Whispers of Izola at the Pier of tastes: flavours, stories and summer vibes by the sea

In this episode of the Whispers of Izola podcast, we stopped at a very special culinary event – the Pier of tastes, which on the 21st of June once again brought Izola to life with a blend of local delicacies, wines, seafood specialties and authentic stories.

This episode was co-created by Luca Stančič Kodarin, author of the Whispers of Izola series, and Jan Veljak, a local radio voice and opera singer. Together, with smiles, a touch of charm and plenty of authenticity, they searched for (and found!) the real flavours of summer among winemakers, chefs and organisers.

Guests of the episode:

• Tourist Board Izola: Director Dean Kocjančič and communications specialist Tjaša Likar shared how the Pier of tastes was created, why gastronomy is a strategic development focus, and why today, Izola is considered one of the most authentic gastronomic destinations in Slovenian Istria. They also spoke about visitors and future plans.
• Sparkling Oysters: a team of three friends bringing fresh oysters straight to the streets – with elegance and a genuine love for the sea. Their “mobile oyster bar” has become a hit at events across Slovenian Istria and beyond. They made their first public appearance precisely at the Pier of tastes. Mitja Glavič also gave us a tip on which sparkling wine pairs best with oysters.
• Wines Markovič: young winemaker from Izola, Tina Markovič follows her vision – in nature, with nature. Markovič wines are gentle, lively and full of character. Besides wine, Tina is also a great storyteller – about the family farm, the views of Izola and the life of a winemaker today. She has been part of the Pier of tastes team practically from the very beginning, so she also shared with us some special anecdotes from past editions.
• Limoni Šik: a liqueur brand born out of love for limoncello. Kristina and Luka Šik put a piece of Amalfi into every bottle, the place where they fell in love with this drink. They use local lemons and also offer other flavours. Luka revealed how it all started and how surprisingly well limoncello pairs with truffles.
• La Marqueza: Adriana Madrid is a Colombian chef who creates surprising fusions between Colombian and Italian cuisine in Slovenian Istria. She runs cooking workshops and pop-up dinners where food becomes a tool for cultural exchange. Her heart beats for Italy – and now also for Izola. Hear her impressions from the Pier of tastes, where she participated for the first time, in this episode.
• Gostilna Pri Tinetu: Tine Sukič from nearby Koper told us how a family inn can become beloved by both locals and tourists. At Pri Tinetu they don’t just offer good food, but also a sense of homeliness, locality and constant culinary exploration. Why they often sell out their offer on the pier and how the team of “pierfolk” gets along, you’ll discover in the conversation!

At the end, we asked each guest two fun questions, which we also captured in a special reel – check out our channels and have a laugh with us!

The episode is already available on all major platforms and at visitizola.com – tune in!