In September, Podgorica got its first Street Food Festival, the event which combines the love for good food and enjoyment of music outdoors. From 18th till 21st September, the park in Jovana Tomaševića Street was turned into a proper culinary stage, where the visitors can indulge in various gastronomic experiences.
The Festival was conceived as a modern concept, gathering the best-known restaurateurs of the Capital. Amongst the participants, there were well-known brands like Goodfellas, Voli Take & Go, München, Arabian Tea House, Radinović, Montegreen, Sushi market, Jokić grill house, Munchies, Qualiko, Krompirko, Dječja čarolija and Pizza Party. Each one of them offered its recognizable signature, from burgers and sandwiches, through Asian and Oriental cuisine, up to traditional local specialities.
Amongst over 70 dishes offered during the Festival, there were globally recognized favourites like pizza, burger and sushi, but also the authentic tastes of Montenegrin cuisine, like “ćevapi” or “popeci”. It was exactly this combination of international and local dishes that gave the Festival a special charm, since it is not just a matter of food, but also of experience which connects cultures.
In order not to expand the Festival beyond gastronomy itself, the organizers also prepared a varied musical programme. Every day, from 6 p.m. till midnight, the visitors enjoyed free-of-charge concerts of the bands like Tropico, Lombecia and Nast.Roje, Prava stvar, while DJs like Nesha, Mandozica and many others were in charge of the overall atmosphere. The combination of good food and music throughout the four days of the Festival turned Podgorica into a proper place of socialising and enjoyment.
The atmosphere in the park was almost a festival-like, in the true sense of the word, the smells of food from the stands, the sounds of good music, colourful lights and smiling faces. The visitors walked among various food stalls, tasted an odd bite in one place, took a sip at the other, forgetting for a moment that they are in Montenegrin capital. It is exactly that feeling of the “European vibe” that can be pointed out as the greatest value of this event, because the Festival has brought dynamics and the spirit which has long been cherished in the cities like Berlin, Vienna or Barcelona.
The support of numerous partners and friends has been a special contribution to the Festival, among which there were the following: Glovo, Capital City of Podgorica, Tourism Organization of Podgorica, Montecco, Carlsberg, Montenegro Chamber of Economy, Aqua Bianca and Kings Park Hotel.
The Street Food Festival is an ideal opportunity for Podgorica to show that it is capable of combining rich gastronomic offer and top-class music content. I am glad that the citizens and visitors will have an opportunity to enjoy the tastes from the entire world, but also those of local specialities. Such events not only enrich cultural life of the city, but also contribute to the development of tourism, support to local restaurateurs and the entire community”, said the Director of Podgorica TO, Dragan Grnović.
Judging by the response and atmosphere, the organizers succeeded in their intention. The First Street Food Festival opened the door to a new story in which gastronomy is not just food, but also a way to socialize, create memories and share the moments.
If the day is known by the morning, it is then certain that this festival is going to become traditional and the event not to miss in the calendar of the Capital City. Until then, those who have visited Podgorica Street Food Festival will take with them the smells, tastes and sounds to be remembered.
