Here at TSN we’re not considering Ljubljana open for business this summer until Open Kitchen returns. So it’s with a heavy heart we report that Alma Kochavy, co-founder of the seasonal open-air dining experience that does so much to lift spirits downtown each Friday, has announced the planned launch of the 9th season on 21 May will be postponed.
The reason why more 40 stalls offering food and drink with the tastes of Slovenia and beyond, from some of the top chefs, restaurants and cafés in town, will not be delighting crowds of locals and visitors is (of course) covid, with a twist. Even with the current restrictions it’s perfectly fine to purchase food and drink and consume it outside, so what’s the problem with Open Kitchen?
As Kochavy explains: “We can shop in shopping malls, we can go to a restaurant, we can walk around the markets, we can even go to a gallery, cinema and theatre, or cheer at a sporting event, but we mustn’t take food to the table ourselves or eat it in public area near the pick-up point. In other words: you can buy ice cream by Tromostovje [Triple Bridge] and eat it sitting on the Prešeren monument, but you can't buy šmorna [shredded pancake] from Open Kitchen and eat it on Pogačarjev trg sitting at a table that is carefully disinfected and placed at the prescribed and safe distance.”
As yet there’s no indication as to when Open Kitchen, and thus summer in Ljubljana, will begin, but we’ll let you know as soon as we do.
