Jojo's BBQ: Mavrovo, Macedonia

When food, the mountains, and adventure come together, a unique blend is created, which for some people is the true recipe for a successful business story. Using these connections, Joce from Skopje feeds hundreds of skiers at the "Mavrovo Ski Center" every day, where from morning till evening, he prepares various burgers made with pure beef.

For our travelers who regularly follow the recommendations from kajak.mk, the "Jojo’s BBQ" story is probably well known. Whether you’ve visited Mavrovo in summer or winter, the scent of the pljeskavica (a type of burger) is always present at the chalets.

For kajak.mk, the Jojo’s BBQ story is charming from many aspects. First, we are happy that such adventurers exist in Macedonia, who heat the grill daily at 1600 meters above sea level. On the other hand, we are proud that his story promotes tourism in Mavrovo and spreads positivity among the skiers who visit. Therefore, Joce is, starting today, our new local hero who does small things of great importance for the development of tourism.

Joce says that behind the success of "Jojo’s BBQ" is a big team, with Jojo and Borla-Manot playing the main roles. It all started to develop spontaneously. His love for cooking motivated him to prepare various specialties that he loves to eat while in the mountains. But for Joce, the main turning point came last year at "Staro Bachilo," where he received huge support from close friends who helped him design a logo and promote his business.

The story might not have been successful if Joce hadn’t been in love with the mountains. His past is closely connected to the mountains. He says that he has been an active mountaineer for years, having climbed almost all the peaks in Macedonia and many attractive peaks in Europe.

“The mountain taught me many things in life, and it was one of my main inspirations for what I do today. We made a good combination of hobby, food, and camaraderie,” says Joce.

The menu at Jojo’s BBQ is short but sweet. There are a few different burgers and hot dogs, but he says there’s always room for improvement and expansion with new, inspiring dishes.

For him, the most important thing is that the meat is 100% beef, healthy, and pure, while everything else depends on how much love is put into the food. Today, he collaborates with SkiHuts and Mavrovo Resort and says that thanks to good logistics, everything functions smoothly.