The Jakob award is conferred for excellence and quality in tourism in the Alpe-Adria region. Those behind the Odprta kuhna project received the prize at the official opening of the Alpe-Adria: Tourism and leisure show. The fair will run until the 1st of February at the Gospodarsko razstavišče exhibition and convention centre in Ljubljana.

"The Odprta kuhna project represents an extremely innovative and original way of offering street food. It exceeded all expectations, both regarding visitor turnout and the quality and variety of the food. Another important ingredient of Odprta kuhna is its openness and multicultural culinary offer. Apart from offering foods from the 24 gastronomic regions in Slovenia, other cultural surroundings offer and present their cuisine as well," is what the jury commission based its decision on.

The commission was headed by ethnologist and university professor Janez Bogataj, PhD. The remaining two members of the commission were Joško Sirk, who successfully runs his Pri lovcu Michelin star restaurant in Krmin (Cormons), Italy, and the Austrian publisher and culinarian Lojze Wieser.

Odprta kuhna again in March?
The director of Odprta kuhna, Lior Kochavy, thanked everyone who helped co-create Odprta kuhna. In Ljubljana it became a traditional Friday culinary event at the Pogačarjev trg square already in its first year. "One of the main goals of Odprta kuhna is to offer the best variety of food in one place, and at the same time to create an event intended for everyone, for both local and foreign guests," said Mr. Kochavy and added, that the prize is very motivating. It gives a new impetus to their work in the future.

Organizers have already announced the second edition of Odprta kuhna. These days the last reservations for stalls are being taken for the 2014 season. Weather permitting, the cooking should begin in March.