Stiven Vunić

In the life of Stiven Vunić, the owner and chef of the restaurant Zijavica in Mošćenička Draga, everything revolves around the sea. Growing up in the family of one of the oldest scampi fishermen in Kvarner shaped his choice of life. The seasonal work in cafes, the Opatija Hospitality School for waiters, and then the chef programme at the Culinary Institute KUL IN in Sisak, were just a stopover on the way to the ultimate goal: opening his own restaurant.

The fine dining Konoba Zijavica, located right next to a beautiful beach, is run by him and his wife Tea Vunić, who makes the desserts, while Stiven has been honing his gastronomic identity for 15 years. It is primarily based on the daily catch of seafood. His dishes are inspired by the tradition of the Liburnian region, but his sophisticated approach to cooking results in original and creative dishes that keep guests coming back to Zijavica. Such as a flounder in a lemon and olive oil emulsion, a spider crab (granseola) on a pancake filled with béchamel and pomegranate, a beetroot tartare and chips, and anchovies with hazelnuts and leeks. Chef Vunić is a member of the JRE, and his Zijavica has 3 Gault&Millau toques. In 2022, the gastronomic guide awarded him the Trophy Grand Chef of Tomorrow. Zijavica has also a Michelin plate.