Italy’s South Tyrol region is home to some of the most spectacular mountain scenery on earth. The majestic Dolomites provide a magnificent backdrop to world class skiing with opportunities on and off piste that just go on and on.
Down in the valleys the culture and heritage is strong in traditional, picturesque resorts – no concrete high rises here. This being Italy the value-factor is high too, and the locals friendly and relaxed, helping to really make you feel like you’re on holiday.
And the food! Well, of course there are a lot of traditional recipes, and of course it’s local sorced. All good, but then the South Tyrol takes it up several notches and has a carved a distinct and inque reputation for proving gourmet level cuisine.
The big difference between here and other gourmet destinations though is that there are no stuffy, over-formal restaurants charging sky high prices. Instead there’s a joy in providing great food at affordable prices and bringing it to everyone – serving it on the slopes in the mountain huts and in special mountain festivals through the season, and in dozens of other ways. In short, great food is everywhere in South Tyrol.
Try the Tastes of South Tyrol At A Christmas Market
There is something unique about a South Tyrolean Christmas market which are running from now to 6 January, 2017, where visitors can try local specialities, like “Apfelglühmix” (South Tyrolean apple juice boiled with orange juice and spices) or “Zelten”, traditional fruit bread, typical for the Alto Adige region.
These charming Christmas markets also offer holidaymakers an opportunity to find handcrafted Christmas gifts, such as warm felt slippers and cosy blankets, or decorations for the Christmas tree made of straw, wood and glass. If holidaymakers want to experience something unusual, the Medieval Christmas market in Chiusa allows visitors to come across night watchmen, fire-eaters, jugglers and knights.
Gourmet Ski Safari 2016 – 17
Although all of the South Tyrol is great for good food, one of the leading ski regions, Alta Badia, has made a particular name for itself with culinary themed ski events all season long.
These include the Chef’s Cup, when international chefs are invited to compete in the kitchens and in races on the ski slopes , and for everyone else, events like the Gourmet Skisafari, taking place this year on Sunday 11 December when five gourmet chefs will take part, each creating a dish for a specific mountain hut.
Local chefs include Norbert Niederkofler (St. Hubertus Restaurant at Relais & Chateaux Hotel Rosa Alpina) at the Bioch hut. He will serve a tortellini pasta NORA in broth. The youngest Michelin chef in Italy, Matteo Metullio (La Siriola Restaurant at Hotel Ciasa Salares), will serve a Sweetbread of fried veal on scampi mixture, smoked Jerusalem artichoke froth and liquorice and aniseed salsa. You can taste this dish at the Club Moritzino hut. Nicola Laera (La Stüa de Michil Restaurant at Hotel La Perla), will be cooking at the Col Alt hut, delighting you with Roast Bleggio rabbit with its livers, pumpkin, chestnuts and Sauris ham powder. Thorsten Probost from the Griggeler Stuba in Lech-Zürs (Austria) welcomes skiers at the Piz Arlara mountain hut, where he will be cooking his Alta Badia Tartare. The list of gourmet chefs is rounded off by Esat Akyildiz from The Ritz-Carlton Almaty. For the event he can be found at the I Tablá hut, serving a “Kespe Sorpa” fresh noodles with aromatic bouillon.
Skiers travel from one hut to the other to taste the chef’s creations. Veritable works of art will be served to skiers: a true feast for the eyes and palate. Skiers will also meet and greet the chefs and, who knows, maybe they will even let them in on a trade secret or two. You can purchase one ticket to taste five dishes for €50 including wine.
A similar event ends the season on Sunday 2 April 2017 when 14 Michelin chefs are each assigned to a different hut on the slopes of Alta Badia, each creating a dish for that mountain restaurant.
A New Mountain Restaurant in Obereggen – Oberholz
Not everything in South Tyrol is entirely traditional, and a new mountain top restaurant with stunning panoramic views that has opened this December at the Obereggen ski resort is indeed characterised by its modern and sustainable concept, featuring three large panoramic glass sections, designed by architects Peter Pichler and Pavol Mikolajcak. But still those traditional mountain values of good food and plenty of it are still here and the bar and restaurant located on the mountain side, serve skiers everything from light refreshments to hearty meals and perhaps an Aperol Spritz or two.
How to get there
Getting to South Tyrol is easy as the region is just a short distance from a number of airports – Verona, Milan-Bergamo, Milan, Venice and Treviso as well as Innsbruck and Munich.
Flights are available with BA, EasyJet, Ryanair and Monarch from a range of UK airports including: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Leeds, East Midlands, Bristol, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.
Lots of people travelling to South Tyrol hire a car at the airport, but there are also quick and convenient bus transfers from Milan, Malpensa, Bergamo, Verona, Innsbruck or Munich airports, starting from €48 per person – make sure you book at least 48 hours in advance though.
With British Airways fly direct from London Gatwick to Innsbruck or Verona, prices start from £38 one-way, book at ba.com. EasyJet www.easyjet.com flies from London Gatwick to Verona with prices from £34.99 one-way and to Innsbruck in Austria from £32.49 one-way (incl. taxes). Ryanair www.ryanair.com flies from London Stansted to Milan Bergamo from £30 one-way (incl. Taxes). Monarch www.monarch.co.uk has begun twice weekly flights from Manchester to Innsbruck starting from £30 one way. Bolzano/Bozen in South Tyrol is approximately a 90-minute drive from both Verona and Innsbruck.
It is also possible to fly to Milan Bergamo from Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, East Midlands, Leeds and Bradford with Ryanair. Low-fare transfers run from Verona Valerio Catullo, Milan Bergamo Orio al Serio and Innsbruck airports to Bolzano in South Tyrol from €39 return.
