Two Culinary Stars. One Legendary Evening.

A night of exceptional culinary artistry, refined elegance and true celebration was held on Tuesday at Zinfandel’s Restaurant in Esplanade Hotel, where an exclusive gala dinner commemorated a century of this iconic hotel and landmark of hospitality. The gala dinner was organized in collaboration with the gastronomic association Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Croatia, which, especially for this occasion, brought to Zagreb chef James Knappett, one of Britain’s most acclaimed chefs and holder of two Michelin stars.

On Tuesday, Zinfandel’s restaurant shone in its full glory — in a joint effort by the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Croatia and Esplanade Zagreb Hotel, an unforgettable gala dinner was held, offering guests a unique and memorable experience, featuring exquisite gastronomy and carefully curated wine pairings. At the heart of this culinary spectacle was James Knappett, head chef of London’s renowned Kitchen Table restaurant, proudly holding two Michelin stars. For this gala evening, Chef Knappett curated an eight-course culinary journey, with each plate presenting a perfect symphony of flavors, textures, and artistic expression. With impeccable precision, Chef Knappett, alongside his team and Esplanade’s Chef Ana Grgić Tomić and her outstanding sous chefs, transformed the finest seasonal local ingredients into mesmerizing culinary masterpieces — each dish telling its own unique story.

The evening began with a Jagunić sparkling wine, as guests raised their glasses to celebrate Esplanade’s 100th anniversary. Every subsequent course was carefully conceived and masterfully executed — from oysters with Japanese parsley and jalapeño, sensational chicken with rosemary and mascarpone, Saint Jacques scallops with caviar and hazelnut, to exotic flavors of lobster with curry, mango, and peanut. The agnolotti pasta with goat cheese, peas, mint, and truffle continued the series of refined aromas, while the lamb with asparagus, black garlic, and sheep’s milk yogurt perfectly rounded off the main act of the evening. To conclude this gastronomic symphony, guests were served a dessert of Zagreb strawberries with elderflower and black pepper, and a delicate canelé with notes of orange, providing a flawless finale. Each dish reflected the precision, creativity, and culinary expression of Chef Knappett at the highest level.

This unique culinary journey was further elevated by the expertly crafted wine pairing by Mario Bednjanec, the renowned head sommelier of London’s Michelin-starred Gymkhana restaurant, which also proudly holds two Michelin stars. The dishes were accompanied by premium wines from distinguished Croatian winemakers: Jagunić, Stina, Braje, Markus, Benvenuti, Matošević, Krauthaker, and Knebu from Tomislavgrad, further showcasing the richness of the local wine scene.

In the sophisticated ambiance of Zinfandel’s Restaurant, guests were immersed in a unique culinary enchantment. The gala dinner was not only a celebration of Esplanade’s centenary but also a tribute to the dedication, tradition, and gastronomic innovation that embody the spirit of this hotel.

With this gala evening, Esplanade once again demonstrated that creativity, hospitality, and excellence in gastronomy are timeless values that continue to captivate generations. This event will remain recorded as one of the shining chapters in the hotel’s rich history.

MENU

Chef James Knappett

Oyster

Japanese parsley, oyster leaf, sorrel, jalapeno

Chicken

Rosemary, mascarpone, bacon

Scallop

Caviar, cream, walnut, hazelnut

Lobster

Curry, mango, peanuts, cilantro, egg

Pasta

Agnolotti, goat cheese, peas, mint, onion, truffle

Lamb

Asparagus, black garlic, sheep’s milk yoghurt, wild garlic

Strawberry

Elderberry, black pepper, meringue

Canelé

Orange

About James Knappett

James Knappett is one of the most inspiring chefs of today and the co-owner of the prestigious London restaurant Kitchen Table**. His culinary career includes collaborations with legends such as Ferran Adrià (elBulli), Rene Redzepi (Noma) and Thomas Keller (Per Se), the icons of world gastronomy who shaped his distinctive style. James Knappett grew up in a family that ran pubs, but as a boy he dreamed of becoming a police officer. It was only when he found himself working in a hotel kitchen during his school internship that he started to seriously consider pursuing a career as a chef. This internship proved to be crucial, as it completely captivated him, leading him to soon enrol in hospitality school. At first, he worked part-time at a local Italian restaurant, where he gained his first experience in cooking. Everything changed after he watched the show Boiling Point with Gordon Ramsay, which inspired him so much that he decided to seek out Ramsay at a food fair. The meeting resulted in him getting his first job at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. As he himself says, it was a very demanding and intense introduction to the world of Michelin cuisine. After six months he decided to leave and move to Cornwall, where he spent three years studying with Rick Stein, one of the most respected British chefs specialising in fish and seafood.

On Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Croatia

The association has been active in Croatia since 2018 as part of an international fraternity with headquarters in Paris. The association’s work is dedicated to preserving and promoting culinary excellence as well as enjoying gastronomic experiences at the highest level. Members of the association include representatives of restaurants, hotels, winemakers, cellar masters, chefs, sommeliers, and passionate lovers of good food and wine. All members of the association share a sincere commitment and love for exquisite gastronomy, culinary innovations, as well as the preservation and promotion of tradition (www.chaine.hr).

Gastronomic Association Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Croatia – CONTACT:

Dalibor Greganić

Bailli Délégué National, Bailiage du Croatia Membre du Conseil Magistral

T.+385 1 472 4824, M. [email protected], www.chaine.hr

About the Esplanade Zagreb Hotel

The Esplanade Hotel is Zagreb’s most renowned and luxurious hotel — not only in the city but across the entire region — with its charm, elegance, and timeless sophistication continuing to grow year after year. Built in 1925 to accommodate travelers of the then-famous Orient Express on the route between Paris, Venice, and Istanbul, the hotel has remained a symbol of excellence ever since, thanks to its dedicated staff and exceptional team. Today, the Esplanade is regarded as an elite destination and one of Zagreb’s and Croatia’s most iconic landmarks. Long synonymous with luxury, the hotel has hosted many prominent guests over the years, including Josephine Baker, Leonid Brezhnev, Charles Lindbergh, among others, and continues to serve as one of Zagreb’s premier gathering places. Following its major renovation in 2004, the Esplanade retained its distinctive art déco charm, reopening even more beautiful and inviting — earning its reputation as a true star among hotels in the entire region and beyond. In 2025, the Esplanade Zagreb Hotel proudly celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Published: Zagreb, 16 June 2025