Rougemarin Doma, the first store in Croatia specializing in home-cooked meals whose concept we helped develop in cooperation with a group of enthusiasts at Rougemarin, opened last week.
During last spring’s quarantine when all the restaurants were closed, we started talking with the team at Rougemarin about the future of the catering industry and about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on people’s habit of going out to restaurants in general. The earthquake that basically closed off downtown Zagreb further encouraged all of us to start thinking about a new model of the restaurant experience. We joined forces with the team at Rougemarin, mainly through virtual tools, and we created a unique concept of a hybrid grocery store and a fast restaurant, in response to the harsh reality that has befallen us and which doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.
Photographer: Bojan Haron Markičević
Rougemarin Doma, a store that sells food experience and is based on quality ingredients at different stages of meal processing and preparation, opened its doors on the premises of the former Rougemarin restaurant in Petrinjska Street. From completely raw foods such as fruits and vegetables, through cooked raw foods like marinated and seasoned steaks, pickled vegetables, freshly made butter to a limited number of fresh pre-made meals. Here the shopping experience becomes an experience of discovering new flavours, ways of preparing food, experiences and inspiration that you can take home with you, along with some of the products offered and in the safety of your own home with little effort and basic culinary skills make a superb gourmet dinner.
Photographer: Bojan Haron Markičević
With minimal construction work, the former restaurant has been transformed into a classic, somewhat forgotten, neighbourhood store. Domestic products without standard labels are displayed on simple wooden shelves, right next to them there is a green section with fruits and vegetables, and at the back of the store there are refrigerators with fresh meat and dairy products, desserts, pre-cooked meals, wine and beer. The store is currently still in its beta phase, where based on customer feedback we are working on improving the offer and the interior design.
Photographer: Bojan Haron Markičević
