The long-awaited sunshine attracted numerous local and international visitors to the Zadar waterfront, where this Sunday saw the third barbecue event of the year organized by Narodni radio, 24sata, and PIK Vrbovec. The seaside barbecue atmosphere was further enhanced by the powerful voice of singer Đani Stipaničev, who entertained the crowd. Among the many guests was actress Doris Pinčić, who attended the event with her fiancé. She admitted she handles the grill quite well, although she jokingly added that the job still belongs to men. She was welcomed at the event by the always cheerful Davor Dretar Drele, who treated her to PIK Vrbovec delicacies.
Renowned chef Branko Ognjenović, a regular member of the Gastro jury and the Narodni Roštilj team with PIK, noted that this year’s competition featured the strongest lineup so far. The deciding factor, he said, was the Dalmatian sense of balance—neither too much nor too little seasoning, and carefully prepared meat ultimately determined the winner. The team from Smiljevac took first place, finishing just two points ahead of the runners-up.
The lively barbecue crew was also joined by well-known host and comedian Luka Bulić, accompanied by his daughter Nika. “My mother is from Zadar, so I’ve been here for a few days. I extended the weekend and came with my whole family to the Narodni barbecue with PIK. I’m happy that Narodni radio and 24sata brought not only great barbecue but also sunshine to Zadar,” Luka said.
Many visitors showed interest in the very affordable and visually appealing sedan Škoda Rapid, the official vehicle of the event. Retail chain Pevec showcased a wide selection of bicycles that caught the attention of both locals and visitors. Thirst was quenched with hectoliters of Karlovačko beer, while the entire event was, as always, spiced up by Kotányi.
It turned out that a friendly rivalry between the north and south exists even in the culinary world of barbecue. Teams from Slavonia warned their Dalmatian counterparts to watch out at the final on June 16 in Zagreb, to which the Zadar teams replied in a conciliatory tone: “Let them come!”
All in all, Narodni radio, PIK Vrbovec, and 24sata found the perfect recipe for an ideal afternoon—sun, sea, the best local music, meat delicacies, and plenty of good vibes.
Next Sunday, the cheerful crew heads to Istria for the first time. In Pula, near the Pula Arena, another culinary showdown and a full day of entertainment will take place, featuring the ever-energetic band Gustafi.
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07/07/2013