If you are a connoisseur of food then you should join the ancient Romans who had a special fondness for the diversity of the delicious local gastronomy of Istria.

You will be unable to resist the fresh fish, crabs and clams, from the clean, clear Adriatic sea. Alongside the traditional steaks and mouthwatering pizzas and pastas they make up a delightfully varied choice.

Be sure to try local delicacies such as Cevapcici, Gnocchi and Various Istrian minestrones with beans, sweet corn (called "bobici") and "ustupana", fennel, these are especially good in Winter.

If you are visiting in Winter then be sure to try Istrian "ombolo" and sausages by a fireplace and drinking supa (traditional red wine soup).

You will also find many varieties of traditional Istrian dried ham (homemade prosciutto or pršut) and cheese.

For desert, delicious "fritule", "kroštule" or " cukerancice" and the numerous speciality pancakes are all worth trying as is the superb Ice Cream. Craig considers himself a connoisseur of Ice Cream and he feels that Croatian Ice Cream is even better than Italian!

Istria is famous for Truffles which grow in the beautiful valley of the Mirna River and the mystical Motovun forest. They hide in many secret places which the expert Truffle hunters only share with their trusty truffle-seeking animals.

During the truffle hunting season, from September to December, in the sleepy dawn before sunrise, the seekers go out, loyally following their animal friends in search of the Istrian gold which can be really impressive.

The worlds largest truffle was found near Buje and it weighed 1.31 kg, which was famously recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. The Istrian white truffle is among the most respected in the world; due to the specific soil and symbiotic plants, it has a truly distinctive aroma and taste.

If you are a Wine drinker then try the Malvazija (dry white) or Terran (red) you will find these in every restaurant and as with all wine the quality can vary. Two Malvazija wines that we can recommend are Coronica and Kozlovie.

Also we can highly recommend a wine producer in the village of Tar only 2km from our villa. The name is Coccolo and here they produce a number of different wines, their own prosciutto and cheese.

To finish of your meal most restaurants will offer you a "little something from the house". Our favourites are Kruskovac, (made with Pears) Medovaca (made with Honey) and Biska (made with Mistletoe).

There are so many restaurants in the area that we will never get to try them all - but we do have our favorites and we make a special effort to visit a new restaurant whenever we visit.

Some that we would recommend are:

Pizzerria Capri in Tar: Here the owner Zoran, who knows us well, will serve you a superb homemade pizza or a simple grill. You will get change from £15 for two people.

Arkada in Tar: Patricia and her husband will be your hosts. The meal will be very good and amazing value. We highly recommend the Pear in Red Wine for desert.

Dali in Poreĉ: Dali is another simple restaurant serving pizzas, pastas and some superb grills. It is great for cooler evenings.

Cotton Club in Poreĉ: Here is a copy of an old English pub, just off the main square. The food is superb, the waiters excellent and we always have a great evening here.

Tower in Poreĉ: This restaurant is actually called Peterokutna Kula but as it is in a 14th century tower we find it easier to call it the Tower. The ambience is unique, the food first class but to get a really good table you may have to book. (+385 52 451 378)

Cardo and Gourmet in Poreĉ: These are actually the same restaurant across the street from each other at the bottom of the main shopping street Decumanus. Once again the food is is superb.

Sveti Nikola in Poreĉ: Right on the front beside the multi million pound yachts of the rich and famous you will find this fantastic restaurant. Nikola the owner will make you very welcome, the food is probably the best you'll find and the location is to die for. Enjoy!