Private Chef Gina Marie Iglesias

I was born in Canada to immigrants from Croatia and moved back to Croatia 7 years ago. My passion since I was a child was cooking. I'm a professional chef, mostly specializing in desserts and international dishes. I put love into my dishes and that's why they taste so good. I have been everything from a pastry chef to a pizza master.

For me, cooking is...

Therapy and relaxation..also a challenge.

I learned to cook at...

From my Grandma and Mom, but also went to pastry school.

A cooking secret...

Putting love into what I create.

My menus

Fusion

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Hvarska Pogača (Hvar Pie): savory flatbread filled with salted anchovies, caramelized onions, and tomatoes with a seasonal vegetable salad

An assorted platter of local dried prosciutto and salami, local cheeses, olives, capers, figs, pate

Marinated Adriatic Vegetable with citrus and olive oil. Grilled zucchini, eggplant, peppers, marinated in lemon zest, local olive oil, capers, and herbs. Served with yogurt flatbread

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Beef carpaccio with olive oil & capers. thinly sliced beef tenderloin, lemon zest, capers, aged Pag cheese shavings

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Risotto - crni (black) risotto made with squid ink and octopus

Slow cooked veal with rosemary and white wine. tender veal shoulder, potatoes, garlic, herbs

Roasted chickpeas & mushroom pasta. Roasted chickpeas and wild mushrooms with garlic, herbs, olive oil, in a black truffle cream sauce

Roasted Vegetables and Chicken in a creamy cheese sauce served with roasted potatoes or pasta

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Dark chocolate and fig tart with olive oil gelato

Dessert - Torta od limuna (Lemon Cake): seasonal cake made with locally grown lemons. Features a moist sponge cake with olive oil and a refreshing citrus cream or lemon curd served with gelato (optional)

Rozata with citrus and lavender. Dalmatian style creme caramel custard infused with orange peel and lavender honey

Croatian Mediteranean Menu

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Beef carpaccio with olive oil & capers. thinly sliced beef tenderloin, lemon zest, capers, aged Pag cheese shavings

Seared scallops with pea puree. pan seared scallops with young peas, mint, citrus butter

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Slow cooked veal with rosemary and white wine. tender veal shoulder, potatoes, garlic, herbs

DESSERT

All inclusive

Dark chocolate and fig tart with olive oil gelato

Vegetarian Menu

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Marinated Adriatic Vegetable with citrus and olive oil. Grilled zucchini, eggplant, peppers, marinated in lemon zest, local olive oil, capers, and herbs. Served with yogurt flatbread

Strukli with dalmatian herbs. Baked strukli filled with fresh cow’s or goat cheese, various herbs, olive oil, finished with brown butter and crispy sage

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Roasted chickpeas & mushroom pasta. Roasted chickpeas and wild mushrooms with garlic, herbs, olive oil, in a black truffle cream sauce

DESSERT

All inclusive

Rozata with citrus and lavender. Dalmatian style creme caramel custard infused with orange peel and lavender honey

Local and Tasty

STARTER

All inclusive

Hvarska Pogača (Hvar Pie): savory flatbread filled with salted anchovies, caramelized onions, and tomatoes with a seasonal vegetable salad

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

An assorted platter of local dried prosciutto and salami, local cheeses, olives, capers, figs, pate

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Risotto - crni (black) risotto made with squid ink and octopus

Local fish brudet, fish cooked in a very light tomato broth with various herbs and spices and local seasonal vegetables

DESSERT

All inclusive

Dessert - Torta od limuna (Lemon Cake): seasonal cake made with locally grown lemons. Features a moist sponge cake with olive oil and a refreshing citrus cream or lemon curd served with gelato (optional)