Ivan Mažuranić Square was full of great food, good music, and a lively atmosphere yesterday. The weather cooperated, allowing for a fantastic gastro gathering where the star of the event was local chef Damir Tomljanović, a judge on the popular culinary show MasterChef on Nova TV.

Local restaurateurs served a variety of delicacies from their Advent stalls. Chef Tomljanović sampled the “Novljančica” sandwich, the “Ružica” wrap, and a special Novi-style sausage – all uniquely named creations. After tasting, each team presented their dish on stage, and Chef Tomljanović gave his feedback. He praised all the dishes, but gave a slight edge to the special Novi sausage.

Visitors were thrilled to meet the TV personality and take photos with him – and Chef Tomljanović also enjoyed spending time with his fellow citizens. After the gastro show, hosted by Boris Novaković, the band Trend took the stage and kept the crowd warm with their lively music.

“I believe the gastro experience is something we will focus on more in the coming year, as it’s one of the reasons people choose a destination,” said Tena Peričić, Director of the Tourist Board of Novi Vinodolski. “It’s no surprise that events like this attract so many people – especially when it’s a cooking show where visitors can not only taste the food, but watch it being prepared live. I’d like to thank our fellow citizen, Chef Damir Tomljanović, for being a guest of our Advent program.”