What to eat when you’re in South Tyrol
This year, I had my own little Sound of Music moment in the beautiful mountains of South Tyrol. Yes, I know the film wasn’t exactly shot anywhere nearby, but the atmosphere, the mountain air, the view; for a moment, I felt like Maria. It was my first time in this area, but definitely not my last. It’s so beautiful here, and, last but not least: I didn’t have a single bad meal here.
Because perhaps you associate South Tyrol with winter sports (which I can immediately debunk as well; I was there when it was almost summer and can wholeheartedly recommend that too), since I’ve been there, I think of culinary highlights whenever I hear South Tyrol.
South Tyrol is a food paradise
I really mean it. For starters, you have a mega amount of choice here: South Tyrol is located in the Dolomites in Italy, so you can certainly find a good pasta here. For example, I had a divine truffle pasta at Jimmi Hut, which at the time was collaborating with chef Ciccio Sultana, who has two Michelin stars. The restaurant overlooks the ski slope (so it’s recommended both for winter sports and in summer), looks incredibly cosy and, of course, the food is truly high-end.
But if you prefer the Austrian route, you can do that very well in South Tyrol too. At that same Jimmi Hut, for example, I had the most delicious Kaiserschmarrn (my +1 had never eaten it before and had no idea what hit them, it was so delicious). But in many restaurants on and around the slopes, you’ll also find knödelsuppe and even wine soup. Yep, you read that right, and it’s genuinely delicious: a creamy soup with white wine added to it.
Save the best for last
But there is one restaurant that stands out above the rest, and that’s where I ate on the last evening; the fine dining restaurant at the hotel Badia Hill, where I was staying. That hotel is already incredible (it has an infinity pool overlooking the mountains, to name just one thing), but it also has two restaurants. One serves somewhat smaller shared dining bites (I ate there on the first evening, and it was genuinely good too) and mainly functions as a wine bar, while they also have Ristorante Porcino, which focuses on fine dining.
Fun fact: chef Marco is also the owner of the hotel (he runs it together with his wife) and gained experience in the Netherlands, at De Librije. So you know it’s going to be good…
If you’re ready for a trip full of culinary pleasures and a wonderful setting (it really is true what they say about the mountain air doing you so much good): South Tyrol is truly one culinary highlight. Thank me later.
Also read:
- Expert explains: how to recognise good olive oil
- Recipe: Spaghetti with lemon pasta from Procida
- When is mozzarella ‘real’?
