Skoko, who often participates in various lectures. It was these meetings between Dragan and David that led to their successful cooperation at Aminess Wine & Gourmet dinners. Aside from running the Gastro Club, Dragan Jovanović also participates at numerous food festivals, where he actively prepares specialities side by side with numerous Croatian chefs.
Moreno Coronica (Vina Coronica)
In Koreniki, a small village in northwestern Istria, a unique story has been unfolding for generations – today, this story is presented by Moreno Coronica. Moreno is a winemaker who has dedicated his life to wine. Istrian Malvasia, Teran, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are the main protagonists in this beautiful story, which continues to thrill lovers of true Istrian wine year after year.
Klaudio Tomaz (Vina Tomaz)
It all began in 1918, when his grandfather Petar Tomaz started a small winery. His father Bruno continued the tradition, transferring his knowledge to Klaudio, who today proudly manages the production of world-class wines from Motovun. Klaudio recognised the potential of his family tradition and Istrian wines, and has raised their quality to an enviable level. Year after year, Tomaz wines receive numerous important recognitions from many wine experts.
Iločki podrumi
The Iločki podrumi vineyard, stretching across 990 hectares on the right bank of the Danube, produces top quality wines based on years of tradition. Iločki podrumi are the main reason why Ilok has developed into a wine destination of the region in the Croatian Danube river basin. Proof of the quality and tradition they have nurtured for decades is also witnessed by the fact that these world-class wines are even enjoyed at the English royal court on special occasions. The award-winning wines of Iločki podrumi will add yet another oenological spectacle to the Aminess Wine & Gourmet Nights project.
Ivica Matošević (Vina Matošević)
Istrian Malvasia with an authentic flair is the best description of this renowned Istrian winery, owned by Ivica Matošević. Ivica Matošević, an ambassador of Istria and the founder of a new wave of ambitious Istrian winemaking, has dominated the Istrian and Croatian wine scenes in recent years. Alongside Kozlović and Benvenuti, he is the most eminent producer of Istrian Malvasia as we know it today, a wine that pairs perfectly with Chef Skoko's specialities.
Vjenceslav Madić Kishoni
His skills have brought him to the very top of Croatian bartending. His years of experience, training, and the numerous seminars he holds for lovers of great cocktails are just a part of his diverse personality. He impresses audiences with his performances, as well as his exceptional skill in pairing cocktails with gourmet dishes, which he also displayed during his guest appearance at Aminess Wine & Gourmet dinner.