Made With Love: My Father, Our Restaurant and the Story Behind Forkwise

Where my love for food began

My passion for good food is endless. Some people discover cooking later in life, but for me it was always there: in the kitchen, at the table, and in the busy, happy rhythm of a restaurant.

When I think about where it all started, I don't think of a recipe book or a cooking class. I think of my father.

Zoran: my mentor, my friend, my protector

Sixteen years ago, my father opened a restaurant in Lusaka, Zambia, and gave it his name: Zoran.

He taught me everything I know today. He was my mentor, my friend and my protector. He was the person I looked up to, the one I learned from, and the one who always made me feel safe.

Food was his whole life. He spent all his years in the restaurant business, and he loved it with his whole heart. So when people ask me where my passion for food comes from, the answer is simple: it comes from him. 🙂

He is no longer with us, but I feel him in every kitchen I stand in. Every time I taste a sauce and think “a little more salt”, or plate a dish with care, a part of him is there with me.

A family business, a family table

Today, Zoran Cafe is still our family business. My mum, my brother and I run it together, and every day we carry on what my father started.

For us it's not just a restaurant. It's his dream, his name above the door, and the place where his love for food lives on. Keeping it going is our way of keeping him close.

If you're ever in Lusaka, come and visit us at Zoran Cafe. It's not a gluten-free restaurant, but it's where my love for food was born. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram (@zorancafezm). 💛

He was my mentor, my friend and my protector.

— Tijana

Cooking without gluten, eggs and milk

Many of my recipes are made without some of the most common ingredients in the kitchen: gluten, eggs and milk.

I know how hard that can feel at first. So many favourite dishes seem to depend on flour, eggs or butter. But I've learned that leaving them out doesn't mean leaving out the joy. My recipes are still amazing and delicious. Cooking this way taught me to be creative, to get the most flavour out of simple, honest food, and to make sure everyone at the table can share the same meal. Nobody should have to eat something different, or eat alone, because of an allergy.

From Africa to the Balkans

I love travelling, and that's why I want to bring you recipes from all over the world, especially from my two favourite places on earth: Africa and the Balkans. 🌍

Africa is home, with its warmth, its colours and its generous way of sharing food. The Balkans are in my roots, with old family-style recipes cooked slowly and served with love.

On Forkwise you'll find old Balkan recipes that I've adapted for people with gluten intolerance or allergies, alongside recipes I've created myself.

Made with the same love

Each and every one of these recipes is created with the same passion and love my father taught me. When you cook one at home, a little bit of our story comes with it. ❤️

Forkwise is my way of opening our family table to you, wherever you are in the world.

My own recipes are coming soon to the “My recipes” section of this blog. I can't wait for you to try them, and I can't wait to hear your feedback.

With love,Tijana