Experiences created by all the senses

Imagine finding yourself in a place where time has stopped and your senses are somehow more intense. Suddenly you hear sounds that you don't normally notice, birds singing, the crackling of fire, the creaking of wood... You see things that you would otherwise have just passed by, now you notice the details... They tempt you to touch them, to grab them. You smell the smells, and the taste... Mmm, that will play an important role in this story. Each of us needs a reboot once in a while, to forget about everyday worries and just enjoy the moment we are experiencing. Go to a place where we will have peace, but at the same time comfort and we will be taken care of. They say that experience is the best gift, don't be shy about giving it to yourself. Visit a place that is unique in Slovakia and you will perfectly activate all your senses there.

A mill full of works of art

Gašperov Mlyn stands on the site of the original mill in the Tatra village of Batizovce and offers visitors a truly fairytale atmosphere in a family environment, and above all, great gastronomy. It is run by the couple Slavomíra and Peter Raškovičovci, both with university degrees in journalism. "The mill was bought by my father Michal Gašper, who really likes alternative energy sources, he enjoys ecology, it seems like a thing of the future to him... So he wanted to try it out on some object. At first, he didn't know what to do with the mill, no one in our family is connected to gastronomy, but Peta and I decided to try it. But in order for a person to work in such a field, they need to have a professional qualification, so in our case it would be nice if we had some kind of apprenticeship certificate. So after graduating from college, we went back to high school and got an apprenticeship certificate in the field of cook, waiter," Slávka Raškovič begins to tell the story about Gašper's Mill. The century-old mill was in a disastrous state and needed extensive reconstruction. Since it did not have a solid foundation, it more or less had to be demolished and rebuilt, but the owners managed to preserve one wall and return a few details such as old wooden beams or preserved mechanisms from the original mill. "We were helped with the interior by a painter from the Tatras, Marián Čižmárik, thanks to whom the mill is tastefully furnished with antiques and works of art. An interesting artifact is, for example, the headboard of a wedding bed from 1926, on which two names and the wedding date are written. So every year we commemorate the wedding anniversary of these two people from Batizov," smiles Slávka.

Over 70 years of woven canvas

Gašperov Mlyn offers accommodation in three themed rooms (Room of the 4 Seasons, Hunter's Room, Wandmaker's Room) and one apartment (Apartment in the Clouds) for 4 people. It is intended more for couples who want to find peace in a busy world. Guests can also relax in the wellness area, which hides rare more than 70-year-old sheets made of genuine Tatra linen. This is characterized by its unusual white color. "When women in the fields bleached this linen by pouring water on it, it turned pale thanks to the extremely soft water that we have under the Tatras. Thanks to its unusual color, the linen was exported far and wide. And today, years later, we see that despite its age, this material is still of the same quality and pleasant to the touch. Natural material combined with honest handwork will last for many years," says Slávka.

Mysterious menu

What has made Gašperov Mlyn popular with both domestic and foreign tourists is its gastronomy and its experiential tasting menu. You must make a reservation for dinner the day before. This is not only due to the restaurant's capacity (max. 15 guests), but also because they always prepare food for the exact number of people, minimizing any waste, and for specific people with regard to intolerances or dietary requirements. You never know in advance what you will be served, but you can be sure that it will be worth it. "The whole dinner has a familiar sequence, first we tell the guests about our Mill, its history, and interesting facts, and only then does the tasting itself begin. We start with small courses, the so-called "amuse bouche", whose task is to set the mood, please the guest, and get the whole thing started. The next course is our homemade bread with some spread or butter. We bake the bread fresh every day for the number of people we have. This is followed by another 5 courses - an appetizer, soup, then we have some fish course, a meat main course, and finally dessert. All courses are presented by our chef or cook," describes Slávka. They also offer wine pairings with the meal for dinner. Slávka and her husband are certified sommeliers, but their other colleagues are also educated in this area.

Eco concept

As we mentioned in the introduction, the owner of Gašperov Mlyn is interested in ecology. The mill has its own power plant, which produces electricity not only for itself, but also for several adjacent buildings. "We draw energy from water, so it is really "green", we do not burden nature that much. We have our own wastewater treatment plant. We clean the water that is consumed in the mill and release it further into nature, we have a heat pump, solar panels... We grow tomatoes, zucchini, herbs in our own garden and greenhouse... We try to work with really fresh ingredients," says Slávka.

Not just for booked guests

Since you have to plan a visit to Gašperov Mlyn, it happened that they had to turn away random guests. This was also one of the reasons why the Bistro Moment concept was created. The symbol of both projects was the hourglass located in the interior of the Mill and in the logo of Bistro Moment. The physical ones in the Mill are a work of art by the aforementioned Marián Čižmárik. They are filled with grain, not sand, as is customary. That is why the hours stand still, they do not run out. "They are a symbol of the fact that time has stopped for us. We would like our guests to forget about time, not to rush anywhere, to enjoy the food and feel good. At Moment, it's the opposite, we want our guests to consider time as an aspect that we must respect. People come to this concept for lunch, during the working day, so it cannot be forgotten. Here, we want them to enjoy the "moment" that they have for themselves, to spend it with tasty, perhaps even healthy food. To stop for a moment, relax, enjoy the moments and then return to the cycle and continue on in the sense of time that inexorably forces us to go somewhere," explains the manager of both concepts.

Bistro Moment takes over all the good philosophies of Gašperov Mlyn regarding quality service and tasty seasonal gastronomy, but is more accessible to guests who are not planning ahead. It provides accommodation in 10 rooms and its restaurant has a capacity of 36 people, suitable for family celebrations. The space is ideal for families with children, has a large garden with a pond, a playground and two huts. Don't look for a classic lunch or dinner menu here, although there is something new on offer every day - you can choose from an appetizer, soup, several main courses and dessert, but the dishes are prepared so creatively that you feel like you are at a celebration or other festive occasion. As in Mlyn, the food is often served to you by the chefs themselves. If you stop by and are satisfied, compliment them, they will definitely appreciate it.

Outfits in the photos: