Thirty-seven teams from four countries participated and competed today at the jubilee, 10th edition of the “Pekijada” in the village of Oćevija in Vares in the preparation of dishes under the peka, and the victory was won by the team Association of War Medal Holders of Usora, Vareš and Žepča.
The second place was won by the team Barkići from Dugo Selo near Zagreb, Croatia, and the third place by Fendići from Duboštica near Vareš.
“It was interesting and very good works. In the competition for first and third place, we had two teams each with the same number of points, so we ranked better the team that got more points for taste,” this year’s president of the jury, master of BiH culinary Hamid Kurjaković from Sarajevo, told Fena.
While groups from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and Serbia competed in preparing dishes under the “sač”, numerous visitors had the opportunity to observe the preparation of meat and vegetable dishes, as well as taste some other delicacies prepared by the inhabitants of the place and possibly buy a wrought iron vessel for preparing dishes for their households, which has been forged in the traditional way in that place since ancient times.
The tradition is still maintained, and this place is known as the last place in Europe where iron is forged, as it used to be, by the strength of the blacksmith’s muscles, by fire from coal and by the power of water from the Očevica River.
“Everything is going well. I cannot estimate exactly how many visitors there are – because we do not charge entrance fees, but there may be more than last year. Everyone is satisfied, and it is especially nice to spend a day next to the river from which Vareš is supplied with water, with temperatures of 26/27 degrees Celsius, while in other areas it is very hot l emphasizes the president of the Local Community Boris Barkić.
This local community, in cooperation with the Association ‘Eco Tourist’ from Vareš and with the support of the Municipality of Vareš and the patronage of the Ministry of Displaced Persons and Refugees, the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and with the general sponsorship of the Municipality of Vareš and DPM Metals, traditionally organizes this event, which promotes the natural beauty and cultural treasures of Vareš, Zenica-Doboj Canton, FBiH and BiH.
