Mario, Ivor i Svebor ROMULIĆ

How do you actually determine what is a special experience in gastronomy when tastes are not discussed? This is where not only the indisputable quality of food, ideas, atmosphere and service are rewarded, but perhaps most of all - aroused emotions in the guest. This is exactly the kind of multisensory experience created by the Primitivo picnic area on the Čudesna šuma family farm near Osijek. It is miraculous because it is located on the very edge of Kopački rit, in the Bilje forest. It is even more miraculous because it grew on the personal story of Mario Romulić (50), the author of some of the most beautiful photographs of Croatian landscapes, nature and wildlife, especially those he took in his native Slavonia. His nickname is the Good Spirit of Kopački rit because he spent countless hours photographing the flora and fauna of the Baranja Nature Park. The connection he has made with nature has made him the agile environmental activist and advocate of sustainable living he lives today. His everyday life is focused on sustainable food production on the biodynamic estate Čudesna šuma, and his twins (23) Ivor and Svebor are also involved in this. With their own hands, they created Primitivo, a meeting place between people and nature. Mario no longer has time for photography, he occasionally uses his mobile phone to record the planting, harvesting, roasting and simmering of meat and vegetables in goose and clay pots, on an open fire, in tandoor ovens or on a South American grill. The realization that there is nothing from industrial production on the plates creates a special connection between the guest, the cuisine and the country from which it all originated. Long-term preparation and a slow cooking rhythm mean a return to primordial methods and create a strong experience – of smell, taste and atmosphere. Wonderful nature, a beautifully decorated oak house, an open fire and sitting around a common table - this is what evokes emotions and brings a feeling of warmth and hospitality. That is why the Romulić family belongs to the Gault & Millau Croatia Trophy Special Experience 2026.