The island of Cres, known for its untouched nature and rich history, is ready to offer another unique experience. This coming Saturday, May 10th, in the heart of the town of Cres, an event will be held that will surely delight all lovers of sweet delicacies and indigenous flavors. It is the premiere presentation of a new signature cake called „Creska rožica“. This exceptional dessert is not just culinary skill; it is a symbol of a double significant jubilee celebrated on the island: an impressive 180 years since the beginnings of tourism on Cres and three decades of successful and dedicated work, as well as nurturing sweet tradition, by the Slastice Margareta craft business.

The story of tourism on Cres, whose beauties and accommodation attract visitors, began way back in 1845. On that June 1st, as chronicles record, the island welcomed its first officially recorded tourists. Those first visitors, besides being enchanted by the untouched nature, crystal clear sea, and the warm hospitality of the local population, immediately recognized and highly valued the richness and authenticity of the local cuisine. From those pioneering days to the present day, Cres has established itself as a true natural jewel of the Adriatic, and its gastronomic offer has remained one of the most important and attractive assets, attracting gourmets from all over the world. The island abounds in natural beauty, from secluded coves and beaches, through the dense forests of Tramuntana in the north, to Lake Vrana, a natural phenomenon and a vital source of drinking water for the entire archipelago. Also, Cres is home to protected griffon vultures, making it a special destination for nature lovers and ecotourism.

Creska rožica: A blend of tradition and modern gastronomic expression

The „Creska rožica“ cake is not just an ordinary dessert; it is a carefully designed symbol that connects the island's rich tradition and contemporary confectionery trends in the sweetest possible way. It represents a kind of homage to the unique island way of life, its simplicity, but also the richness of natural benefits that Cres selflessly offers. For the making of this cake, exclusively carefully selected local ingredients were used, those that have formed the basis of Cres cuisine for centuries and are passed down from generation to generation. Dried figs, ripened under the Mediterranean sun, crunchy almonds, aromatic local honey collected from the flowers of Cres sage and other wild herbs, and a drop of homemade brandy create a unique and unforgettable aroma that carries the very spirit of the island. Every bite of „Creska rožica“ tells a story of the island's long and turbulent history, the beauty of its somewhat wild yet tame simplicity, and the deep love and respect for local, indigenous ingredients. Therefore, „Creska rožica“ transcends the definition of an ordinary cake – it is designed as a new, recognizable gastro souvenir of Cres. The goal of its creation is for visitors to take from the island not only the memory of an extraordinary taste, but also a deep emotion and a piece of the atmosphere they experienced. This delight for the palate, but at the same time a balm for the soul, will be available even after the official promotion, as part of the permanent offer of the Slastice Margareta craft business, so that every guest has the opportunity to take a piece of Cres home with them, as a sweet memory of their stay on this magical island.

Promotion with music and tasting

The ceremonial promotion and presentation of this exceptional dessert will take place on Saturday, May 10th, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The event will take place on the main town square in Cres, a place that exudes history and Mediterranean charm. On that occasion, all present visitors will have the opportunity not only to see the premiere presentation of the „Creska rožica“ cake, but also to taste it. Along with the star of the day, „Creska rožica“, other traditional desserts that have made the Slastice Margareta craft business and the island of Cres famous will also be offered. Among them will be the popular buculini (also known as gingerbread cookies), then oliva buculini (a special type of gingerbread enriched with olive oil), kacotini (crunchy almond cookies), ružmarinići (aromatic rosemary cookies), the unmissable smokvenjaci (fig cakes), and gromačice (a moist cake with honey, almonds, and walnuts). To make the overall experience complete, the musical atmosphere will be provided by the talented trio Salvia from the neighboring Mali Lošinj, whose notes will further enrich this sweet festival.

The preparation of all desserts for this special occasion is undertaken by the renowned Cres family craft business „Slastice Margareta,“ which is run with great love and dedication by Margareta Debelić Radetić. This family craft business has been successfully operating for a full thirty years, and their mission from the very beginning was clear: to restore, preserve from oblivion, and promote the oldest and indigenous Cres recipes. What sets their products apart is the fact that they are all made without the use of preservatives and artificial ingredients. Every cake, every cookie, is handmade, and their basis is quality local ingredients such as walnuts, almonds, figs, honey (including the prized sage honey), fresh lemons and oranges, and other fruits of the Cres land. The superior quality of their products has not gone unnoticed. „Slastice Margareta“ are recipients of numerous prestigious recognitions and awards for their work and contribution to the preservation of gastronomic heritage. Additionally, all their traditional products proudly bear the Croatian Island Product (HOP) label, which guarantees their authenticity and quality, and confirms their importance in promoting Cres as a destination rich in tradition.

