Best of Belgrade Food Scene 2023: A value for money guide

It has been a while since I did this type of list. Firstly, COVID threw a spanner into a lot of great businesses which did not survive the pandemic or have changed how they work entirely (lots of them, like Proleće and most of Skadarlija becoming basically crap overpriced tourist haunts) . Secondly, when I started writing this blog, Belgrade’s food scene was significantly less … Continue reading Best of Belgrade Food Scene 2023: A value for money guide

Beyond ajvar, burek and ćevapi: building your kafana cred with must-try offal and regional dishes

While Serbia and the Balkans come nowhere near Italy in purism about food and food related customs (aka culinary fascism), there are certain things that are not done, and certain other signs that signal to you that you are in the presence of a true gastronomic veteran. For example, one of the main tells that you are a non-local in Serbia is ordering ajvar in … Continue reading Beyond ajvar, burek and ćevapi: building your kafana cred with must-try offal and regional dishes

Beyond splavs and Ada: how to spend your Belgrade summer

After two lousy years of the pandemic, now there is a potential world war threatening to sour our „špricers“. However if the years of turbulence taught us anything, it is that it is important to make the most out of a lousy situation, something that Belgrade always excelled at. While most of the guides will send you to swim in Ada, eat in Skadarlija or … Continue reading Beyond splavs and Ada: how to spend your Belgrade summer

Politically charged pies and the first Chinese dish in Serbia: More stories about Serbian food

If you think you are a Balkan culinary know it all for loving ćevapi, sarma, burek and kajmak, well the truth is… there is plenty more to discover. Everybody knows they are great, and with ajvar now present on the supermarket aisles from LA to Dubai, and the increasing number of restaurants serving Serbian fare all around the world: from Kafana in New York, via … Continue reading Politically charged pies and the first Chinese dish in Serbia: More stories about Serbian food

Sticky post

Karafindl: The Nutshell Times Good Kafana Guide

Given that the culinary scene in Serbia not only expanded, but changed sufficiently to attract the interest of Michelin guides, a few friends and I lamented the receding prominence of good Serbian kafanas on the culinary landscape. Yes, this is probably overly nostalgic and curmudgeonly, however once one hits a certain age, has had the chance to taste enough varied dishes and has been overcharged … Continue reading Karafindl: The Nutshell Times Good Kafana Guide

Fast food: Indulging during Lent in Belgrade

Serbia enjoys a bit of a reputation for heavy feasting, especially involving copious amounts of grilled mince meat, and piglets and lambs roasting on spits. There, however, is another, deeply traditional side to our food, which, although somewhat unfashionable for a few generations, is coming back with the global rise of veganism and fasting and rediscovery of religious fervour in the country. Traditional Orthodox fasts … Continue reading Fast food: Indulging during Lent in Belgrade

Pokretači#89 Marija Veljanovksa o tome kako je Miamiam začinio beogradsku restoransku scenu

Marija Veljanovska je pokrenula jedan od najuzbudljivijih restorana u Beogradu: Miamiam. Pričali smo o ugostiteljstvu i tome kako izgelda ulaziti u isto sa ambicioznim idejama i drugačijim ukusima. Beleške Pratite Pokretače i na iTunesu, TuneIn, Stitcheru i YouTubeu,a i slušajte nove epizode na Radioaparatu svakog ponedeljka od 16h.   Za Pokretače i slične sadržaje, lajkujte The Nutshell Times na Facebooku! Postanite mecena Pokretača i The Nutshell Times-a preko Patreona. Continue reading Pokretači#89 Marija Veljanovksa o tome kako je Miamiam začinio beogradsku restoransku scenu

Best of Belgrade June 2019: Ultimate Belgrade Eating and Drinking Guide

It’s been a while since I’ve done a list of Belgrade’s best spots for eating and drinking. Part of the reason is my laziness, and the other part is that in the past few years, there has been a boom in the offer. While before there were a few new places worth checking out every month, now there is enough to lose track (thankfully insta-fiends … Continue reading Best of Belgrade June 2019: Ultimate Belgrade Eating and Drinking Guide

