Plums, figs, quinces and family recipes passed down through generations – slatko, the traditional fruit preserve, is more than just a familiar taste from our childhood. It is a cherished part of our culinary heritage and a symbol of hospitality, a small gesture of welcome for every guest who walks through our door.

We brought this tradition to life at Dvorche, the much-loved back yard of Europe House Veles, where time-honoured recipes met the creativity of a new generation. Together with students from the Secondary School “Kole Nedelkovski” in Veles, we made 100 jars of homemade fruit preserves, discovering once again that the best recipes are about much more than precise measurements. They are about making things together, learning from our elders and picking up those little kitchen secrets that can only be passed on by doing.

Each jar also had a story to tell. Students from the Economics Department of the Municipal Secondary School “Jovche Teslichkov” took on the creative challenge of designing original labels for our jars of sweet preserves. From initial ideas and choice of visual elements to the finished designs, they added their own creative touch to every one of the 100 jars.

The day wrapped up with a tasting shared with loved ones and the sounds of Hot Jazz Orchestra, turning Dvorche into a lively gathering place where generations, familiar flavours and fresh ideas came together.

“Sweet Preserves at Dvorche” was a reminder that tradition is not simply something we inherit. It is something we keep alive, reinvent and pass on by sharing it with others.