Alta Badia/South Tyrolean Dolomites-Italy: Gourmet Chefs At 2000 Meters

It will be an itinerant journey, the one that will take skiers participating in the ninth edition of the Gourmet Skisafari, from one hut to the next in search of new dishes and internationally renowned chefs. The culinary creations can be tasted on Saturday 10 December from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Norbert Niederkofler (Executive Chef at Restaurant St.Hubertus at Hotel Rosa Alpina, 3 Michelin stars and 1 green star), Simone Cantafio (Restaurant La Stüa de Michil, 1 Michelin star, at Hotel La Perla) and the food director, for a long time Italy's best chef for critics, Fulvio Pierangelini (Rocco Forte Hotels), will bring gourmet cuisine to the slopes of Alta Badia at 2000m. For the creation of the dishes, the chefs have, in fact, been inspired by the best products of the region, based on their own philosophy in the kitchen. True works of art will be presented, not only for the palate, but also for the eye. There will, of course, be the opportunity to meet the chefs in person and be told the story of their dish. The initiative also wants to give a concrete signal for a sustainable approach to gastronomy. The participating chefs will create their dishes while reducing waste and with a focus on protecting our planet.

Each dish will be accompanied by a South Tyrolean wine, chosen by a South Tyrolean sommelier.

Tickets for participating in the Gourmet Skisafari can be purchased for €60 in advance and up to the day of the event at the tourist offices in Alta Badia, or directly at the participating huts. Places are limited. The event is organised with the support of the South Tyrol Wine Consortium.

The chefs and their dishes:

• Norbert Niederkofler, Executive Chef - Restaurant St.Hubertus at Hotel Rosa Alpina in San Cassiano (3 Michelin stars, 1 green star) is paired with the Ütia de Bioch hut und he will present his dish “Potato dumplings and puccia bread with graukäse cheese cream and speck ragout”. Paired wine: Alto Adige S. Maddalena classico Hub 2020 – Untermoserhof
• Simone Cantafio, Restaurant La Stüa de Michil at Hotel La Perla in Corvara (1 Michelin star), will be paired with the Ütia I Tablá mountain hut and he will cook a “Smooth cauliflower soup, teriyaki cockerel sauce and potato churros with mountain mushroom topping”. Paired wine: Alto Adige Gewürztraminer Riserva Brenntal 2020 – Cantina Cortaccia
• Fulvio Pierangelini, Rocco Forte Hotels, food director and long-time top chef in Italy for most gastronomic critics will present his dish “Barley soup, mint chickpeas, black cabbage” at mountain hut Ütia Las Vegas.
  Paired wine: Alto Adige/Südtirol Chardonnay Riserva Burgum Novum 2019 – Castelfeder

These and five other starred dishes can be tasted at the 8 huts participating in A taste for skiing, throughout the winter season. This winter's edition of the initiative is being held under the banner of 'legàmi' (relations), understood as connections, conjunctions, harmony between people, places, memories and values, but also relations as the drive and desire to share emotions in total freedom. The aim of A taste for skiing 2022-23 is to give a strong and concrete signal of solidarity, in support of less lucky children suffering from incurable or disabling diseases. Therefore, for the whole of the coming winter season, for every A taste for skiing dish served in the refuges participating in the initiative, € 3.00 will be donated to the charity associations 'La migliore vita possibile' and 'Momo'. Leading chefs and pastry chefs, Massimiliano Alajmo, Corrado Assenza, Luigi Biasetto, Luca Cantarin, Leonardo Di Carlo, Ezio Marinato and Luca Rasi, will also contribute to the charity initiative by making tins of biscuits for free, which will be donated to those who order an A taste for skiing dish in the participating huts.

OTHER FOOD AND WINE EVENTS NOT TO BE MISSED

SUNRISA: SKIING AT DAWN ON FRESH SNOW, BEFORE ENJOYING A HEARTY BREAKFAST AT 2,000M

Skiing on fresh snow, from 07.15 am, before anyone else, is a truly unique experience. The experience becomes even more magical if you do it in the heart of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on Alta Badia's slopes, where the best athletes will be going head-to-head at the Alpine Ski World Cup during the same period, all topped off with an excellent breakfast at 2,000 m a.s.l.

