To visit Taverna Xhufka in the rural part of Korça District is to breathe fresh air. A small side road before entering the village of Boboshtice leads to the foot of the Morava mountain range, which are part of the Drenova Fir National Park. Especially in the height of summer, when it is very hot in Tirana and on the coast, this is an area worth visiting. At just over 1000 meters above sea level, the cool climate and the pleasure of sitting in the shade of a tree with family or friends, surrounded by beautiful nature and enjoying an excellent meal, is all you can ask for.
He also planted trees throughout the property. All the trees that shade visitors today or that produce walnuts, cherries and wild plums for the family were planted by Vasillaqi, who wanted to create as much as possible a place resembling a dense forest. To this day, he refuses to use artificial fertilizers for his meadows, relying on the manure produced by 70 cows and up to 100 sheep and lambs, often saying that “God takes care of the land himself”.
The Xhufka Tavern restaurant offers a variety of delicious traditional food, for which the area is known.
In addition to farm-raised fresh meats, including beef, lamb, kid or pork prepared as steaks, chops, baked in the oven or as meatballs, there is also homemade butter and buttermilk, which are prepared manually, in the traditional way by the family. In addition to the white cow’s cheese and yogurt sauce, as well as the liver and intestines on offer, the dish not to be missed is the laklor in saç, a two-layer pie filled to your liking with cheese, nettles, leeks and cottage cheese, wild greens or onions and tomatoes.
