Our 8 Favorite Foods in the Italian Dolomites
Author : Lara Ehmler
1st August 2024
At Collett's Mountain Holidays, we take eating well as seriously as walking. No region in Europe offers a cuisine quite as delicious and diverse as the Italian Dolomites. And after over 25 years of travelling this spectacular region, we've compiled quite a long-list of favourite local spots, dishes and drinks. So, here are our 8 favourite foods in the Italian Dolomites
The Italian Dolomites – A Foodie's Dream Destination
With no less than three Michelin-starred restaurants in the Alta Badia alone, all drawing inspiration from the area’s unique cuisine and stocking an ample supply of local wines, the Ladino kitchen offers a fabulous fusion of Austrian, Italian and Alpine cooking. Some of the dishes have become the height of cool, such as the Cortina classic, Casunziei all’Ampezzana; beetroot ravioli with melted butter, ricotta and poppy seeds. Most have their roots in the traditional peasant food of the Ladin people, with a limited larder but plentiful wild herbs and flowers, triumphing through adversity birthed much of the food here.
8 Foods You Must Try in the Dolomites
Perhaps the greatest pleasure is to be found dining in the many ‘rifugi’ or mountain huts dotted around the mountains. Most offer stunning sun terraces from which you can watch the light change to characteristic late afternoon pink on the dramatic rock towers of the Dolomites whilst enjoying some of the local dishes and drinks. So prepare to loosen your belts and make sure to try some of these food & drink choices during your next visit!
Casunziei all’Ampezzana
Casunziei are beetroot filled ravioli in a half-moon shape. Served with melted butter, ricotta and poppy seeds, the pasta is a classic warming winter dish and its reddish hue makes it the perfect pasta during the festive season.
Speck
Cured raw pork, cold smoked and flavoured with spices such as juniper. Speck from South Tyrol is enjoyed across Italy.
Tris di Canderli
A trio of Ladin style bread dumplings made with bread, milk, eggs and flour and flavoured with spinach, mushrooms and strong cheeses along with the ever-present speck.
Zuppa d’orzo
A creamy soup of barley and speck, often enjoyed with Turtres, savoury pancakes stuffed with spinach and deep fried to the point of crispiness.
Spatzle
Mini gnocchi, cooked with speck, spinach, cream and a healthy sprinkle of parmesan is the pasta of the Alta Badia.
Shlutzkrapfen
Casunciei in Badia Ladin, half-moon ravioli filled with spinach and covered in a rich butter sauce.
Kaiserschmarrn
The famous Austrian dessert is equally at home in Sued Tyrol, chopped pancakes served with jam, apple sauce and sugar.
Apfelstrudel
Another Austrian classic, apple strudel with vanilla sauce is prepared in the Dolomites with a thicker cake-like pastry and often contains pine nuts.
Drinks to Try in the Italian Dolomites
On top of delicious dishes, there’s also a range of local drinks and cocktails to try. Here are some of our staff favourites.
Spritz Aperol
Ubiquitous Italian aperitivo. Bright orange in colour with a refreshing bitter taste, the popularity of the Spritz has travelled to many fashionable bars across the UK but can be found for between 3 and 4 Euros across the Dolomites.
Hugo
A cousin of the more common Spritz, the Hugo is a sweet and delicate blend of Prosecco, elderflower, mint and lime.
Bombardino
The statement post-ski drink, bright yellow and topped with cream, Bombardino is made with advocaat and brandy and won’t fail to warm you up for the last run down.
Eat & Walk Your Way Through The Dolomites
Whether you’re coming to the Italian Dolomites during our centre-based holidays or joining us on one of your more adventurous hut-to-hut walks, we’ll make sure that you can try more than one of these delicious dishes!
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