A few times per year, Diplomat Magazine in cooperation with Leonardo Royal Hotel in The Hague organizes Food Festivals, where international Chefs selected by different embassies create special menus, full of authentic flavors, together with Chef Sido de Brabander.
Each Food Festival highlights a specific cuisine, from one of the countries represented in The Hague.
On March 16 and 17, 2023, the embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in cooperation with Diplomat Magazine, organized at the Leonardo Royal Hotel some high gastronomy evenings. Presenting traditional food from Bosnia and Herzegovina, this was one of the biggest promotional events of this country in the Netherlands so far.
Leonardo Royal Hotel, one of the most prestigious places in the Dutch capital, ensured the elegant venue for the event, which was further enriched by a musical cultural program and a touristic presentation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The refined and special menu for the evening was elaborated and crafted under the close supervision of Chef Din Vreto, one of the eminent chefs from the famous restaurant Kibe Mahala in Sarajevo, coming especially for the event to work with Chef Sido de Brabander and his colleagues from Leonardo Royal Hotel. Together they presented a delicious and authentic 3-course Bosnian menu, enjoyed by hundreds of people during each of the two evenings of the gastronomic event.
Over the years, the Kibe Mahala has catered for prominent figures from all over the world, including statesmen and politicians, representatives of international organizations and international artists.
The Food festival in The Hague also gathered distinguished guests, including high-ranking Dutch officials, ambassadors and top representatives of international organizations, friends of Bosnia and business people from different spheres.
Numerous producers of traditional food and wines from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina have joined, as partners, this event.
A group of Dutch and Bosnian musicians performed in front of the guests and completed the lovely ambience.
Before dinner started, H.E. Mr. Almir Sahovic, the ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Netherlands warmly welcomed all guests. ‘I want to congratulate the two chefs for such a great job, the musicians for the refined performance, brilliantly combining Dutch and Bosnian music together’. He also thanked the great number of sponsors who made the gastronomic nights possible.
Suho meso (dried smoked meat) and Kupres cheese were among the displayed traditional specialties, together with many others and also good Bosnian wines.
The event also included a Tombola, with extremely generous and attractive prizes. The lucky winners received free passes to the famous Sarajevo Film Festival, accommodations at some of the most beautiful hotels in every region of the country, wines and other gifts.
H.E. Ambassador Almir Sahovic addressed the audience again saying: ‘I hope that this opportunity will convince you to come to Bosnia and Herzegovina, to discover it and see all its positive changes. And now, please enjoy the evening!’
