Jožica Horvat

“What grew at home, that’s what we had.”

Krašči, Slovenia, 2025

In this interview for the Roma Soul Food project, Jožica Horvat recalls the food of her childhood through memories of simple, homemade dishes prepared by her grandmother, such as corn žganci with chicory coffee, dödöle with sour cream, cabbage, potato soup, paprikash and different kinds of potica. Her memories show a way of life in which food came mostly from the home garden, was prepared from scratch, and was closely connected to family, holidays and everyday survival. She also reflects on traditional home remedies, such as chicken stew and caramelized sugar with milk for colds, and explains how some practices, tastes and dishes have continued into later life, even after moving to Austria. The interview highlights food as a living part of Roma family heritage, shaped by modesty, practicality, seasonal ingredients and intergenerational knowledge.

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Original language: Slovene/Romani