Dalmatia: coast and dog?

What really made me think about etymology was the funny hat on two street musicians in the city of Zadar: they were wearing hats which had a pattern similar to the one of a Dalmatian dog.

The question is: is there a connection between the Dalmatian dog and the part of Croatia called Dalmatia?

The answer is a big YES. Here we go.
Dalmatia (Croatian: Dalmacija, pronounced [dǎlmaːt͡sija]; see names in other languages) is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south. Dalmatia lies in Croatia.^[1] The Dalmatian dog received its name from Dalmatia, as does the dalmatic, a Roman Catholic liturgical vestment worn by deacons and bishops.

The Dalmatian (Croatian: Dalmatinac, Dalmatiner) is a breed of dog whose roots are often said to trace back to Dalmatia, a region of Croatia where the first illustrations of the dog have been found.^[1] The Dalmatian is noted for its unique black- or brown-spotted coat and was mainly used as a carriage dog in its early days. Today, this dog remains a well loved family pet and many dog enthusiasts enter their pets into the competitions of many kennel clubs.

(source: Wikipedia, mypetla.com, old-picture.com)

Tasteless British food? No way! - A Jamie Oliver recipe

Yummy. By-the-way - do you know all of the ingredients? Scallions, for instance? Well, here they are:

Jamie Oliver's Deliciously Easy Chopped Salad

Ingredients
4 scallions
1/2 cucumber
One handful of fresh basil leaves
2 small, just ripe avocados
1 butterhead lettuce
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon English mustard
Salt to taste
Ground pepper to taste

Directions

1. Get yourself a big chopping board with a sharp knife. It's best to start by chopping the harder and crunchier veggies first. So trim and chop your scallions and slice your cucumber. Slice your basil. Bring it all into the center of the board and continue chopping and mixing together.
2. Halve your avocados around the big pit. Carefully remove the pit and peel the skin off. Add the avocado flesh, lettuce leaves to the board. Continue chopping until everything is roughly the same size. Put it in a large bowl.
3. In a small cup add 6 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar. Add one tablespoon English mustard and a good pinch of salt and pepper to the olive oil and vinegar. Stir well. Plate your salad and drizzle the dressing over the top.

Serves 4.

(Source: http://www.fitsugar.com/Jamie-Oliver-Recipe-Chopped-Salad-8565263)