A public consultation titled "Local on the table, responsible towards the environment" was held today at the premises of the Velika Gorica City Tourist Board, ahead of this year's Gastro Turopolje event. The discussion focused on further developing the Turopolje gastronomic narrative and how Gastro Turopolje could evolve into a year-round tourism product. The impact of events on the environment and ways to reduce negative effects were also discussed.
Maja Toth, director of the Velika Gorica City Tourist Board, emphasised the need to preserve local gastronomic heritage today. She added that Gastro Turopolje always collaborates with local producers and women's associations from the city and surrounding areas. According to her, traditional Turopolje cauldron stew, Turopolje gibanica (cheese pie), Turopolje štrukli (cheese rolls), old-fashioned recipes for homemade cakes, and homemade preserves can be tasted at Gastro Turopolje.
Gastro Turopolje will be held for the 25th time this year, and for the first time, the event will last 11 days. As part of the event, a Week of Turopolje and Velika Gorica restaurants is held. The central part, on the weekend of 10 and 11 October, will feature a children's Gastro section, which was absent in previous years but has been held for the last three years. Students training to be chefs and waiters will prepare goulash, while nursery children will make apple strudels.
A theatre performance from a van on the theme of food will be held on Saturday, and the youngest attendees will be educated on Saturday and Sunday about how food is not waste. Students from cooperatives will sell their handicrafts. Gastro Turopolje runs until 11 October.
Gastro Turopolje is an economic fair organised in cooperation with the Association of Craftsmen. Entrepreneurs and small producers from across the county are presented at the fair. Honey Days, organised by Velika Gorica beekeepers, will also take place. Products from women's associations will be offered, including cakes, pastries, and everything prepared by grandmothers. Skradin cake and black risotto will also be available to taste.
The central event is the Sunday Turopolje lunch, where cauldron stew is prepared, with firefighters as the main stars of the meal.
