Ada Nežić

Ada Nežić was born in 1966 in Koper and grew up in Ročko Polje in the Buzet area, where she learned the secrets of home cooking from her mother, Lučana, based on homegrown and seasonal ingredients. After moving to Pula, she joined the family restaurant Stari grad, initially preparing cakes. Her tiramisu was her stand-out dish, praised by food critic Franko Lukež. When the Stari grad 02 restaurant opened in Sisplac in 1991, she gradually took on an increasingly important role in the kitchen, preparing everything from desserts and bread to cold dishes and main courses. As a self-taught cook, she acquired her knowledge through daily work, observing more experienced colleagues, studying cookbooks and following Italian cooking programmes. Her approach was shaped by a combination of the traditions of the Buzet area and the influences of Italian gastronomy, along with a lasting respect for local ingredients and the flavours of childhood.