Svilaja Smelled of Competition Peka and ŠKMER Arambaše: the First “Pekijada” Was Held

The “Orlove stine” mountain hut on Svilaja hosted the first “Pekijada”, a food and heritage event organised by Muzej Cetinske krajine – Sinj (the Cetina region museum in Sinj) and Planinarsko društvo Svilaja, the local mountaineering society. 15 teams took part, which was also the maximum number of entries, and visitors spent the whole day with traditional food, good company and a full side programme.

What set this event apart was cooking peka in clay bells, the old way of baking under a lid covered with embers, done here to keep and promote part of the traditional heritage of Cetinska krajina. Clay bells have almost completely given way to metal ones, so the organisers used an event like this to remind people of the value of old crafts, traditional skills and ways of cooking that were part of life in this area for centuries.

ŠKMER left a strong culinary mark on the event: its members judged the competition peka dishes and cooked for visitors. The president of the ŠKMER Academy, Željko Neven Bremec, sat on the judging panel with Mislav Vušković from the Culture, Sport and Technical Culture Department of Split-Dalmatia County, Daria Domazet, director of Muzej Cetinske krajine – Sinj, and Zoran Vejić, president of Planinarsko društvo Svilaja.

By the decision of the judging panel, the first “Pekijada” was won by the team “Caffe bar Argentina”. Second place went to the team “Trio Rio”, and third place to the team “Kumovi i ostali”.

While the competitors fought for the best peka title, ŠKMER members led by Željko Neven Bremec prepared around 300 arambaše, cabbage rolls filled with meat and one of the best known dishes of Cetinska krajina. The smell and the taste of this protected local speciality pulled visitors in all day, and the prepared batch went in record time. Next to ŠKMER arambaše, Edo Crljen added to the day with fresh uštipci, small fried dough fritters.

The most successful teams were rewarded with pieces made by Ivan Knezović, the last active potter working on a hand wheel who still makes traditional clay peka bells, bakre and other everyday clay items.

The event was full of song, company and a positive competitive spirit all day, and it drew participants and guests from different parts of Dalmatia. Togetherness, promotion of tradition and keeping heritage alive were its main goal.

– We are more than happy with the turnout, the atmosphere and the reactions of everyone who took part. During the event itself some teams already said they want to take part again next year, which is the best confirmation that “Pekijada” did its job. We are glad that an event like this brought food, tradition, heritage and good company together, and showed how much people value content that keeps the identity of our area alive – said the director of Muzej Cetinske krajine – Sinj Daria Domazet.

The first “Pekijada” was held in the year in which Muzej Cetinske krajine – Sinj marks 70 years of work. The organisers thank all the competitors, partners, volunteers and visitors who helped make the first “Pekijada” on Svilaja a success, and announce a new edition next year.

PHOTO: Igor Lakić