Tuna as a local specialty

It cannot be determined with certainty when the first tuners date; watchtowers about 16 meters high where fishermen waited for tuna to enter the Bay of Bakar and signaled with a shout to those on the shore that it was time to hunt, but it is assumed that their existence dates back to the time before the nobles of Zrinski and Frankopan. The importance of tuna hunting in Bakarac is also shown by the fact that throughout the centuries, tunas were an important factor in solving the problem of local employment, which was especially evident in difficult times of social and economic crises. From the earliest childhood, every Bakarac citizen gained experience and trained as a fisherman, climbing on the tuna boats and helping in the tuna hunt, regardless of what job he would do later in life. The specificity of the relationship between Bakarac and tuners is evident throughout the many centuries of their existence. Tuners were present in the houses of Bakaraci during the summer days of intensive hunting, as well as in the winter while waiting for the start of the new hunting season. Every more pronounced hunting maneuver on the tuners drew the locals out to sea, and every significant hunt meant a festival for the whole town. Tuna fishing was the life of the whole place! Tuna steak as a local specialty can be found in the offer of some local restaurateurs throughout the year.

Donkey milk – OPG Suzi (donkey farm)

OPG Suzi is a wonderful place in Šmrika where there is a donkey farm. In their offer, they also have domestic donkey milk of their own production. One of the most important properties of donkey milk is its similarity to the chemical composition of mother’s milk. The taste is very mild, sweet and children like to drink it. Research has proven that the use of ungulate milk has a positive effect on the health of children, adolescents, adults and the elderly with autoimmune diseases. Milk consumption has a beneficial effect on bone ossification, it is used in patients suffering from asthma, bronchitis, chronic inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes, and has an anti-inflammatory effect.

Craft beers Škveranka and Gajetanska

Tavern Fran Krsto Frankopan offers two craft beers of Croatian production – Škveranka and Gajetanska! The names of the beers are related to Kraljevica – Gajetanska was named after the rock in the Carovo cove, which the local population knows well, and Škveranka is a kind of thanks to all the women who spent their working lives in the shipyard, not only in Kraljevica, but in all the shipyards. Gajetanska is a seasonal ipa with 5,5 percent alcohol, and Škveranka is a blond ale beer, similar to lager, with 4,1 percent alcohol. Both beers await tavern guests in half-liter bottles, and are poured into branded glasses. Both beers are unpasteurized, unfiltered and have a low CO2 content. Besides consumption, beers can also be bought as a gift or souvenir from Kraljevica.