Sardines, Seafood and Summer Vibes
Hook & Cook starts with early quiet mornings at the sea. Nets are coming out of the water, while the sun is just squinting behind the horizon. By the time our fish finds you, everything is louder, warmer and more alive. Festivals, pop-up’s, and our own line of sardines are just different ways of holding onto that same feeling and passing it on.
Our Story
We grew up around boats, salty fresh air and good homemade food. What began as a couple of friends fishing and cooking by the water turned into a lifestyle. Hook & Cook is knowing where your fish comes from, and making the most out of it.
Behind the idea are two friends, Xixi and Marko. They had different paths but the same obsession about food, music, and fishing. Hook & Cook works closely with local fishermen, chefs and ingredients that are in season. We also catch sardines, cruising the western coast of Istria. They’re not just our proud product, they’re part of a bigger story we’re still writing for the future.
Festival
Catch some fish, cook it by the sea, play great music and see who shows up.
That’s how Hook & Cook started back in 2016.
A small gathering on a fishing dock, slowly and naturally grew into a summer ritual people kept coming back to. It’s not a spectacle, it’s a feeling. Chefs bringing bold and strong flavors, DJ’s and bands stretching sunsets into the long warm nights, and glasses keep refilling without asking.
Over the years, the festival kept moving, along the Adriatic and across the region, but never really changed it’s heart. The idea is always the same, simple and good food shared with the right people, music and those cool summer vibes.
Small fish with a big story.
Sardines need all the hype they can get. Local, wild and underrated, this original superfood, was feeding generations before all the fishing trends today. Affordable and rich in flavour. From our nets straight into the tins. No additives, no excessive treatments, just salt, oil and sometimes herbs to elevate the taste.
At sea, it usually always goes the same way. Scanning familiar routes, focusing, and letting those instincts passed down from generations kick in. Our crew on F/V Levan catch sardines year round, but with more precision and responsibility. Together with WWF Adria, we’ve shaped a way of fishing that respects the sea. No unnecessary bycatch, just honest had work, so that the same story can be told again tomorrow.
In 2019, we made history with Mirna Rovinj, an old factory that knows a thing or two about making sardines. Our first limited sardines in olive oil. The idea was that our catch of the day goes straight into the tins. No waiting, no freezing just pure fresh sardines.
Why sardines?
They are small, but deliver a serious portion of Omega-3, protein and every day nutrition that your body needs. Low on mercury, sardines are ideal for a quick lunch in the sun, or something to share over a late night drink. Nothing to fancy, just delicious.
Very Tastefull Vibe
Copyright Ⓒ Hook and Cook 2026