17TH GASTRO FESTIVAL IN LJUBOVIJA: Tastes of tradition, socializing and more than 50 competing teams

The 17th Gastro Festival was held in Ljubovija on Saturday, an event that has been gathering fans for years home cooking, traditional Serbian dishes, good company and competitive spirit.
This year in the preparation of fish soup, goulash, kachamak and traditional 50 teams participated in the Serbian table. While the kettles were simmering, part of the program was also dedicated to the youngest. Children from Preschool "Poletarac" they participated in a culinary workshop, under the mentorship of the well-known presenter of "Lagalica" Bojan Boki Ivković, and showed their skills in decorating and recognizing taste of food. The most creative and those with the most refined sense of taste won cups, while all participants of the workshop were rewarded, because the main goal was socializing and having fun.
This year's festival was also given a humanitarian character by OU "Krivotorbići", which organized an action to collect financial aid for Anastasia, which gave the gastronomic gathering an important message of solidarity and togetherness.
This year's Gastro festival also had an international character. Guest of the event was Andreas Teofilaktu, representative of the Municipality of Famagusta from Cyprus, the future sister municipality of Ljubovija, as well as a great lover of natural the beauty of Azbukovica.
- This is a historic moment that a member of the municipal council, representing of course the whole of Famagusta, is staying here in beautiful Ljubovija. As you know, our municipality has been under Turkish occupation since 1974, because the Turks invaded. Nevertheless, we continue the fight for return, we want return the roots of our ancestors. Famagusta is one of the most beautiful cities and we are very happy to fraternize with our Serbian brothers - said Andreas Theophylakto, who is also a member of the Olympic Committee of Cyprus.
According to the director of the Tourism Organization of the Ljubovija municipality, Ivana Smiljanić, this year's festival it met expectations, and the participants and visitors from Ljubovia left satisfied, with the announcement of coming next year as well.
- The first part of the event was magnified by the children from the "Poletarac" Preschool, as well as students from the "Petar Vragolić" Elementary School and the "Vuk Karadžić" Secondary School. They competed in several disciplines and they really did were spectacular together with Bojan Ivković, so for me it was the most interesting part of the event. I think everyone is satisfied and they left Ljubovija full of impressions and with valuable prizes. One event has been successfully completed, so we are waiting for all those who love the Drina and Ljubovija on July 11 at the Days of the Drina Regatta. when a lot of interesting things await us, a lot of summer concerts, enjoyment on the Drina and, of course, positive energy and a cheerful atmosphere. We are waiting for all of these, as well as last year, we straightened the Drina in Ljubovija - said Ivana Smiljanić.
At the end of the event, the best participants in the competitive disciplines were announced.

AWARDED PARTICIPANTS

Goulash

First place: "Pečenjara kod Jove" Brankovina
First place: "Elmag" Ljubovija
Second place: Cafe "Shansa" Valjevo
Second place: "Banatski culinary" Kikinda
Third place: "Veteran masters" Ljubovija
Third place: Tourist organization Bratunac

Kačamak