Pokretači #37 Senka Pajić – Ispeci pa Reci/Beograd

Senka Pajić, dramaturškinja po obrazovanju i veteran advertisinga, je pre skoro dve godine pokrenula jednu od mojih omiljenih Beogradskih poslastičarnica: Ispeci pa Reci. Sa Senkom sam pricao o njenom putu do poslastičarstva, o manje slatkim delovima posla i o tome kako je pokretati posao kao majka malog deteta. Notes: View this post on Instagram Ako ste ozbiljan ljubitelj kafe, probajte naš kuki sa kapućinom. Mi … Continue reading Pokretači #37 Senka Pajić – Ispeci pa Reci/Beograd

How to Bust Post-Holiday Blues in Belgrade

Although I love Summer (and especially late Summer) in Belgrade, coming back from holidays is always a shock, especially if you have to immediately go to the office. All the golden, calm feeling of chilling at the beach, hiking or just doing something  different can quickly disappear, to be replaced by the seeping anxiety of returning to the glum daily grind and all the problems you … Continue reading How to Bust Post-Holiday Blues in Belgrade

The Sweet Torments of Krsto Radovic

Since opening three years ago, the Mandarina cake shop has developed something of a cult following among Belgrade’s foodies. The lust for their colourful, irregularly shaped cakes and crunchy croissants occasionally results in small queues forming in front of this smartly designed shop in Gracanicka, a short hop from Knez Mihailova. Behind it all, is the sibling duo Kamelija Radojcic and Krsto Radovic, and years … Continue reading The Sweet Torments of Krsto Radovic

Sarma, Testicles and Kid-roasts: Rural Serbia’s Real Foodies

The global foodie trend made urbanites in Serbia more conscious about their consumption, and even inspired some of them to try their hand at making healthier, or at least, tastier food. In Belgrade, there are now numerous events devoted to producers of anything from Serbian truffles to Serbian tabasco. Although there are some misfires, Belgrade’s Cheese festival, Night Market and Wine Jam constantly deliver a … Continue reading Sarma, Testicles and Kid-roasts: Rural Serbia’s Real Foodies

Best of Belgrade 2017: Haute or not?

The fancier – the worse, still seems to be the rule with restaurants in Belgrade, but the quality and diversity are increasing Somewhat increased standard of living translated in many high-end places popping up last year, but sadly the pretence did not translate into quality, although it certainly provided enterntainment. I thought it could not get worse when I read that a restuarant offered an … Continue reading Best of Belgrade 2017: Haute or not?

9 must-sees in Slovenia, Europe’s fairytale country

If you are in doubt as to where to go this summer (or ever): go to Slovenia  I love Slovenia. It is easily one of the prettiest countries in Europe and one of the most pleasant to explore. Although it has been on the interrail trail for a while, it still feels like a hidden gem. It even has an instagram-crazed president and it gave … Continue reading 9 must-sees in Slovenia, Europe’s fairytale country

The Nutshell Guide: Dubai, off the glitzy track

In terms of activities, there is much more than meets the eye and plenty of it won’t kill your wallet. Jumeirah beach is a must, especially on Fridays as you will see Dubai’s cosmopolitain population bronzing their toned bodies. There is also an emerging urbane crowd who enjoy arts and performances, as well as a local magazine Brownbook to keep you in the loop on … Continue reading The Nutshell Guide: Dubai, off the glitzy track

Best of Belgrade / Summer 2016: Belgrade, the world

In the shallowest parts of my soul, which I am slightly ashamed of, a thing that I thought I might miss a lot when I moved back to Belgrade from London was the variety of cuisines and their high quality (despite the prejudice about food in Britain). I am pleasantly surprised that the variety in Belgrade is increasing by year, especially with our very belated … Continue reading Best of Belgrade / Summer 2016: Belgrade, the world

The Nutshell Guide to Belgrade (2014): Top foods

Serbian food is getting a lot of good press lately, and it is quite something: no good night out ever ends without a pop to a street food stall (pljekavica and burek are the most common), and the people tend to take their food quite seriously (not to mention plentifully). A mix of various influences, from Turkish to German, it tends to be on the  heavy side … Continue reading The Nutshell Guide to Belgrade (2014): Top foods

TNT London Food guide: Spring 2013 edition

London weather this year lived up to its bad reputation and it seems that springtime decided to start only now, giving us a brief glimpse in April. Is this important? In the city where people’s heads are hacked off on the street, not to speak about the greater global tragedies (tornadoes! falling bridges! massacres! poverty!), maybe not. But for the lucky few, whose wider anxieties … Continue reading TNT London Food guide: Spring 2013 edition