Life’s a Picnic, part 2

MOON WALKING :Our love of art and food is brought together in ARTemoziun…ert y saûs on July 31 with a guided moonlight walk down the Artists’ Path. The Path, which will be lit by torches, links the villages of La Villa and San Cassiano along the Gadera stream and has been transformed into a stage where local artists can display their art all year round. As well as focussing on the emotion of art, as its name suggests, ARTemoziun aims to highlight culinary art along the route – each piece of artwork has an accompanying dish of finger food, created by local restaurateurs, and accompanied by a glass of fine South Tyrol wine. The works have been created by Lois Anvidalfarëi, Giovanni Rindler, Helmuth Pizzinini, Pepi Pescollderungg, Silvester Promberger and Pepele Rinna.

PRETTY IN PINK: Enrosadira, which comes from the Ladin and means “to turn pink”, is the beautiful natural phenomenon witnessed at sunset when the Dolomites become sparkling coral. During July and August, several bars in Alta Badia are hosting live music and creating an Apenrosa (Enrosadira) aperitif, which will be served with an array of South Tyroelan products, such as snacks of cheese, farmhouse speck and pücia.

LADIN: Erica Pitscheider, from the Sotciastel farm above the town of Badia, has been sharing the hitherto secret ingredients and methods of Ladin cookery for several years now. Under his guidance you will discover this cuisine is actually simple, wholesome and easy to prepare. Lessons are held every Wednesday from 10.30am. The most popular recipes are panicia soup, cajincì t’ega, which are ravioli with cheese, les turtres, typical fried snacks filled with spinach and ricotta or sauerkraut and les furtaies, which are sweets traditionally prepared for weddings.  For more information and bookings visit www.altabadia.org  It’s possible to also enjoy typical Ladin dishes in farmhouses, such as Maso Runch, a 19th century home (tel. 0471 839796) or the Alfarëi farm run by the family of Tone Piccolruaz (tel. 0471 839825). This is one of the oldest buildings in Alta Badia, built in the 13th-14th century. In La Val there is also the Ciablun farm, with accommodation (tel. 0471 843094), or the Lüch de Survisc farmhouse (tel. 0471 843149). Ladin tasting menus are on offer in many restaurants in Alta Badia – a brochure is available from the local tourist offices.

TASTE-BASED TRIPS: This year there are also guided “taste-based excursions”, including a trip to a dairy farm high in the mountains, a Nordic walking excursion, which offers a sportier version of a simple stroll combined with the new Kneipp baths on the mountains and dishes created by Michelin-starred chefs. There is also the Cultural Route that passes the oldest farms in Badia, where you can learn about local architecture and agriculture, before enjoying a lunch of some of the finest Ladin dishes. Finally, there is a visit to the working mill of Rüdeferia in San Cassiano, with a typical speck-based snack, an excursion to observe medicinal plants with an Alpine herb-based lunch at a dairy farm and a sunset walk with an Apenrosa aperitif at the Bioch refuge, 2000m up in the mountains. For more information on these Peaks of Gastronomy events, please contact the Alta Badia Tourist Board, Tel: +39 0471/836176-847037, E-mail: info@altabadia.org, or visit www.altabadia.org

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