Ane Roš’s Istrian stone house that shaped her culinary taste

In 1968, journalist Katja Roš (later known as chef Ane Roš) and her husband Bojan Roš, a doctor, attended a Festival Hall event where they learned that many stone houses in the Croatian part of Istria were empty after refugees left for Italy. Borrowing a car, they drove to Istria, searched, and found a stone house in a village behind Novigrad. With the help of locals—who taught them how to mix cement and offered transport—they rebuilt the dilapidated building, turning it into a family home.

The experience profoundly influenced Ane Roš’s approach to food. The house and its surroundings became the backdrop for her later culinary career, shaping the flavors and philosophy that made her a celebrated Slovenian chef. Bojan Roš also contributed to the village, assisting with tomato sales and offering medical advice, further integrating the couple into the community.