Tuna, Sushi & Wine Festival

From April 9th to 13th, in the heart of Zadar, the longest-running gastronomic, touristic and cultural manifestation, the Tuna, Sushi & Wine Festival, will be held. The festival is organised by the Zadar Tourist Board and its partners. Since 2015, the Tuna, Sushi & Wine Festival has been a unique event, designed as the combination of not only Japanese and Croatian gastronomy and culture, but it also brings together tuna and white fish breeders from the Zadar region.

Zadar is well known for being the Croatian center of fish farming because its waters are home to the three largest tuna farming companies in Croatia - Pelagos Net Farma, Jadran Tuna and Kali Tuna. Also, the headquarters of Cromaris, the largest Croatian company for the breeding of herring, cod and other white fish, is in Zadar, and its breeding cages are in the local waters. The fifth partner of the event is Zadar's company Marikomerc, probably the biggest Croatian fish and sea products distributor. These five companies will provide their high-end products for this year's festival.

The main event of this festival will be the Gala night in Zadar's club Arsenal, situated in the very center of Zadar, and will be held on April 11th. Japanese Master Chef Akiyuki Nasu and his team of chefs will be in charge of making the whole dinner special. With his wife, Master Chef Akiyuki is the owner of a famous restaurant Il Gastro Sara u Okinawa, where he blends Mediterranean ingredients into the cuisine. A special program at the restaurant, called 'Dalmatia in Okinawa, Japan,' highlights Croatian influences. 

Nasu got to know Dalmatian cuisine through private friendships and during multiple stays in Croatia, and his restaurant offers selected Croatian wines. Some dishes include the most famous Croatian spices, and in addition, they offer Croatian sausages, jams, and more. What dishes the Master Chef and his three chefs will prepare in Zadar remains to be seen, but the best version of their Japanese-Mediterranean culinary fusion is expected.

The main attraction of the evening will be the Kaitai Show – the ceremonial cutting of a large tuna for tasting, which will be prepared by masterchef Akiyuki. The rest of the program that evening in Zadar's club Arsenal will be marked by Japanese guests: gospel singer Hikari Mukai, followed by Uratani Hitomi, an artist playing the sanshin (a traditional three-stringed instrument), and a performance by the samurai group Katanayaichi, which is very popular in Japan and known for its roles in samurai films.

The open air part of this year's festival will take place for five days at Petar Zoranić Square, in the morning and evening hours, with a whole range of different gastronomic, cultural, and entertainment programs. 

Local Zadars mariculture companies will have their chefs preparing gastronomic delights for everyone who visits under the large tent at the square. 

At all events of the 10th Tuna, Sushi & Wine Festival, selected wines from the Zadar region will be served.