On Monday 19th December, the ski slopes on the plateau of Alta Badia will be opening at dawn, giving ski enthusiasts the chance to see the sun rise at 2,000 m a.s.l. and ski down the slopes that have been perfectly prepared the night before by the many snowcats that work in the area. What’s more, there is the chance to enjoy a hearty breakfast, based on genuine and healthy products, at the Club Moritzino, Ütia I Tablá, Ütia de Bioch, Ütia Piz Arlara and Ütia Las Vegas mountain huts. Each hut will be paired with a specific breakfast item, such as milk, cereal, eggs or fruits. The various dishes on offer have been created with the support of the nutritionist Elena Casiraghi and they contain the essential ingredients for a perfect breakfast, guaranteeing the right number of calories and nutrition for each leg of the breakfast route from one mountain hut to another.

SOMMELIER ON THE SLOPES

The chance to taste some of South Tyrol's finest wines in two different mountain huts whilst admiring the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: only in Alta Badia.

Following the success of the last editions, Sommelier on the slopes will be returning to Alta Badia for the 2022/23 winter season. The aim of this initiative is to enhance the winning combination of skiing and excellent local products. There are six dates planned, scheduled between December and April (13th December, 17th January, 7th and 14th February, 7th March and 4th April), each involving wonderful skiing on Alta Badia's slopes, combined with the chance to taste South Tyrol's finest wines.

Participants will be accompanied by a ski instructor as well as a professional sommelier. The price of the wine tasting session, including the ski guide, is €40.00 per person. These are the mountain huts where the events will take place: Ütia de Bioch, Club Moritzino, Ütia I Tablá, Ütia Las Vegas Lodge, Ütia Lé, Ütia Tamá and Ütia Pic Pré.
In addition to these events, there are two special editions scheduled for January 24 (Club Moritzino and Ütia de Bioch) and March 21 (Club Moritzino andi Ütia I Tablá). During these events, four South Tyrolean wines will be tasted in combination with four dishes. The special editions cost €80.00 per person.

Each event is organised together with the South Tyrol Wine Consortium and South Tyrol’s Sommelier Association.

RODA DLES SAUS

In the week from 12 to 19 March, Roda dles Saus returns, the event dedicated to local gastronomy, in the Skitour La Crusc ski area, which can be easily reached from La Villa, thanks to the ski lift connection. At each participating mountain hut, it will be possible to taste a dish of Ladin cuisine, created in collaboration with local producers. On Sunday, 12 March 2023, the opening event of the week will be organised with show-cooking and traditional music. These are the participating huts, their dishes and producers:

• Ütia Nagler: Potato gnocchi with goat cheese and cress. The goat cheese is a product of the Maso Corcela farm.
• Ütia L’Tamá: Typical pancake with forest honey of the beekeeper Milio Terza.
• Ütia La Crusc-Santa Croce: Burnt wheat pappardelle with beef ragout of the farm Lüch da Ciampidel.
• Ütia Lé: Pressed grey cheese dumplings with capucci salad. The grey cheese is a product of the farm Lüch Chi Pra.
• Ütia Ranch d’André: Venison goulash soup with venison from the hunter Davide. This mountain hut is reachable just by walking from La Val or from the Santa Croce church.

WINE SKISAFARI: A WINE TASTING 2,000 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL

On Sunday 26th March 2023, Alta Badia will be bringing South Tyrol’s finest wines to the mountains for an exclusive tasting session, set to take place from 10am until 3.30pm in the Piz Arlara, Ütia de Bioch, I Tablá and Pralongiá mountain huts. The aim of the initiative is to round off the winter season in style, dedicated to excellent food and wine. The tickets that include the tasting of all the wines can be purchased at the participant mountain huts at a price of €35.00. The event is organised by Alta Badia Brand, together with IDM (Innovation Development Marketing), and with the support of the South Tyrol Wine
Consortium.