Taste Novo Mesto: Štruklji Conference – Gastronomy Between Tradition, Reality and the Future

As part of Taste Novo Mesto, a month-long culinary initiative taking place in Novo Mesto throughout November, Zavod Novo mesto, in collaboration with Dobrote Dolenjske, is organising the closing event: the second Štruklji Conference, entitled Gastronomy Between Tradition, Reality and the Future. The conference will take place on 27 November 2026, from 9 am to 1 pm, at Narodni dom in Novo Mesto.

The conference will open up a discussion on the current state of Dolenjska gastronomy, its key challenges and opportunities for future development. It is intended for hospitality providers, local producers, suppliers and other stakeholders who contribute to shaping the region’s gastronomic identity, as well as anyone with an interest in the subject.

The conference will be moderated by Grega Repovž of Gostilna Repovž, President of JRE Slovenia, who will also lead the main panel discussion with four guests: Toni Kukenberger (Kukenberger Organic Farm), Jože Mrak (Gostilna Mrak), Marko Pavčnik (Pavus Restaurant) and Matevž Slokar (Kralj Matjaž). The programme will also feature a Kevdr podcast with guest Gregor Kren, sommelier and long-standing member of the team at Hiša Fink, who was named Slovenia’s Best Waiter/Sommelier by Gault&Millau Slovenia in 2022. Dobrote Dolenjske will take care of the culinary element, offering a tasting of various types of štruklji. The programme will conclude with a culinary demonstration by Tanja Rajar, a contestant in this year’s series of MasterChef Slovenia, who will showcase her take on contemporary štruklji.

Attendance is free of charge, but advance registration is required through the Novo Mesto Tourist Information Centre (TIC Novo mesto) at tic@novomesto.si or on +386 41 202 080.

Please note: The event will be held in Slovenian.

Find out more about this year’s Taste Novo Mesto initiative – via the link.