"I guess I don't feel so involved in haute cuisine anymore. Although I like to play around with various tastes, I've always wanted to have something more relaxed, accessible and open to a wider audience, so that anyone can come here, not only those who have a lot of money," explained chef Bine Volčič a few days before the official opening of his bistro, which took place on Friday.

Monstera, as this small bistro is called, is located near the Congress Square in Ljubljana. The place combines a revival of the 60s and 70s retro styles with industrial design and principles of bistro service, where the smell of food floats in the air.

Since Bine and his wife Katarina wanted the place to be alive through the day, the menu in Monstera starts with breakfast. "You'll never know what to expect, only that it'll be something delicious," teases Volčič. The menu for Friday included marinated trout with potato salad, vegetable soup with French barley, glazed beef cheeks, sautéed cauliflower with cottage cheese ravioli, apple rose and chocolate mousse with lemon thyme sorbet.

SLIKA: Green, eco conscious Monstera – the plant of Bine's (and our) youth on the left, 'Ljubljana breakfast' with ginger and elderflower ice tea on the right.

Katja Štok, Kaja Sajovic, MMC; translated by K. Z.