Workshop at the Piroli Family on Traditional Dishes of Zhejë Village in Kurbin

On Saturday, January 18th, we gathered together at the Piroli family home, who have lived for generations in the village of Zhejë in Kurbin. Composed of mother Mrika and the Piroli brothers and their wives, this traditional family shared with us the preparation of several dishes that are symbols of traditional Kurbin cuisine. Not only were the dishes prepared with local ingredients, cultivated and grown in the village of Zhejë, but what captured our attention was the participation of the entire family, men and women, under the approval of mother Mrika. Additionally, each dish was accompanied by an agronomic narrative, which started from the ingredients, seasons and cooking techniques, but also with stories, oral traditions and legends recounted by Agustini, the son of mother Mrika. What remained as an impression from this day filled with tradition, history and flavor was the coexistence of Catholic and Muslim communities and the mutual respect that was offered even in food. During Catholic religious holidays, meals were prepared separately only for neighbors, relatives or even chance travelers who belonged to the Muslim faith, and they were offered dishes without pork meat and cooked in separate vessels. This "spiritual and vital artifact" testifies rarely to the heart and peaceful coexistence of the Kurbin people! This meeting was realized as part of the project "Timeless Flavors: Enjoy the Dishes, Products and Ballads of Kurbin" financed by the European Union (EU) within the framework of the EU4Culture program, and implemented by ALCDF.