Fluent Fiction - Serbian: Ćevapi Showdown: A Gastronomic Friendship Tale
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.org/cevapi-showdown-a-gastronomic-friendship-tale

Story Transcript:

Sr: Bila je obična večer kada je Milica zakoračila u toplo osvetljenu kafanu gde se već čula bučna atmosfera.
En: It was a regular evening when Milica stepped into the warmly lit tavern, where a lively atmosphere was already audible.

Sr: Svetlost je padala na drvene stolove, blistave čaše i tanjire koji su čekali novu avanturu.
En: The light fell on the wooden tables, gleaming glasses, and plates waiting for a new adventure.

Sr: Milica je zavolela ovaj kutak grada; ovde su se rađala prijateljstva, svađe su se zaboravljale, a dobra hrana bila je uvek razlog dolaska.
En: Milica had grown fond of this corner of the city; friendships were born here, arguments were forgotten, and good food was always a reason to come.

Sr: Nikola i Jovan su već sedeli za stari, rezbarani stol pun čašica rakije, smejući se glasno nad vicem koji je Nikola upravo ispričao.
En: Nikola and Jovan were already seated at the old, carved table full of small glasses of rakija, laughing loudly at the joke that Nikola had just told.

Sr: Čim je Milica prišla, pozdraviše je uzvicima dobrodošlice.
En: As soon as Milica approached, they greeted her with welcoming shouts.

Sr: "To ti je, Milice, Jovan tvrdi da poznaje mesto gde prave najbolje ćevape u gradu!" povika Nikola preko sve veće galame.
En: "Hey, Milica, Jovan claims to know the place that makes the best ćevapi in town!" Nikola shouted over the increasing noise.

Sr: Milica se okrenula ka Jovanu s osmehom. "Stvarno, Jovane? A zar ne tvrdiš već mesecima da ćevapi u ovoj kafani nemaju premca?"
En: Milica turned to Jovan with a smile. "Really, Jovan? But haven't you been insisting for months that the ćevapi in this tavern are unbeatable?"

Sr: Jovan je uzvratio izazovnim smeškom. "Tako sam mislio, sve dok nisam probao ćevape na onom novom mestu, preko puta parka. Moji dragi prijatelji, oni su čudo!"
En: Challengingly, Jovan replied with a smile, "That's what I thought until I tried the ćevapi at the new place across the park. My dear friends, they are a wonder!"

Sr: Milica je podigla obrvu, a razuzdani smeh osvetlio joj je lice. "Hoćeš da kažeš da su bolji od onih ovde?" upitala je, dok je milozvučna muzika svirala u pozadini.
En: Milica raised an eyebrow, and unrestrained laughter lit up her face. "Are you saying they're better than the ones here?" she asked, as the sweet music played in the background.

Sr: Nikola se brzo umeša, pozivajući konobara. "Dobro, hajde da rešimo ovo jednom zauvek. Konobar, molim vas, donesite nam porciju ćevapa!"
En: Nikola quickly intervened, calling the waiter. "Alright, let's settle this once and for all. Waiter, please bring us a portion of ćevapi!"

Sr: Uskoro su pred njima ispredeni tanjiri zlatno smeđih, sočnih ćevapa, okruženih svežim lukom i domaćim kajmakom.
En: Soon, plates of golden-brown, juicy ćevapi, surrounded by fresh onions and homemade kajmak, were placed in front of them.

Sr: Prijatelji su zagrizli sa zadovoljstvom, a diskusija je samo postajala žustrija.
En: The friends bit into them with pleasure, and the discussion became livelier.

Sr: Dok su jeli, plan se razvio. "Slušajte", reče Milica, između dva zalogaja, "nema ovde kraja ako ne probamo i Jovanove ćevape. Predlažem izazov: idemo sad tamo i probamo, pa neka najbolji pobedi!"
En: As they ate, a plan developed. "Listen," said Milica between bites, "there's no end to this unless we try Jovan's ćevapi as well. I suggest a challenge: let's go there now and try them, and may the best one win!"

Sr: Prijatelji su se složili, plaćajući brzo račun i šalivši se za put.
En: The friends agreed, quickly paying the bill and joking about the journey.

Sr: Kad su došli do 'čudesnog' mesta, naručili su novu seriju ćevapa.
En: When they arrived at the 'wondrous' place, they ordered another round of ćevapi.

Sr: Smeh je obuzimao kafanu dok su bili sve glasniji, degustirajući i upoređujući.
En: Laughter filled the tavern as they became louder, tasting and comparing.

Sr: Nakon mnogo raspravljanja i smeha, morali su da priznaju – nije im bilo lako odlučiti.
En: After much debate and laughter, they had to admit – it wasn't easy to decide.

Sr: Oba mesta imala su svoje čari.
En: Both places had their charms.

Sr: "Neka bude nerešeno," predloži Milica, dok su se osmesi crtali na njihovim licima.
En: "Let's call it a draw," suggested Milica, as smiles appeared on their faces.

Sr: "Svaki ćevap ima svoju priču, svaki zalogaj nosi delić nečijeg truda i ljubavi."
En: "Every ćevap has its own story, every bite carries a piece of someone's effort and love."

Sr: Prijatelji su pristali, nazdravljajući za nove avanture i vesele večeri koje su predstojale, znajući da će se ovde, u ovim starim, dimljenim zidovima kafane, uvek vraćati po još jednu porciju smeha, prijateljstva i, naravno, ćevapa.
En: The friends agreed, toasting to new adventures and joyful evenings to come, knowing that here, within these old, smoky tavern walls, they would always return for another serving of laughter, friendship, and, of course, ćevapi.

Sr: A tako su Milica, Nikola i Jovan ostali dobri drugari, uvek spremni za novi izazov, ali i nove ćevape.
En: And so, Milica, Nikola, and Jovan remained good friends, always ready for a new challenge, but also for new ćevapi.


Vocabulary Words:

• Adventure: Avantura
• Unbeatable: Nepobediv
• Unrestrained: Neobuzdan
• Challengingly: Izazovno
• Livelier: Življi
• Intervened: Umešao
• Draw: Nerešeno
• Toasting: Nazdravljanje
• Pleasure: Zadovoljstvo
• Carved: Rezbaran
• Zest: Živahnost
• Wonder: Čudo