What a week! A reminder that I was an invited guest of South Tyrol, Alta Badia, and others for our northern Italian adventures. We flew into Milan and drove up to the Dolomites, where we were treated with such generosity throughout our visit.
On our first morning, we were able to visit at GenussBunker, a former ammunition bunker, which is now uniquely adapted to age cheese. The humidity inside creates special conditions for truly delicious flavors. We followed our cheese tasting with a traditional lunch at Weißes Lamm in Bruneck (and my 4000th PCR test #estimated).
After a quick turnaround, it was up the mountain for a special 4-Hands Dinner at AlpiNN featuring Andreas Caminada and Norbert Niederkofler. My favorite dish of the evening was the Sauerkraut and Buttermilk (texture! acidity! depth!) and I also loved the whimsy of the Marshmallow palate cleanser. Overall, the chefs worked quite well together and the views were nothing short of spectacular. Should you find yourself in the region, please ensure you make a booking. Check out highlights from the meal here.
On Wednesday, we drove to Alta Badia and enjoyed a stunning alpine walk in the natural preserve Fanes-Sennes-Prags, followed by lovely long lunch at Lé Hütte. With a bit of time to ourselves, we recovered and then had the chance to dine at St. Hubertus***. With a focus on local products, absolutely seamless service, a brilliant wine pairing, and a list of memorable dishes, I highly recommend visiting. You can see the meal here.
Thursday was a full day of travel, and Friday was a day of recovery and life admin (laundry, picking up Emirates ID, repacking, collecting Poppy from Woof — it’s not all glamourous, people). Fortunately, Umami Burger was nice enough to send along lunch (a lovely gesture, as the fridge is currently empty). #gifted
Links, please.
Here are some of my thoughts on influencing. The National
BOCA released their first carbon emissions report, and I would love to see other restaurants globally follow this trend.
So proud to know so many on the 75 Faces of the UAE! Instagram
The violent beginnings of some of your favorite foods. The Takeout
Americans being American. The Kitchn
Appalachian truffle hunters. Outside
Do you eat the same breakfast every day? (I totally do). The Takeout
Using the tradition of food to remember those we’ve lost. The Undefeated
A grand idea for Shrove Tuesday. Upworthy
Six baking myths you shouldn’t believe. Washington Post
Brothtails sound like the devil’s work. Mel Magazine
What kind of party are you having? VinePair
Congrats, James Beard nominees and semi-finalists. Eater
How food mascots encourage you to spend more. The Takeout
Croissant fans, turn away. Twitter
How a book is made. NYT
How the pandemic taught us to be better diners. The Takeout
On ‘bro’ food writing. Slate
Next week, I’ll be traveling to Lisbon, to meet not only Chef José Avillez, but also Virgilio Martínez and Pía León for an extraordinary dinner that will be served at Encanto, a new restaurant that will be opening soon. Like my other trips, I continue to be a gratefully invited guest. If you have other recommendations for Lisbon, I’d be grateful to hear them.
Unfortunately, I’ll miss the Bookers (again!), who will be checking out The Crossing. I will live vicariously through photos.
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C.