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About this trip
A 'Taste of Southern Grace' Food and Wine Tour of Croatia featuring Chef Steven Devereaux Greene, September 3rd to 10th, 2023
Chef Richard Gruica and Captivating Croatia Tours cordially invite you to join us and our Chef-Host, the acclaimed Chef Steven Devereaux Greene and escape with us to exotic Croatia for a week-long, food-centric vacation of a lifetime. Come, and experience the ultimate culinary adventure which will take place from Sunday, September 3rd to Sunday, September 10th, 2023. Get ready to explore one of the most beautiful places in the world, as we visit Dubrovnik and the areas surrounding Croatia’s most storied city, before heading to wine country and then to Central Dalmatia. Let’s savor this country brimming with history and lore, while enjoying the very best food, drink, and sights alongside Chef Steven. Experience a luxury holiday unlike any other in the style you deserve. Get ready to Eat-Drink-Explore!
Day 1-
Sunday, September 3rd
Welcome to the Chef Steven Devereaux Greene 'Taste of Southern Grace' Food and Wine Tour of Croatia…
Welcome to Dubrovnik, one of the most beautiful cities in the world and the host location for your amazing adventure with Chef Steven Devereaux Greene and Chef Richard Gruica with Captivating Croatia Tours. Feel the warm Dalmatian breeze and sun on your face, and let it refresh you. Relax and put your thoughts of home away. We will be staying at the famed Hotel More (pronounced Moreh, meaning Sea in Croatian), which is a boutique 5-Star property built on the seaside of Lapad Bay, just outside of the walled Old Town of Dubrovnik. The Hotel More is special in several ways, not only is it an amazing hotel, but it has a unique Cave Bar that was voted one of the top 50 bars in the world! It also happens that Chef Richard spent his summers just down the street at his family house and the area is very near and dear to him. Enjoy the morning as you see fit before the group departure for a truly special day in the lesser-known and lesser-frequented Konavle Valley, just outside of Dubrovnik. Prior to that, we will visit Cavtat, for a walk around the charming sleepy seaside town near Konavle, with a stop for a drink/coffee before heading out to a fully functioning stone mill, where we will step back in time to see how things used to be. We will view how water was used to operate the mill in many ways and sustained the local community for ages. We have arranged for one of the top young winemakers making waves in the wine world to join us for an early dinner where he will pair and discuss his wines over the meal, with a couple of special treats from him to boot! You will get to experience Peka, the famed Balkan dish of lamb and veal cooked under coals, at an ancient countryside stone house.
Overnight Stay-Hotel More 5-Star
Please note, that all guests should arrive in Dubrovnik, Croatia within their own timeframe with the tour beginning on Sunday, September 3rd. Due to the nature of the ongoing travel industry, we advise that our guests arrive at Dubrovnik no later than Saturday, September 2nd.
Day 2-
Monday, September 4th
The Pearl of the Adriatic Awaits
Our day begins inside the ancient city of Dubrovnik, where we have arranged for a walk along the famed walls of the Old Town. Be prepared to take the BEST selfies ever! Afterward, you will experience another project of our founder, Chef Richard Gruica on his “Sights and Bites” food and wine/history walking tour, where you will be expertly guided through a tasting of the Old Town of Dubrovnik by our Foodie/History Guide. Prepare to be seriously wowed by the city’s fairytale-like setting enjoying its shiny white limestone streets, and enchanting narrow alleyways all while you eat and drink your way through the otherworldly Old Town. Enjoy free time after the foodie tour to explore Dubrovnik further on your own. Please bring comfy walking shoes/sneakers/sandals!!!
