Hiša Franko
Bjana Brut Sparkling Wine
White Asparagus, Truffle, Milk Skin, Buttermilk Powder / Beef Tongue Pastrami, Seaweed Crystal, Jalapeno, Watercress
Impression of Charcuterie – Liver and Kale Bonbon, Pickled Radish with Beef Heart / Black Potato, Blood, Anchovies, Black Pine Nuts, Bone Marrow/ Carrot Kebab, Wild Magnolia Flowers, Panch Phoron Spices
Corn Beignet, Fermented Cottage Cheese, Smoked Trout Roe, Wild Chives
Potato baked in August Hay Crust, Cultured Butter with Lovage and Horseradish
Fava Bean and Mussel Chawanmushi, Pit Cheese, Dirty Squid, Chickweeds
Lake Trout, Apple, Green Kohlrabi, Sour Cabbage, Roasted Yeast Water / Trout Belly Praline coated in Roasted Powdered Yeast
Pasta filled with Semi-dry Apricots, Pork Broth infused with Roses and Apricot Pits
Nixtamalized Mountain Corn Tortilla, Drežnica Lamb and Sunchoke Molé
Herbal Kombucha – Hiša Franko Tea, Linden Honey, Long Pepper
Dumpling filled with Green Peas, Potato and Coffee, Forest Consommé
There is no Meat – Injera of Roasted Barley Flour and Barley Malt, Onion and no waste Meat Offcuts Sauce, Rosa di Gorizia
Potato and Nettle Gnocchi, Beeswax, Local Cheese Fondue
Cheese Water Mochi filled with Caramelized Potato, Crispy Potato, Bacon
Milk, Pear, Hay, Bee Pollen
Sweet Cabbage and Apple Wrap, Egg and Pink Grapefruit Dip, Oxalis
Sweet Bites – Walnut, Fermented Cottage Cheese and Rose Sandwich / Hoshi-Kiwi / Goat Milk and Cacao Nib Tempeh
A destination meal by definition thanks to its location in the Slovenian mountains Hiša Franko sees Chef Ana Roš cooking an author’s cuisine as she tells the story of her homeland through entirely local Ingredients interpreted with global perspective.
Not just a Restaurant but an Inn and Roš’ home, the onetime farmhouse and WWI hospital officially serving Food since 1973, it is upon arrival that guests will notice personal touches including photos and knickknacks extending from the Wine store to rooms upstairs.
Entirely self-taught, Ana’s background in international sciences set aside so that she and husband Valter could pursue a dream and raise their children in stunning Soča Valley, Spring 2022 features a menu titled “Reincarnation” as the World seeks a new beginning in the post-vaccine era.
Self-described as unorthodox, a lack of international Stage or formal training seeing Chef Roš develop a style all her own, Dinner at Hiša Franko unfolds across 22 courses or bites served in naturally-inspired environs, the opening duo of White Asparagus with Truffles and Beef Tongue Pastrami on a “Seaweed Crystal” with Jalapeno attesting to Slovenia’s geographic diversity.
Telling stories across three hours, professional and educated staff frequently joined by Roš and her cat or dog in the dining room, course two is described as “Impression of Charcuterie” and moves fluidly from a Liver Bonbon to grilled early Carrots and an unctuous Potato Tart brightened by Anchovies.
Modernist despite the lush green surroundings at times, a Cornmeal Beignet stuffed with Trout Roe reminiscent of that at Disfrutar, its follow-up of a simple Potato baked in Hay gets right back to basics while Fava Bean Custard with Mussels and Squid to follow sees Slovenia’s Mediterranean border explored.
All small-portions with suggested Wines almost entirely Slovenian the middle of Hiša Franko’s menu resides entirely in Soča Valley, locally caught Trout in two forms followed by a single Ravioli feauring Fruit and Pork before looking global with a Taco utilizing Lamb from Drežnica and Corn from the Mountains.
Opting for Kombucha to freshen the palate, Herbs from the garden slightly sweetened, Roš’ Green Pea Wonton arrives aggressively flavored with earth while her take on African Injera utilizes off-cuts to create a deep and complex Broth poured inside an Onion.
Indistinct when transitioning savory to sweet as both Potato-Nettle Gnocchi and Cheese Water Mochi blurred that line, Desserts began with a cooked Pear beneath Hay Ice Cream before delivering a sour “Wrap” akin to Fruit Leather and finishing with Mignardises including Tempeh made without Soy but instead Cocoa Nibs.
www.hisafranko.com