Margareta Debelić Radetić, the owner of the craft business, proudly emphasizes the philosophy behind the creation of „Creska rožica“: „When we were creating „Creska rožica,“ our fundamental desire was for every ingredient in it to carry a deeper story, a story about our island and its past. We found inspiration in the simple, yet exceptionally rich flavors that the first tourists could taste on Cres almost two centuries ago – dried fig, almond, honey, and homemade brandy. These are the ingredients that our grandmothers offered to the travelers of that time, tired from their journey but curious, in the shade of centuries-old dry stone walls and with the intoxicating scent of island gardens filled with herbs. This cake is my personal way to connect the past and the present – to celebrate our rich tradition and offer it to new generations of visitors and local people, all summarized in one unique bite.“ Ms. Debelić Radetić also extended a cordial invitation to all interested parties to come this Saturday to the main square and grace the event with their presence and, of course, sweeten the day with exquisite desserts from her workshop.

Authentic experience of the island of Cres

Željka Stašić, director of the Cres Town Tourist Board, who continuously works on promoting the island as an attractive tourist destination, also expressed her enthusiasm for the new gastronomic product: „The „Creska rožica“ cake is a perfect example of how tradition, with creativity and love for heritage, can be transformed into an authentic and unforgettable experience that tells the story of our beautiful island in the best possible way. In the year when we proudly mark the grand 180 years of organized tourism on Cres, we wanted to particularly highlight not only the undeniable beauty of our nature and widely known hospitality, but also the immense richness of local gastronomy, which is an inseparable part of our identity. This new sweet souvenir, „Creska rožica,“ symbolizes Cres as we all love it and as we want to present it to the world – indigenous, simple in its essence, yet at the same time rich and unforgettable. We firmly believe that „Creska rožica“ will find a special place in the hearts, but also in the sweet memories of all our visitors, and that it will become one of the favorite ways to take a piece of Cres with them.“ If you are planning to visit Cres, consider the accommodation options the island offers to fully experience all its charms.

Announcement of the Cres Time Machine and the opening of the Interpretation Center

The presentation of the „Creska rožica“ cake is not just an isolated event, but also serves as an enticing announcement for an even bigger and more significant event – „Creski vremeplov“. This unique event will take place on June 1st and will represent the central part of the celebration marking 180 years of tourism on the island of Cres. During this extraordinary journey through time, the town of Cres will literally bring to life the spirit of past times, offering all visitors the chance to feel the atmosphere experienced by those first tourists back in 1845. Through an interactive and carefully designed walk through the historic old town core, visitors will have the opportunity to meet costumed historical figures who marked the history of Cres, get acquainted with traditional customs nurtured for generations, learn numerous interesting facts about the daily life of former Cres inhabitants, but also taste various local delicacies prepared according to ancient recipes. In doing so, they will undoubtedly create new, unforgettable memories. The entire old town of Cres will transform into a large, living stage where history and the present will meet at every step, in every alley, and on every square.

After this interactive walk through rich history, another important event will follow – the grand opening of the newly equipped Interpretacijskog centra Creski kaić. This center will be dedicated to the rich maritime and fishing tradition of the island of Cres, with special emphasis on the traditional boat – kaić, which has nourished many generations of Cres inhabitants. The center will present the importance of the sea and seamanship for life on the island in a modern and interactive way. The grand celebration of the 180th anniversary of tourism will culminate in the evening with a big concert by the popular Croatian singer Jelena Rozga. Her performance will further enrich this special anniversary and ensure entertainment for all generations. Visitors to Cres looking for accommodation will have the opportunity to experience this blend of tradition and modern entertainment.

Therefore, we invite you to join us this coming Saturday, May 10th, on the main town square in Cres, for this sweet celebration of tradition, authentic flavors, and pleasant music. Come and discover why Cres and its flavors remain forever in the heart of everyone who visits it. This is an opportunity to experience the true soul of the Mediterranean, to try something new, and to be part of a beautiful story that celebrates the history, present, and future of this unique Adriatic pearl.