Gastronomy of Kratovo: A Story to Savor

Today, we will share the story of Mladen Micevski, who is 27 years old, lives in Kratovo, and is one of the best promoters of the Kratovo region.

Mladen works as a vocational teacher in the hospitality and tourism field at the secondary school in Kratovo. He teaches students training to become hospitality technicians for rural tourism, with a primary focus on national gastronomy and traditional Macedonian and local specialties.

Together with his students, Mladen often participates in events that promote Kratovo’s traditional cuisine and local customs. Beyond these events, Mladen is also a skilled local tour guide who knows how to introduce Kratovo to curious tourists in an engaging way.

His passion for cooking traditional food began during his studies, but after returning to Kratovo, this interest deepened—especially when it comes to showcasing local, lesser-known specialties to visitors.

He says that when Kratovo specialties are mentioned, people immediately think of Kratovo’s pastrmka (smoked meat), but he adds that this is not the only specialty of Kratovo. For him, it is equally important to promote mantii (dumplings), arm’kot, k’cana sol, triangular sarma made with vine leaves, kachamak (cornmeal porridge), katmer (zelnik), zelnik with toasted crusts, bodenik, vrtena banitsa (twisted cheese pastry), topenica, pogachi (breads), madzhun (pumpkin jam), langiti (fried dough), przhenica (scrambled eggs), homemade dairy products, rolled baklava, Kratovo rakija (brandy), Kratovo wine, and more.

What attracts the young professor the most is cooking in an authentic Macedonian setting using traditional equipment and utensils (such as a churn, sajdak, copper pans and trays, oven, cauldrons, etc.). Among the recent activities he carried out with his students was preparing beans with lamb in large cauldrons on a sajdak for a community gathering in the Veljanovec neighborhood, in the village of Gorno Kratovo.

As a tour guide, besides showcasing the cultural and historical monuments and giving tours of Kratovo, he also includes gastronomy in his program. He collaborates with a local restaurant, the ethno house “Shancheva,” and Mr. Stevche Donevski, about whom we recently wrote. He also works with Ms. Liljana Mijalkova, who has created an ethno corner in her home, where traditional cooking utensils can be found in their entirety and are fully functional.

Micevski says that almost every tourist without exception has mentioned that the local food is something irreplaceable. Foreign tourists are always amazed by the local specialties, especially when they use locally produced ingredients. They can't resist even the simpler dishes like tomatoes and cheese, and they claim that they have never experienced such a taste before, he adds.

Presenting the local gastronomy, the rich cultural and historical heritage dating back to before the Common Era, incorporating alternative panoramic walks around the hills and mountains of Kratovo, and promoting the natural rarities in the town and surrounding villages are just some of the activities he carries out to develop rural tourism in Kratovo. Both the town and the villages have great potential for rural tourism, and he believes that a coordinating body at the municipal level is missing, which would help facilitate this development.

According to Mladen, tourists are always amazed by what Kratovo has to offer, and they can hardly believe that its potential has not yet been fully utilized. He emphasizes that the cultural crossroads present in Kratovo, spread over such a small area, is truly incredible. At every step, tourists discover a new story and a new natural or cultural landmark.

The young professor says that in his experience, he hasn’t met a tourist who wasn’t deeply moved by the stories of Kratovo. Many have asked to pause for a moment to fully experience the medieval atmosphere that Kratovo offers, as well as the fresh, clean air and the quietness that urban areas lack. Several times, tourists who initially planned only a short, one-day visit have ended up staying 3 to 4 days in the town. Mladen stays in touch with many tourists who express a strong desire to return to the charming streets of Kratovo.