There are a few moments in life when the world seems perfect and one of those moments for me, was in Montenegro. Not just during this seaside lunch in Perast but my entire visit to the Balkan State of Montenegro, was extraordinary. The Region of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is lined with well-preserved medieval towns such as Perast, Tivat and Kotor being the the largest.
The Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor was listed as a UNESCO World Herritage Site in 1979.
I had just taken a water taxi from Kotor to ‘Our Lady of the Rocks’, which is a small artificial island with a Roman Catholic church. There is a legend that this islet was created over the centuries by local seamen who after finding the Madonna and Child icon, on the rock in the sea, took an ancient oath. This little church is worth a visit if you are in Kotor Bay and is an easy water taxi trip from Kotor or Perast,
Our Lady of the Rocks
The next stop after the visiting the church was the town of Perast. I stepped off the water taxi not knowing what to expect, although I decided that this medieval town was where I was having lunch. I walked around the tiny village for a bit and then serendipitously stepped into CONTE Restaurant. The small outdoor seating looked very relaxing and picturesque, sitting on the edge of the sea with a view of the harbor. I did not hesitate in my decision, this was where I planned to chill for a couple of hours!
—— On the Table ——
Both the food and service were excellent at CONTE Restaurant, as well as the unparalleled atmosphere. If you can secure a seaside table next to Kotor Bay’s tranquil, turquoise blue water, your already magnificent meal will automatically level up.
—Blu Giovello Prosecco —
CONTE offers an extensive and impressive wine list from both Western Europe and the Balkan States, including orange wines from Slovenia and Serbia. Since it was a very warm day, I decided on starting my magnificent lunch with a glass of Italian prosecco. It was a light sparkly glass of bubbles, which tasted perfect while taking in all that fresh sea air.
— Bread Basket —
CONTE offered a terrific and bountiful bread basket filled with an assortment of sliced breads and focaccia. To accompany the generous amount of bread was a couple of spreads and olives- Delicious!
— Riblja Supa —
My first course was an enjoyable and flavorful bowl of fish soup with fresh local fish, rice and vegetables. The broth was light and did not have an overpowering fishy taste to it, the flavors were excellent!
If you are visiting any coastal city, choosing to eat fresh local seafood should be your only option, that is if you are not allergic to it or if you actually like it!
— Domaće njoke punjene kozicama u sosu od gambora —
It was a very difficult decision of what to order for my main course from CONTE’s menu. There were numerous tempting pasta dishes, meat and seafood specialties being served. Since I was looking for a lighter main, I decided on the Prawn Stuffed Gnocchi and it was marvelous. A bowl of fresh gnocchi stuffed with prawn and served in a golden, creamy shrimp sauce. It was the perfect lunch with that perfect view of the Bay of Kotor.
— Peraška Tradicionalna Torta —
I am giving props to CONTE not only for their extensive wine and food menu, but their dessert selection was very impressive. They offer over fifteen different dessert options from cakes, ice cream to baklavas and more. I asked my server for a recommendation and he suggested that I try the traditional Perast Cake. I was looking at that originally and I am glad that he gave me a nudge of approval.
If you know me then you know that I enjoy anything made with almond flour or almond meal. This Perast Cake was a dense and delicious dessert made from almond flour, it was simple yet magnificent.
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CONTE Restaurant was an extraordinary seaside dining experience along the Bay of Kotor. The fresh seafood dishes were light and flavorsome, the Perast Cake was sweet and superb, and the ambience was meditative and surreal. The world was perfect!
Looking relaxed at CONTE
Conte Restaurant is located in front of the charming Hotel Conte along the promenade. For hotel or restaurant information, please visit their official website- Hotel Conte
👩🏻💻➡ What I ate in Montenegro – A Food Journal
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We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.
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