Freshly caught fish from the Bay of Kotor, shrimp from Ulcinj, squid from the fishing village of Bigova, and scallops from the open sea, along with locally grown vegetables, were on the menu for Western Balkans leaders during the Brdo-Brioni Summit. The summit, hosted by President Jakov Milatović, was held in Tivat on October 7 and 8.
The Brdo-Brioni Process is a joint Slovenian-Croatian initiative launched in 2010, aimed at strengthening mutual trust and assisting the Western Balkans countries on their path to the European Union.
Presidents from the region, including Nataša Pirc Musar (Slovenia), Vjosa Osmani (Kosovo), Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova (North Macedonia), Zoran Milanović (Croatia), Bajram Begaj (Albania), Aleksandar Vučić (Serbia), members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović, Denis Bećirović, and Željko Komšić, along with Milatović, enjoyed Mediterranean cuisine at restaurants belonging to an exclusive local hospitality chain.
The dinner for the presidents was held on October 7 at the Forza Terra Hotel in Kotor, while the working lunch took place the next day at the Forza Porto restaurant in Tivat. The menu, crafted by chef Filip Popović, featured fish and seafood in unique combinations. Popović also led the food preparation process, showcasing the richness of the Montenegrin version of Mediterranean cuisine.
The Western Balkans leaders had the opportunity to taste locally grown vegetables – tomatoes, cucumbers, and baby zucchini from Grbalj, potatoes from Grahovo, and goat cheese from Nikšić area. The only imported item on the menu was the unavoidable Istrian truffles.
For dessert, guests were served traditional Kotor cream pie, prepared by local pastry chef Danijela Joketić, who has decades of experience. The dinner was accompanied exclusively by wines from the Montenegrin state winery Plantaže – 13. jul, which boasts the largest vineyard in Europe.
The atmosphere was enhanced by the Kotor klapa music group Castel Nuovo, singing Bokelian songs, as the presidents engaged in relaxed conversations about the future of the Balkans.
The Forza brand has been around for over thirty years, and their hotels attract famous guests from around the world. The list of celebrities who have dined there before the Balkan leaders includes Tina Turner, Beyoncé, Jay Z, Roberto Cavalli, Flavio Briatore, Pep Guardiola, Michael Johnson, Jerry Jones, Novak Djokovic, Guy Ritchie, renowned Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, and British businessman Nathaniel Rothschild.
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