Appetising aromas wafting from Ljubljana's Pogačar Square are drawing locals and visitors to Open Kitchen again as the new season of this popular outdoor food market got under way on 22 March.

More than 50 food and drink vendors, including six new, ones put up their stalls for the opening day of the 12th season of Open Kitchen. One of the newcomers, Piccola is enticing foodies with piegatas - cleverly folded pizza pockets - and tiramisu, while Fungalist has prepared a range of innovative mushroom dishes.

Gaudi&Naan bistro made its debut with a range of vegan dishes, LOU Bistro with its stuffed pitta bread, Matsuri is offering Japanese dishes, and the Lili Novy Garden Bistro steamed bread rolls.

Provided the weather is dry, Open Kitchen will be open every Friday between 10am and 9pm. On Saturdays it will also visit other parts of the country, from Novo Mesto to Nova Gorica, Slovenj Gradec, Ptuj, Kranj and for the first time the seaside town of Izola on 13 April.

The event organisers have pledged to keep promoting responsible socialising with the minimum possible negative impact on the environment. Food and drink will still be available only in returnable and biodegradable packaging or glasses.

Open Kitchen is also committed to continue to introduce locals and tourists to the flavours offered by Ljubljana and Slovenia in cooperation with Tourism Ljubljana and the Gourmet Ljubljana brand, thus making a positive contribution to the development of culinary tourism.