MerMer and Us
Our home (Merrit´s and Jaan´s) aims to offer a cozy experience for a small group, up to a maximum of about twenty people, in a seaside fishing village with delicious food and matching wines.
Meat definitely takes the spotlight – primarily game, lamb, but beef, veal, and rabbit are also appreciated. When possible, we use local fish. Occasionally, we have duck, goose, chicken, or turkey. For dessert, there’s a cake, which, if desired, we bake together with our guests.
We are intended for those who love dining out with their close circle of friends but are ready to risk a new kind of experience instead of the usual spots in their hometown – a food served in a friend’s home. Since this is primarily our home, we could call it a somewhat club-like and even elitist event, as you can’t just walk in here, and the desired time should be arranged with us in advance
How it All Started
The idea of turning our home into a private restaurant came from our trips abroad. I still remember how:
In Tenerife, when ordering Torres wine, the waiter would imitate a bull while filling each glass, and when we happened to return to the same tavern a few days later, the waiter greeted us by mimicking a bull in the same way;
In Barcelona, when we visited the same café the next morning, the waiter already knew we wanted two Americanos, one after the other; in Madrid, the waiter pointed out that for just 2 euros more, we could have the same wine cellar’s reserva;
In Cyprus, they set a table for us right by the Mediterranean waves, even though the so-called off-season hadn’t yet started;
In Florence, at a small family restaurant, we had the entire family tree to ourselves, from great-grandmother to grandchild, and when asked how the food tasted, we felt that a simple "very good" couldn’t fully express our sincere gratitude for the simple yet delightful food and service;
In one of the cafés in Brussels, where the menu was only in Flemish and French, the waiter suggested we take the best, not the most expensive, salad;
In Croatia, on the island of Korčula, the entire café staff agreed to stay open longer just for us so we could watch the Eurovision pre-selection, and before we left, they treated us to a glass of house wine (perhaps out of joy that we decided to leave!).
The list could go on, but surely every traveler can relate to something here. And this is exactly what we wanted to offer our guests – honest, heartfelt food, flavors we ourselves love, and service we would expect.
Where We Are Today
Today, 15 years later, we are still here, both we and MerMer. Just like our love for good food, the sea, and our guests. In the meantime, we’ve published a few cookbooks, welcomed countless special people from all over the world into our home restaurant. We’ve weathered autumn storms and summer heatwaves, served food to guests despite power outages, and shared hundreds of breathtaking sunsets with them.
We’ve organized fun cooking gatherings, intimate concerts, and crowded weddings. We’ve developed signature gourmet products, which can be bought at MerMer as a gift or for yourself.
We are here and waiting for you to visit. But be sure to book early – available dates disappear quickly, just like our warm handmade breads.
Merrit & Jaan