Overnight Stay-Hotel More 5-Star
Day 3-
Tuesday, September 5th
Wine Country Awaits...as well as Our Own Private Island Adventure…
Check Out/Check In
Today, we will head out from Dubrovnik enjoying a scenic drive with amazing seaside views the entire way. We will stay on the Pelješac Peninsula, one of Croatia’s most superlative spots for wine sipping and stunning scenery. Our hotel for the stay is the Aminess Grand Azur Hotel, which is a 4-Star property situated along the Adriatic Sea in Orebic. Before we get there, we will be making a stop in historic Ston. While in Ston, we will head to the nearby Ston Sea salt beds, the oldest still operational salt pools in the world for a quick tour. We will also get to see the Walls of Ston, the longest in the world outside of China’s Great Wall before we head over to Mali Ston, a seaside village that is famed for its oysters and mussels. We will enjoy a ride on a boat along the pristine waters, taking in the famed walls and tall craggy mountains, where we will get a demo on oyster farming and production, a tradition that has been happening here since antiquity. The oysters here are so good, even ancient Roman emperors used to put in delivery orders! We will venture out to a private island for a seafood feast prepared by Chef Steven, Chef Richard, and our local hosts, with loads of free time to frolic in the sea or even nap for the remainder of the day soaking up the Dalmatian sun.
Check-In and Overnight Stay-The Aminess Grand Azur 4-Star
https://www.aminess.com/en/aminess-grand-azur-hotel
Day 4-
Wednesday, September 6th
From Water to Wine…
Today, we will venture through the wine region of Dingač and hop on a couple of boats. The boats will take us out to experience the azure waters of the Adriatic. We will be joined by a local fisherman who doubles as a free diver and spearfisherman. After he demonstrates his craft, feel free to jump into the Adriatic with him and cool yourself down. In addition to fishing, we’ll go hunting for delicious sea urchins and other edible Adriatic surprises. After some time exploring the coastline, we will go back to shore and take our spoils to a leafy hidden gem to grill off our catch. We will also savor stewed octopus and black risotto, two Dalmatian specialties, and enjoy a relaxing meal under the trees while sipping on wines produced by the owner and his family. After the meal, we will return to the hotel to take some free time and refresh before we head to the peninsula’s top winery for a sunset toast of bubbly. We will then take part in a tour of the winery. Today concludes with a degustation dinner at the winery’s gourmet restaurant, followed by a beautiful surprise.
Overnight Stay-The Aminess Grand Azur 4-Star
https://www.aminess.com/en/aminess-grand-azur-hotel
Day 5-
Thursday, September 7th
The Journey of Land and Sea
Check Out/Check In
After another fun-filled day the day before, we are checking out a bit later before we make our way along the Adriatic coastline via the new Pelješac bridge to the coastal highway and then the main highway until we hit the city of Split, which is Croatia’s second-largest city and full of charm and history. We will get lunch at one of our favorite chefs at his new place featuring gourmet twists on local and region specialties before taking part in a walking tour of Split’s enchanting old town, which is tucked smack dab in the middle of an ancient Roman palace filled with history at every turn. We will then head out for a short drive to our fabulous 4-star hotel where we will be staying for two nights in Šibenik, one of Croatia’s lesser-known Croatian coastal cities. We will be staying at the ever-lovely D-Resort, one of Croatia’s most stylish resorts, with its sleek and striking design, creating a lovely juxtaposition to one of Croatia’s oldest port towns.
Overnight Stay-The D-Resort
Day 6-
Friday, September 8th
From Water to Wine
Today we experience Krka National Park, which 1 of the 2 Croatian National Parks that contains lakes and waterfalls and is always featured in videos on Croatia. Our time here will be spent exploring the walkways full of lush vegetation and scenic beauty before a short trip to Croatia’s premier winery that was featured in the Bourdain episode on Croatia. There, we will enjoy a wine and food pairing for a late lunch of your dreams. Take it from him when he said, “this is world class food; this is world class wine; this is world class cheese…If you haven’t been here yet, you are a fu@king idiot”. We will return back to the hotel afterwards with free time to do as you wish.
Overnight Stay-The D-Resort
Day 7-
Saturday, September 9th
Black Gold!
