More than 60 participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region at this year’s 21st traditional event “The Golden Cauldron of Semberija” were the best ambassadors of the gastronomic and touristic offer of the regions they come from.
Taking the task seriously, more than 60 teams tried to use a combination of spices and ingredients to satisfy the jury’s and prepare the winning kettle. Some, just in case, prepared several stews.
“Barbecue, beef stew, and several fish stews are made here. Everyone goes before the jury, one has to win, but that’s the least important. The most important thing is socializing,” says participant Vladimir Dakovic.
“I am 76 years old, I have been fishing for 70 years. I was on the Danube for a while, I cooked there. For a good kettle, it is important to saute the vegetables, to be small, so that the onions and greens are not visible”, says participant Gojko Cuskic.
Surrounded by the Sava and Drina rivers, Semberija has a large water surface and an exceptionally rich fish stock with about 30 different types of fish. Every year, the sport-fishing association restocks canals and smaller watercourses, which is ideal for the development of fishing tourism. Long dry periods and low water levels affected the fish stock this year.
“First of all, for reproduction, spawning of fish. After that, extremely low water levels had a very unfavorable effect. However, in Semberija, there are enough water areas and fish species that anyone who likes it can find a piece of pleasure here,” points out Miodrag Dukic, president of the Sports and Fishing Association “Riba”.
Today, all participants and visitors could find satisfaction in this touristic-gastronomic event, which aims to promote the natural resources of Semberija.
“Semberija is at the confluence of two rivers, on several local rivers, numerous lakes, and it is natural that we have such an event here where we can gather lovers of fish stew, fish soup, and other specialties,” says Dragan Tesic, spokesman for the Tourism Organization of the City of Bijeljina.
“At the end of the day, all but the top three teams are fourth, and fourth place isn’t bad,” Dukic concludes.
For all participants of the traditional competition in preparing fish soup, the Sports and Fishing Association provided fish, and the teams were exempted from paying the registration fee.
