14.11.2018

UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL AUSPICES OF „SIGEP“ THE INTERSLAST, 7th INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF PASTRIES, ICE CREAMS, CONFECTIONARY AND ORIGINAL DESSERTS TOOK PLACE

CROATIA AND SLOVENIA AT SIGEP COMPETITION 2019

The Interslast was especially interesting because of tasting original desserts made by foreign pastry cooks. So Panama presented cocadas and golleria and Great Britain showed 18th century English cake - lemon drizzle cake. Besides from Croatia, Great Britain and Panama participants were from Italy, France, Slovenia, Germany and Turkey.

The 7th International Congress of pastries, ice creams, confectionary and original desserts Interslast 2018 took place in Tuheljske Toplice. More than 300 participants and 110 competitive teams in 7 categories tasted nearly 200 kinds of cookies from different parts of the world.

The Congress foreign supporter was SIGEP, the world biggest fair of pastries from Italy, major sponsor was Podravka d.d. Koprivnica, expert sponsor Dukat d.d. and expert supporters were Croatian Culinary Association and Association of Confectioners of Croatia. It was highly attended manifestation under high auspices of the Krapina-Zagorje County and besides Croatia it was participated by Great Britain, Panama Italy, France, Slovenia, Germany and Turkey. Highly interesting lectures were given by ten experts from Croatia and Slovenia. Along with the experts' jury special acknowledgments were decided upon by international and local journalists. This year the Congress promoted original pastry from 5 Croatian counties and was focused on Zagorje and local štrukli (salted cheese strudel, bake or cooked). In Hrvatsko Zagorje close to 2 million of štrukli is produced every year, at home and in restaurants. And in the whole country of Croatia its production comes to 10 million a year. Original delicacies matching these numbers are rare. Štrukli are the most famous Croatian original treat and will be protected by EU as such in no time. It is Croatian brand and leader of the Croatian gastronomy.

Two major issues Croatian pastry production is facing today were stressed at the Congress. The first is protection of many original pastries and the second is lack of staff. According current data Croatia is short of 400 pastry cooks, both in private and catering sector. It is evident that we need to intensify education of more young pastry cooks and give them more expert studies. That pastry production is very interesting job is confirmed by facts: this year production and vending in Croatia in last nine month raised by 18% compared to the same period of the last year. Ice cream consumption was bigger than ever expected. For example, in last few years it was 25 million liters, last year it was doubled and this year it reached 60 million liters in nine months. These percentages are rare in any other economy sector in Croatia.

Croatia and Slovenia qualified for Competition of high pastry school students SIGEP 2019 in Rimini.