Empowering Young Chefs

As part of the SReST project, partners across the region are actively working to connect local food traditions with responsible and sustainable tourism. A key part of this effort is equipping future generations with the knowledge and skills to preserve culinary heritage while adapting it to modern gastronomy.

As part of the Pilot 6: Piloting Slow Food Tourism Solutions for Participation of Rural Youth and Elderly in Depopulated Areas of Western Serbia and Northern Montenegro, the Association of Citizens »Vedrina Polimlja« organized a »slow food« workshop at the School of Economics and Trade in Prijepolje. Led by renowned Sarajevo-based chef Nihad Mameledžija, the workshop focused on teaching young chefs how to incorporate »slow food« principles into restaurant menus in innovative and sustainable ways.

This activity is part of SReST’s broader mission to enhance socio-economic development by promoting local heritage, regional agrobiodiversity, supporting local producers, and enhancing the visibility of authentic experiences in tourism offerings.

Workshops like this help empower young professionals, ensuring that food heritage remains an essential part of the region’s identity while creating new opportunities in sustainable socially responsible »slow food« tourism.