MONTH OF CROATIAN CUISINE OPENS IN NEW YORK

NEW YORK, Oct 29 (Hina) - Croatian Assistant Tourism Minister Sasa Poljanec Boric on Thursday evening opened the "Month of Croatian Cuisine" at the United Nations building in New York. Present at the opening were some 200 guests, including diplomats, political and public figures, and Americans of Croatian origin. A six-member delegation of caterers and gastronomes from Croatia will stay in New York until 26 November. Although primarily a presentation of Croatian cuisine and selected wines, the event, which will feature promotional tourist film footage, bears also elements of national and cultural promotion. "The culinary creations of Croatian masters speak all six official languages of the UN, and some others too," Croatia's permanent member at the UN Ivan Simonovic said. Over the course of the next month, Croatian chefs Viljam Cvek, Anton Cehic, Marko Peric, Marinko Jurisic, and Krunoslav Velican will make some of the best delicacies of Croatian cuisine. The event's PR Miljenko Cavelis said he expected 400 guests per day. All reporters covering and participants in the impending 54th UN General Assembly annual conference will receive a postcard, i.e. a free pass to visit Croatia's national parks next year. The "Month of Croatian Cuisine" has been organised by Croatia's ministries of tourism and foreign affairs, and co-organised by the Croatian Board of Tourism and the Croatian Association of Hoteliers and Restaurateurs. The opening was sponsored by several Croatian companies and New York restaurants owned by American Croats. (hina) ha