Dolenjska region is underrated region located in southeastern part of Slovenia. It is known for its Cviček wine, vineyard cottages, castles, rolling hills, rivers and thermal springs.

Some weeks ago I visited a shop Dobrote Dolenjske (Dolenjska delights) in Trebnje town. They also have another shop right in the center of Ljubljana. Both shops offer more than 300 types of food products such as salami, cheese, jams, honey, dried herbs, cookies, wine, schnapps, spreads, and other local products from Dolenjska region. What differs Dobrote Dolenjske from other shops is that they work hand in hand with local providers and promote countryside and its skillful people of Dolenjska region. Products sold under the Dolenjska Delights trademark are of high quality and traceable origin. What is more, Dolenjska region was (and still is!) the first region in Slovenia that precisely established a culinary map of 22 typical dishes of Dolenjska region.

1. Čaji in kisi patra Ašiča (Herbal teas and fruit vinegars of monk Ašič)
2. Cviček (Cviček – Original white & red cuvee from Dolenjska)
3. Čateški in drugi štruklji (Čatež and other rolled dumplings)
4. Martinetova krača (Roasted pork leg from Martinet Inn)
5. Štruklji z ocvirki in peteršiljevi štruklji (Rolled dumplings with cracklings and chop parsley fillings)
6. Mokronoški žlinkrofi (A type of filled pasta from Mokronog)
7. Pleterska hruška (Pear spirit from Pleterje monastery)
8. Matevž s kislim zeljem, repo in ocvirki (Bean and potato puree with sour cabbage or turnip and cracklings)
9. Ajdovi želodci s prekajenim mesom (Buckwheat dumplings with smoked pork)
10. Ščuka (Pike)
11. Češpljeva kaša (Millet porridge with dried plums)
12. Potancelj ali potanca (Buchwheat flat cake)
13. Poprtnik (Bread of Christmas period)   
14. Repa s fižolom Ribničanom (Sour turnip with Ribničan beans)
15. Suhokrajinski žlinkrofi (A type of filled pasta from Suha Krajina)
16. Postrv (Trout)
17. Fižolova torta (Beans Cake)
18. Pečena svinjska rebrca (Roasted pig ribs)
19. Kostelski čušpajs (Stew from Kostel)
20. Kostelska rakíja (Fruit spirit from Kostel)
21. Kočevski gozdni med (Kočevje forest honey)
22. Mirnopeški štruklji (Rolled dumplings from Mirna Peč)

Shop is nicely decorated and it shows creativity of the local people. I was welcomed by Barbara project manager at Dolenjska delights in Trebnje.

“Before a product is sold, it has to undergo a certification process and need to meet certain criteria. One of the requirements says, that a product needs to contain 70 % of the ingredients from the local area,” she says and offers me to taste 3 types of jams (cviček jam with pelargonium radens, modra frankinja jam with thyme, peach jam with mint). Jam tasting was something unique I need to admit.

More delicious homemade food was about to come starting with canapés (home baked bread with spelt rice, salami, goat cheese, smoked cow cheese wild garlic spread, spread with ham and leek).

The main course was mouth-watering – fresh spinach soup with roasted garlic bread, smoked sausage baked in the bread dough. Fresh taste of sage cordial and lemon balm cordial, which we prepare at Herbal Rooms Homestay as well, were great companion to my thirst. I had a bit of a space in my stomach left to finish this great culinary experience with homemade honey biscuits and millet porridge with dried plums.

Where to eat in Dolenjska region?

