Zelena, the first Croatian delicatessen in Paris

Croatia has many assets qhe French are drawn to the region’s crystal-clear seas, cultural heritage and unspoilt nature. Nevertheless, its gastronomic specialities are still little known in France, even though they have everything to please: tradition, know-how and attachment to the land. Irina and Cyril have selected the most endthe most innovative and highest-quality on the Croatian market, with an ever-changing shopping basket. We are from this love of the Croatian terroir and the desire to show it off was borne Zelenathe first Croatian grocery store in France.

French by birth and Croatian by birth, Irina met Cyril in Paris. She introduced him to Croatia by boat, and the couple fell in love with the local gastronomy. The idea of launching a Croatian grocery store in Paris was born. A few years later, their project came to fruition and “Zelena Paris” opened its doors in the famous Rue des dames, with the ambition of helping French people (re)discover the diversity of Croatian gastronomic heritage.

On the stalls, you’ll find kulen, a spicy Slavonian charcuterie. Istria is renowned for its truffles, which are used to flavour honey, cheese and sausages. Dalmatia is represented by “paški sir”, a sheep’s milk cheese matured for 9 months on the island of Pag, and by fig jam, which Croatians use in pastries or to accompany cheese.