Croatia and Slovenia are two of Europe’s most quietly extraordinary culinary destinations. From the sunlit vineyards of Goriška Brda and the truffle-rich forests of Istria to the Michelin-starred kitchens tucked into Slovenia’s emerald hills and the briny, beautiful bounty of the Adriatic coast, this corner of the world tells its story through food in a way that is both ancient and thrillingly alive. In 2026, travelers will have the chance to experience it all through one of the most inspired culinary lenses imaginable — From the Soil and the Sea: A Gourmet Vacation in Croatia and Slovenia with Chef Cheetie Kumar, hosted alongside Richard Gruica and The Gourmet Vacation.

Designed for travelers who believe that food is the most honest expression of a culture, this luxury Croatia and Slovenia culinary tour weaves together Michelin-starred dinners, truffle hunts in ancient forests, farm-to-table encounters with visionary producers, private wine tastings, and moments of pure wonder — from Roman amphitheaters to the dreamlike shores of Lake Bled — into an extraordinary eight-day journey. For anyone searching for a Chef Cheetie Kumar culinary tour, luxury food travel in Croatia and Slovenia, immersive culinary vacations in Europe, or chef-led experiences in the Adriatic, this stands as one of the most compelling culinary adventures of 2026.

Chef Cheetie Kumar is a James Beard–nominated chef, cultural trailblazer, and co-owner of Ajja in Raleigh, North Carolina — a restaurant that has earned national recognition for its bold global flavors, seasonal intention, and the deeply personal way it brings together heritage cooking and Southern hospitality. Known for her curiosity, creativity, and profound respect for the stories embedded in ingredients and traditions, Chef Cheetie approaches every table as a conversation between cultures. Traveling alongside her through Croatia and Slovenia means experiencing two remarkable countries not as a visitor passing through, but as someone genuinely searching for what the land and its people have to say.

The Gourmet Vacation has built a reputation for creating culinary travel experiences that prioritize depth over distance, meaning over motion, and genuine connection over curated spectacle. Founded by Richard Gruica — who is himself Croatian-American and a chef — the company brings a rare insider perspective to this particular journey. Richard’s personal ties to the region, combined with his lifelong passion for food, wine, and storytelling, mean that every stop on this itinerary comes with context, warmth, and access that most travelers could never find on their own.

From the Soil and the Sea invites guests into two of Europe’s most underrated and underexplored food cultures. Croatian and Slovenian cuisine share a deep reverence for local ingredients, seasonal rhythms, and the wisdom of small producers — but each has its own distinct character. Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula brings the influence of the Adriatic: olive oils recognized as the world’s finest, Michelin-celebrated seafood, black and white truffles foraged from forest floors, and natural wines made with centuries of accumulated knowledge. Slovenia, meanwhile, offers a culinary scene that has emerged as one of the most exciting in all of Europe — anchored by sustainable, farm-driven philosophy, extraordinary charcuterie traditions, and a new generation of chefs who are redefining what it means to cook with intention.

The journey moves through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in Europe, beginning in Venice and sweeping through the wine hills of Goriška Brda, the cobblestoned coastal beauty of Rovinj, the truffle forests and hilltop villages of inland Istria, and the Alpine grandeur of Slovenia — from the glowing streets of Ljubljana during Advent to the storybook shores of Lake Bled. Every destination earns its place on the itinerary not for its postcard appeal alone, but because of what it reveals about how people here live, grow, cook, and share.

Along the way, guests will encounter some of the most extraordinary culinary voices in the region. A private truffle hunt with expert hunters and their dogs in the forests near Buzet. A multi-course seafood feast at Batelina, helmed by Chef David Skoko, one of Croatia’s most celebrated champions of sustainable, sea-to-table cooking. A full farm-to-table day with Michelin-starred Chef Luka Košir — visiting his goat cheese maker, walking his duck farm, and sitting down to a tasting menu at Grič where roughly eighty percent of what arrives on the plate was grown within a few kilometers of the kitchen. An intimate evening with David Lesar of BioSing, a sausage and charcuterie master whose family tradition stretches back to 1492. The chance to craft a personal gin at the Brin micro-distillery before a Michelin-recognized lunch at Gostilna Mahorčič. A private wine tasting with Jean-Michel Morel at the celebrated Kabaj winery. A dinner at Stara Škola, where locally sourced Istrian produce meets the influence of three-Michelin-star consultant Chef Ana Roš of Hiša Franko.

What makes traveling with Chef Cheetie so singular is the quality of attention she brings to all of it. For Chef Cheetie, heritage cooking is not nostalgia — it is a living practice, a form of cultural memory that reveals itself most clearly when you sit at a table with the people who made it. Her presence transforms every encounter on this journey into something richer: a truffle hunt becomes a meditation on terroir, a cellar tasting becomes a conversation about identity, a farm visit becomes a lesson in what it actually means to cook sustainably. Traveling alongside her offers guests a completely different way to experience two remarkable countries.

What sets this Croatia and Slovenia culinary tour apart from others is the specificity and sincerity behind every choice in the itinerary. This is not a collection of highlights assembled for maximum appeal. It is a carefully considered journey built around the question of what these two countries most deeply want to express through their food — and how to experience that expression at its most honest and alive. The pace is deliberate, the access is rare, and the hospitality throughout is exceptional.

Guests joining From the Soil and the Sea can expect five-star accommodations throughout, including Hotel Lone in Rovinj and the Hotel Intercontinental in Ljubljana, alongside a culinary itinerary that includes one Michelin-starred meal, two additional Michelin-recognized dining experiences, and a series of encounters with producers, winemakers, and chefs that cannot be replicated anywhere else. Every detail is handled with the kind of care that comes from genuine passion for the region and deep respect for the travelers who join these journeys.

For food lovers, this is an opportunity to experience two of Europe’s most exciting and underappreciated culinary destinations in the company of one of America’s most thoughtful and celebrated chefs. For luxury travelers, it offers an extraordinary balance of refinement and authenticity — five-star comfort alongside real, unpolished access to the people and places that make this part of the world so compelling. For travelers who want to feel genuinely connected to somewhere new, this journey delivers Croatia and Slovenia at their most alive.

From the Soil and the Sea with Chef Cheetie Kumar and Richard Gruica is more than a culinary vacation. It is an invitation to understand two remarkable countries through the most honest language they possess — what they grow, what they make, how they eat, and who gathers around the table.

For anyone dreaming of experiencing Croatia and Slovenia through extraordinary food, exceptional wine, Michelin-starred kitchens, and the rare perspective of a chef who sees every meal as an act of cultural curiosity, this is one of the standout culinary journeys of 2026.

Book your spot on the tour here: From the Soil and the Sea — The Gourmet Vacation