Rene Šuc, Gostilna pri Mari

People love the stuffed peppers because they taste just like they do at home

Lovers of traditional Slovenian cuisine, and those who are just getting to know it - have
a wide selection, but they certainly never skip Gostilna pri Mari, where Rene and Špela Šuc, with their offer of fried chicken, pork ribs, and stuffed peppers, transport us straight to the table of a home-style Sunday lunch. They’ve been with us since the very first Open Kitchen, so we tugged Rene’s sleeve with a few questions.

What does a typical Friday morning before Open Kitchen look like for the Gostilna pri Mari team?

It used to be stressful, but now it’s not so much anymore. I get up at six in the morning, head toward Ljubljana, and by around seven I’m already at the stand, which I set up with tablecloths, counters, and signs… That takes about an hour, then I go back to the restaurant, where we load up the pre-prepared food and wine, and I head back to Ljubljana. At three o’clock, my sister joins me at the stand; she brings the remaining food, and we’re both at the stand until evening.

You’ve been with us since the very first season - were you unsure at the very beginning about what to serve at the food stand?

To begin with, we decided on fried chicken, which is also the staple of our restaurant’s menu; we also added pork ribs braised in white wine with honey, sage, and garlic. We also knew we could prepare the fried chicken at the restaurant and serve the very best version at the food stall, while we finish the pork ribs at Open kitchen, basting them with wine so the wonderful aroma spreads around our stall. The idea to add stuffed peppers to the menu actually came to us right at our dining table at home. And then it became a hit - stuffed peppers with mashed potatoes are now our signature dish; people love them because they’re just like the ones they’re used to eating at home.

What has Open kitchen brought to Fridays in the city?

It’s given it so much - I talk a lot with local and foreign guests who are very happy that this event exists. Slovenians know they can come here to meet up, hang out, and enjoy good food and drinks, while for foreigners, it’s a major tourist attraction. Open kitchen is a winning combination; the organizer brings a lot of vendors to Pogačar square, we restaurateurs get to promote ourselves here and make some money, and of course, the visitors benefit greatly from it as well.

How many people who come to your stand also visit your restaurant?

We have a lot of regulars at Open Kitchen, and 60 percent of them also visit our restaurant. :)