Get ready to enjoy the earlier part of the day at your own pace. Schedule a massage, book a boat or just relax! We will then take advantage of a recent discovery of mine and a totally new experience for the area, one that was previously only available in the Istrian peninsula…TRUFFLES! We will take part in a truffle hunt with the cutest dogs in the hills above Split and enjoy an al fresco meal full of truffles, with a dish enhanced by Chef Steven. We will head back to the hotel full of truffle love… What a perfect way to end the tour!
Overnight Stay-The D-Resort
Day 8 -
Sunday, September 10th
Till We Meet Again
Fond Farewell
Check Out
Guests will gather for breakfast at their leisure, before departing for the Split Airport via private transfer.
- As with any trip of this nature, we are at the discretion of Mother Nature and the schedule might change based on weather or other variables outside of our control. Captivating Croatia strives to give all guests the best possible experience, so rest assured that even if things happen you are in very capable hands.
I so look forward to hosting you alongside Chef Steven
Culinarily yours,
Chef Richard Gruica
What’s included
- Chef TimeThe chance to eat, drink, explore, experience, interact and learn alongside Chef Steven personally throughout the trip.
- 7 Night’s AccommodationLuxury accommodation 4 stars or higher
- All ExcursionsIncluding food, wine, tastings & classes
- Private TransportationAll transportation is included
- MealsAll Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 6 Dinners
- Private GuideYour guide (Chef Richard Gruica) is Croatian-American and also a chef!
- Airport TransfersPick up and drop off at the designated group airport
What’s not included
- AirfareAirfare is not included. Guests must be in Dubrovnik ready to start the trip by 10:30 am on Sunday, Sept 3rd. We highly recommend getting in a day earlier to acclimate and to avoid issues.
- Travel InsuranceThis is very STRONGLY recommended.
- Tips/GratuitiesThese would be optional additional tips for guides/hosts
- Extra Food/DrinkAny other food/drink not provided on the tour.
Available Packages
Available options
Itinerary
Day 1-
Sunday, September 3rd
Welcome to the Chef Steven Devereaux Greene 'Taste of Southern Grace' Food and Wine Tour of Croatia…
Welcome to Dubrovnik, one of the most beautiful cities in the world and the host location for your amazing adventure with Chef Steven Devereaux Greene and Chef Richard Gruica with Captivating Croatia Tours. Feel the warm Dalmatian breeze and sun on your face, and let it refresh you. Relax and put your thoughts of home away. We will be staying at the famed Hotel More (pronounced Moreh, meaning Sea in Croatian), which is a boutique 5-Star property built on the seaside of Lapad Bay, just outside of the walled Old Town of Dubrovnik. The Hotel More is special in several ways, not only is it an amazing hotel, but it has a unique Cave Bar that was voted one of the top 50 bars in the world! It also happens that Chef Richard spent his summers just down the street at his family house and the area is very near and dear to him. Enjoy the morning as you see fit before the group departure for a truly special day in the lesser-known and lesser-frequented Konavle Valley, just outside of Dubrovnik. Prior to that, we will visit Cavtat, for a walk around the charming sleepy seaside town near Konavle, with a stop for a drink/coffee before heading out to a fully functioning stone mill, where we will step back in time to see how things used to be. We will view how water was used to operate the mill in many ways and sustained the local community for ages. We have arranged for one of the top young winemakers making waves in the wine world to join us for an early dinner where he will pair and discuss his wines over the meal, with a couple of special treats from him to boot! You will get to experience Peka, the famed Balkan dish of lamb and veal cooked under coals, at an ancient countryside stone house.
Overnight Stay-Hotel More 5-Star
Please note, that all guests should arrive in Dubrovnik, Croatia within their own timeframe with the tour beginning on Sunday, September 3rd. Due to the nature of the ongoing travel industry, we advise that our guests arrive at Dubrovnik no later than Saturday, September 2nd.