With the task to preserve in our memory Slovene Istria, Mirko and Smiljana started gradually to change the image and the "spirit" of the restaurant.
Mirko's talent to discover almost forgotten values and customs and to present them to the public was soon noticed by the villagers of Pomjan. They elected him as leader of the Tourist Club Pomjan. The result of their joint efforts was the award for the best arranged village in the year 1998/1999 and an excellently performed šarga with 185 participants who showed the old ways of life.
<- back
If we can say of Mirko that he is the driving force of the Istrian Cellar and the village, then we can say as well that Smiljana is the heart of the Istrian Cellar.
Her hands are producing flavours of Old Istria, an Istria she knew herself as a child. For her special gift she can be grateful the most to her mother, who earned her bread cooking on weddings and festive parties. Her mother is helping her still today, especially in the preparing of pasta, raviolis, potato dumplings (njoki) and home made pastry (fuži).