The Oily Fish Route
A tour of the Oily Fish Route
The Riviera Crikvenica has a rather unusual route that is not named after a celebrity or event, but after oily fish instead. It is a culinary offer based on local tradition and is available throughout the year. Oily fish has beneficial effect on our health and the people of Crikvenica have always been aware of this. In the past, fishing was the most important activity and many fishermen from this area were in high demand because of their skills, even in distant overseas countries. At that time, oily fish was an indispensable part of almost every meal.
The ‘Oily Fish Route – Oily Fish Month’ project has also won the recognition of professionals. In 2014, it received the ‘Simply the Best’ award in the category of thematic gastronomic events, and it also played an important role in Crikvenica Tourist Board’s successful bid for the World’s Most Creative Destination award, which it won that same year.
In 2024, the ‘Oily Fish Route’ project was further expanded with an educational component in the form of a memory game. The Crikvenica-themed memory game is designed not only for entertainment but also for learning. It features illustrations of fishing tools, oily fish dishes, fishing vessels, prominent figures in the fishing industry, and more. The terms are presented in both Croatian and English, while the names of oily fish species are additionally given in Latin.
At the 29th World Regions of Gastronomy Forum, held last year in Sicily, the Crikvenica ‘Oily Fish Route – Memory Game’ achieved outstanding success by winning the award for Best Educational Gift at the prestigious international competition ‘World Food Gift Challenge 2025’, organized by IGCAT (International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism). The award was given in competition with 34 products from 12 countries.
We have also produced traditional playing cards (briškula and trešeta) featuring the visual identity of the ‘Oily Fish Route’. Over the years, numerous educational activities have been organized for restaurateurs, hospitality school students, and visitors to our Riviera.
Over time, around thirty restaurants from the Crikvenica area have joined the project, enriching their menus with special dishes based on oily fish and enhancing the overall guest experience. Currently, the following establishments are participating in the ‘Oily Fish Route’ project: the restaurants ‘Burin’ and ‘Dida’, the tavern ‘Karoca’, the hotel restaurant ‘Miramare’, the restaurant ‘Half 8’ (Hotel ‘Aminess Younique Narrivi’) and ‘Lemoon’ (Hotel ‘Esplanade’) in Crikvenica; in Dramalj, the restaurant ‘Domino’; and in Selce, the tavern ‘Ulika’ and the hotel restaurant ‘Marina’.
On our special flyer, you’ll find restaurants and hotels marked with the Oily Fish Route label.
OILY FISH MONTH
A special event related to Oily Fish Route that reminds of the tradition of fishing is Oily Fish Month that takes place in September, when local restaurants present their specialities. In addition to tasting healthy fish dishes, this event also includes other interesting activities, such as workshops dedicated to preparing traditional oily fish dishes, where you too can learn how to prepare delicious and healthy meals at home. The event is accompanied by an entertainment programme with music and dancing in the fresh sea air and in the good company of your hosts.
In 2014, ‘Oily Fish Route – Oily Fish Month’ won the Simply the Best award in the themed culinary events category.
A SMALL CULINARY TIP
Don’t miss out on Crkveniške rupice! This dish is also known as balice, kolubice and gunjci around these parts.
If you ask for the recipe, everyone will be more than happy to share with you how the mothers and wives of fishermen used to make this delicious dish in the past.
