Robert “Bobby” Wiebel is a Sparta, NJ-area professional who guides Econo-Pak as director of operations and manages a team of 450 employees at two food packaging locations. Enjoying travel in his free time, Robert Wiebel has visited countries throughout Europe and seeks out the local cuisine in the places he visits, including Croatia.
Unique among Eastern European countries, Croatia features a strong Northern Italian influence due to its coastal proximity to Italy across the Adriatic Sea. The Republic of Venice controlled what is now the Dalmatian region for four centuries, and pasta, pizza, and risotto are staple dishes. Traditional products of the hilly coastal region include olive oil and salt, as well as seafood such as oysters.
Croatia is also known for its cheese, with that produced from sheep on the island of Pag most sought after. This has to do with winds that often sweep the island and cover the island with salt, which in turn affects what plants grow and make up the sheep’s forage. Local cheeses are incorporated in regional favorites such as Zagorski Štrukli, which includes thin pastry and soft cottage cheese.
