Podgorica FoodTalk 2025
A feast of flavours, ideas and identities at Podgorica’s first FoodTalk
After Novi Sad, Belgrade, Skopje and Budva, the prestigious regional food and wine conference FoodTalk was held in Podgorica for the first time. The event was organized by Color Media Events and supported by the Secretariat for Entrepreneurship and Investments of the Capital City and it brought together the leading representatives of the regional gastronomic, diplomatic and business community on November 10 th 2025 within the unique setting of the Podgorica City Museum.
The conference was jointly opened by Nađa Ljiljanić, the Deputy Mayor of Podgorica, Danijela Radeč, the Secretary for Entrepreneurship and Investments and Robert Čoban, the president of the Color Press Group. In the opening remarks, the speakers emphasized the importance of such events for positioning Podgorica as a future regional hub for gastro tourism.
GASTRO DIPLOMACY IN FOCUS
The central event of the program was the panel “Taste of the planet: Diplomacy with the flavour of Podgorica”, dedicated to the diplomatic dimensions of gastronomy, which was moderated by Robert Čoban. The discussion featured His Excellency Branimir Jukić, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina; His Excellency Christian Steiner, Ambassador of Austria; His Excellency Veselko Grubišić, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia; and tourism marketing expert Velibor Zolak.
The panel opened a discussion on how national cuisines contribute to foreign policy communication and serve as a powerful instrument of “soft power.” The diplomats spoke about Montenegrin specialties that they will, as they said, “take with them” from Podgorica, as well as about the way culinary culture is becoming an informal but a highly effective diplomatic bridge. The conclusion was that, in many situations, the dining table becomes the most efficient negotiating table.
THE “HORECA” INDUSTRY AND MOTIVATION OF EMPLOYEES
The panel titled “How to Create More People like Dušan Đorđević: Motivation That Transforms Service” opened a practical discussion on how to identify, develop and keep people who truly make a difference, from the first greeting to the final bill. The conversation covered reward systems, shift organization, training that actually works, team culture, and the role of managers in day to day motivation, highlighting how an individual like Dušan becomes a benchmark rather than an exception. The panel was moderated by Milica Stijepović from Radio Television of Montenegro, and the participants were Muhamed Kurmemi (Harmonia Hotels Group Durrës), Jelena Đaković (HUMA Kotor Bay Hotel & Villas), Dimitrije Acevski (Eichen Group), Nikola Vesić (Dukley Hotel & Resort), Dušan Šofranac (Mamula Island by Banyan Tree), and Marija Martinović (Maestral Resort & Casino).
FOOD AS ART, IDENTITY AND A BRAND: THREE THEMATIC SESSIONS
After the main panels, the program continued with three thematic sessions that explored food through artistic, historical and business perspectives. The speakers at the session “Food, Wine & Art” were writer Nenad Novak Stefanović, art historian Ljiljana Karadžić, and Vlasta Mandić, author of the book „Boka Cuisine“, with Petra Čelebić, journalist and editor of Diplomacy and Commerce magazine, serving as the moderator. They discussed how gastronomic heritage can be transferred into a contemporary expression, and how it shapes creative processes, cultural identity and modern artistic practices. The session “It was a true feast: branding destinations through food and wine” opened a discussion on how flavours shape the identity of a place, from terroir and small producers to hospitality standards and all the way to the stories which the travellers take home. The session was moderated by Vladimir Fustić. Through their own examples, the speakers, Vladimir Živanović from the Zlatibor Tourist Organization, Stevan Stešević from the Montenegro Luxury Association, Željka Radak Kukavičić, Milonja Blagojević from „Etno Selo Montenegro“, Bojana Otašević from „Mille Baci“ and Jaroslav Stupavski from the agribusiness department of Voli Trade, discussed how local products grow into recognizable brands, what truly influences guests’ choices, and how tourism, gastronomy and retail can function as a single ecosystem.
The session “The Menu: tastes of a new audience” brought a discussion on emerging guest expectations in the segment dedicated to contemporary culinary trends. The speakers were Srđan Jerinkić from “Challenge Reconstructions”, Andrej Raičević, Executive Chef at Centrale Luštica Bay by Angsana, Nikola Rosić from THYME StreetFood & Breakfast, Goran Tatar from One&Only Resorts, Duško Miladinov, Sous Chef at Lazure Hotel & Marina, Filip Nišić, Executive Chef at Gorski Hotel & Spa Kopaonik, and Nikola Markotanović, Head Chef and co-owner of Square Portonovi. The session was moderated by Sandra Manojlović.
THE FINALE IN THE SPIRIT OF WINE: “LA TRAVIATA”
The conference was concluded with the traditional wine panel “La Traviata: the wine finale of Food Talk.” The speakers were sommelier Andrija Martinović, Goran Brnović from the restaurant „Odiva“, chef and blogger Damir Moškov, and Luka Bešić from the Association of Sommeliers of Montenegro.
In an atmosphere focused on a sensory experience, the participants presented the current trends in the regional wine industry, which was accompanied by tasting of Montenegrin and regional wines.
Food Talk Podgorica 2025 clearly demonstrated that gastronomy is no longer just an accompanying element in the Western Balkans, but a serious economic sector that requires strategic planning, continuous education and close cooperation between state institutions, the diplomatic community and industry professionals, who can jointly create an ecosystem in which every actor contributes to strengthening the region’s image and advancing innovative standards.