From the 4th to the 7th of February 4 to 7, 2025, Dubrovnik will host the second edition of the Dubrovnik Royal Gourmet festival. Bringing together professionals from the hospitality industry, gastronomy enthusiasts, and top experts, the event will feature competitions, free masterclasses, and workshops showcasing the latest trends in the culinary world.
The festival will take place at Royal Hotels & Resort, organized by the international association Chefs of Mediterranean and European Regions (ŠKMER). Known for events like Biser Mora and Grand Gourmet, ŠKMER combines the promotion of hospitality professions with competitions in skills and knowledge for professionals and hospitality schools, alongside insights into the latest industry trends. In addition to the competitions, masterclasses will be held by renowned chefs, bartenders, baristas, and HoReCa experts, along with presentations and tastings of specialty products designed to optimize seasonal operations. The program is open to the public with prior registration, as seating is limited.
Opportunities for Professional Advancement in Gastronomy
The core program unfolds on the 5th and 6th of February, with chefs, servers, bartenders, baristas, and pizzaiolos competing in various categories before an international panel of judges.
Chefs will participate in five categories: preparing main courses with chicken, fish, or vegan ingredients, as well as risottos and desserts. A separate category will be dedicated to pizzaiolos. Servers will compete in two categories: preparing and serving tartare paired with wine, and identifying 10 alcoholic beverages by scent while creating eight napkin designs. The "Chef's Table" category will highlight teamwork between chefs and servers, offering a holistic gastronomic experience from kitchen to table. Baristas will showcase skills in latte art and coffee-based cocktails, while bartenders will prepare long drinks in their competitive rounds.
Additionally, the festival offers workshops and educational sessions led by experts such as Master Chef Željko Neven Bremec, pastry chef Ivana Bradarić, and sommelier Damir Zrno. Topics include vegan buffets, chocolate techniques in desserts, pizza-making academies, wine masterclasses, and more.
An Event Tailored for Dubrovnik
"Based on feedback from hospitality professionals and gastronomy experts from the broader Dubrovnik area, it has become clear that an event like this, held at the start of February, is perfectly suited to the destination. This was confirmed by the exceptional response to all parts of the program, including the competition we organized in Dubrovnik for the first time. Excellent hosts at the hotel venue and ongoing connections with many participants throughout the year are reasons for satisfaction. For the second edition, we have prepared new educational programs and additional competition categories. Colleagues already know they can expect carefully designed workshops, and they will return to discover new trends and techniques, exchange experiences in a professional environment, and find better models and recipes for a successful tourism offering," announced Alma Harašić Bremec, the festival’s organizer.
This festival gathering in Dubrovnik provides a unique opportunity for hospitality venues to showcase their teams’ skills while offering competitors a platform for learning, networking, and discovering industry innovations.
For more information about the festival program, competition and masterclass registration, accommodation, and categories, visit the official website: Dubrovnik Royal Gourmet.
