Chef Martin Blejec: The Story Behind Rose Restaurant’s Kitchen

Rose Restaurant at Bled Rose Hotel is led by Chef Martin Blejec, a member of the Slovenian national culinary team. His approach comes from childhood memories of his grandmother’s kitchen and from discipline about ingredients: Slovenian, seasonal, locally grown, enriched with influences from Asian and South American cuisine.

Where does his cooking come from?

Martin draws his passion for cooking from memories and flavours he has carried since childhood — from his grandmother’s kitchen, where every dish told a story. Those memories are not nostalgia on a plate; they are the reason he does not compromise on ingredients. Wherever possible, they are Slovenian, seasonal and locally grown — supporting local producers and guaranteeing that everything on the plate is fresh.

Why do Asian and South American notes show up in Slovenian dishes?

His commitment to authenticity comes with curiosity. He finds inspiration in foreign cuisines — in rich spices, unexpected flavour combinations and techniques he weaves skilfully into a Slovenian foundation. The result is dishes that are at once a tribute to tradition and a confident look forward: trout baked in salt beside an Asian-inflected sauce; veal prepared classically with a surprising spice note.

What does this mean for the Rose Restaurant menu?

The menu changes through the year because the ingredients follow the season. Part of the offering is prepared strictly to order and served at the table — a whole trout baked in salt, for instance, which must be ordered in advance. This is not theatre for its own sake; it is the result of working with real, fresh ingredients rather than from stock.

Recognition

Under his direction, Rose Restaurant holds Gault&Millau and Falstaff recognition. Martin is a member of the Slovenian national culinary team — credibility he brings to every plate at the hotel.

Where can you taste it?

At Rose Restaurant, Bled Rose Hotel, Cesta svobode 8, 4260 Bled — open to guests who are not staying at the hotel. Reservations: hotel@bledrose.com, +386 4 579 6000.