Gostilna and hotel Kovač, Sela 5, 1337 Osilnica
T: 00386 41 652 048
E: info@hotelkovac.com 

Gostišče Veronika, Ljubljanska cesta 35, 1330 Kočevje
T: 00386 1 895 30 17
E: artplet@siol.net

Gostišče Makšar, Breze 18a, 1310 Ribnica
T: 00386 31 510 425
E: pension.maksar@gmail.com

Gostilna pri Kuklju, Trubarjeva cesta 31, 1315 Velike Lašče
T: 00386 1 788 90 98
E: gostilna.kukelj@siol.net

Gostilna Pr’Mrtinet, Luče 45, 1290 Grosuplje
T: 00386 41 414 200
E: koscak.tatjana@gmail.com

Gostilna pri Obrščaku, Muljava 22, 1295 Ivančna Gorica
T: 00386 397 600
E: obrscak@obrscak-sp.si

Gostilna Meglič, Obrtniška ulica 2, 8210 Trebnje
T: 00386 41 648 631
E: info@gostilna-meglic.si

Gostilna in hotel Opara, Goliev trg 13, 8210 Trebnje
T: 00386 7 304 40 05
E: opera.trebnje@siol.net

Gostilna in hotel Rakar, Gorenje Ponikve 8, 8210 Trebnje
T: 00386 7 346 61 90
E: info@rakar.si

Gostilna Javornik, Rakovnik 6, 8232 Šentrupert
T: 00386 41 372 876
E: gostilna.javornik@siol.net

Gostilna deu zlata kaplja, Stari trg 3, 8230 Mokronog
T: 00386 40 368 359
E: /.

Posestvo Pule, Drečji vrh 16, 8231 Trebelno
T: 00386 51 620 100
E: info@pule.si

Gostilna Repovž, Šentjanž 14, 8297 Šentjanž
T: 00386 41 732 970
E: info@gostilna-repovz.si

Gostišče Dolinšek, Vrh pri Boštanju 23, 8294 Boštanj
T: 00386 7 814 15 95
E: info@gostisce-dolinsek.com

Gostišče Marinčič, Škocjan 73, 8275 Škocjan
T: 00386 41 342 210
E: marincic.inn@gmail.com

Gostilna Žolnir, Krška cesta 4, 8311 Kostanjevica na Krki
T: 00386 7 49 87 133
E: /.

Koča pri gospodični, Gospodična 10, 8231 Brusnice
T: 00386 41 682 469
E: gostinstvo.mrhar@siol.net

Gostilna Vovko, Ratež 48, 8231 Brusnice
T: 00386 7 308 56 03
E: anton.vovko@siol.net

Restavracija hotela grad Otočec, Grajska cesta 2, 8222 Otočec
T: 00386 7 384 89 01
E: booking@terme-krka.eu

Gostilna Pugelj, Ždinja vas 6, 8000 Novo mesto
T: 00386 41 769 608
E: /.

Hiša Fink, Irča vas 13, 8000 Novo mesto
T: 00386 41 601 540
E: info@hisafink.si

Restavracija Oštarija, Sokolski trg 2, 8350 Dolenjske toplice
T: 00386 31 712 500
E: jernej.jarc@ostarija.si

Gostišče Koren, Dolga vas 5, 8360 Žužemberk
T: 00386 31 430 645
E: info@turizem-koren.com

Lukčeva domačija, Vrh pri Fari 1, 1336 Kostel
T: 00386 31 285 723
E: info@lukceva-domacija.si

Domačija Javornik, Krka 27, 1301 Krka pri Ivančni Gorici
T: 00386 31 739 771
E: /.

Turistična kmetija grofija, Vir pri Stični 30, 1295 Ivančna Gorica
T: 00386 31 855 009
E: info@grofija.com

Turistična kmetija Fajdiga, Temenica 4, 1296 Šentvid pri Stični
T: 00386 31 505 679
E: /.

Kaplerjev mlin, Zavinek 3, 8275 Škocjan
T: 00386 51 641 222
E: /.

Eko-turistična kmetija Pri Martinovih, Globočice 8, 8262 Krška vas
T: 00386 41 381 271
E: info@martinovi.com

Turistična kmetija Šeruga, Sela pri Ratežu 15, 8222 Otočec
T: 00386 7 334 69 00
E: info@seruga.si

Domačija Novak, Sadinja vas pri Dvoru 7, 8361 Dvor
T: 00386 41 343 000
E: info@domacijanovak.eu

More about Dobrote Dolenjske/Dolenjska Delights on their web page http://dobrote-dolenjske.si/index.php?route=common/home