Karlic Tartufi, Istria, Croatia

5jenweyler 5:00 PM Sep 12, 2022

Funny, talented family with generational tradition of truffle hunting and preparation.
We came for just the tasting and cooking demonstration with Karlic Tartufi. Our travel agent had booked us for a truffle hunt with another guide, and he was amazing, but I'm sure Karlic Tartufi has a fantastic truffle hunt as well. I am sure of this, because Ivana Karlic did our cooking demo, and she was friendly, informative and very witty! It was a joy to hear her family's story and taste their delicious truffle-infused products in their beautiful new restaurant, which has a gorgeous cooking area and plenty of seating. They have a villa for rent next door, and staying there would be a fantastic way to spend time in beautiful Istria.

5HanBanan 5:00 PM Aug 20, 2021

I highly recommend going without doing too much research - go with an open mind.
Let me paint the picture for you - this tour was a present for me, I had no idea what to expect. I did not read a single review or do any research, I went into this fresh with an open mind. The location is in central Istria. On the way to Paladini you completely fall in love with the scenery especially the Butoniga lake. You realise Istria has so much more to offer than just the coast and sea. You drive into Paladini and enter the Karlić residence where you are greeted with a big smile and charisma. We had Ivana taking us through the first part of the tour. Lovely, kind, knowledgable and loves her profession. You also get to meet the dogs that will later take us truffle hunting, about 12-15 dogs but Ivana explained they don't count them because if they do they'll realise how overwhelming it is. To not spoil it for you (as I do believe going blindly is the best experience), Ivana firstly explains all the crucial details, her family history and truffle knowledge, which even for someone like me who has lived in Istria their whole childhood, was an eye opener. We then proceeded into the dining area. It is breathtaking but I will not describe it as I would like you to go there with an open mind. The only thing I will mention is that you will be eating (I miss the food just thinking about it - one of the best meals I have ever had) and actively taking part in the process. No further. We then got split up into groups and went on the hunt. Each group is about 5 people, the guide and 2 dogs, The perfect size not to be lonely but also to feel special and taken care of. Upon returning you have: learnt something completely new, met an amazing family business, eaten the best truffles, been showered with doggy love and met some amazing people on your tour. I want to write every detail, but I really believe you should go without much research or reading because I promise you it will be one of the best experiences you have had, and I do not want to spoil it for you. I will be back again, hungry for more ;)