Bistrò al Forte, Franzensfest-Fortezza, Italy

Have you ever been to a restaurant in a real fortress? As far as I can remember, this was my first time. Bistrò al Forte – Bistro Festung is located inside the fortress of Franzensfest-Fortezza, a very impressive architectural structure… big… huge… and grey… The exact opposite of the atmosphere that awaits you inside… romantic… cosy… and elegant.

The extreme contrast between exterior and interior is what makes this restaurant so impressive I think. That, combined with a wonderful cuisine! Although Bistrò al Forte is located in South Tyrol, the dishes are typical italian.

We were welcomed with strawberry Bellinis, which was a lovely surprise. They were so incredibly good! For starters we had prosciutto e melone, caprese salad and muscle soup.

Then instead of the usual pasta as a first course, we had risotto with zucchini, zucchini flowers and shrimps. The main dish was sea bass, served with zucchini crust, potatoes and vegetables. I had a wonderful cheese platter with salad and mostarda (spicy jam) instead.

We almost passed on dessert… until we saw what the chef had in mind for us…. a grand dessert including a strawberry pie! We finished in style with coffee and limoncello.

Bistrò al Forte is open only during spring and summer, for à la carte dining as well as private parties. In fact, when I was there, a smashing birthday party took place in the room next door. I can't think of a better way to celebrate your birthday.

For more information, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bistro-al-Forte-Bistro-Festung/388392698014121

Gitschberg Jochtal - Rio Pusteria has it all!

Italy or Austria? Summer or Winter holidays? Italian Dolce Vita or Austrian Gemütlichkeit? Spaghetti or Knödel? Apérol Spritz or Hugo? City or Mountains? That’s the question. But you don’t have to choose… you can find it all in South Tyrol! In Gitschberg Jochtal to be precise.

Last week I went to Gitschberg Jochtal-Rio Pusteria, Italy with a group of travel bloggers. Our local guide made sure we saw all the hotspots! We visited Brixen-Bressanone, Bruneck-Brunico, a cheese factory & museum, an organic wine farm, we went biking, hiking, swimming and (you know me) shopping.

But most of all… we tasted all the local delicacies: Kaiserschmarrn (Emperor’s Trifle), schlutzkrapfen pasta, apfelstrudel, schüttelbrot, tiroler speck, goat cheese and all the different types of knödel (bread dumplings) you can imagine! Thank God for the hiking activities, because otherwise I really don’t know how we would have burned all those calories…

Kaiserschmarrn by Hotel Nussbaumerhof
Knödel & Grand dessert by Hotel Rosenheim
Cheese platter by Bistro’ al Forte

Please stay tuned for many more photos, articles and travel inspiration. For now: a big thank you to Tamara of Gitschberg Jochtal-Rio Pusteria and Ilse of USP Marketing PR!

Skiing trip 2013

I just came back from a beautiful skiing trip in Val Venosta, Italy... with extremely cold weather, but also quite some sun and blue skies. Oh and perfect snow conditions! (Very important for a diehard ski fan like me.) We didn't just stay in Italy, but went to Switzerland as well. Shown here among others: Belpiano, Samnaun, San Valentino, Roja. My loyal readers must have already recognized the famous après-ski bar Schmuggler Alm. Monique and Angi it was great to see you again!
Ps. Can you see the ice flowers on the wine glasses?!

For more information, please visit:

http://tarasdolcevita.blogspot.nl/2011/03/schmuggler-alm-samnaunpart-two.html

http://tarasdolcevita.blogspot.nl/2010/10/south-tyrol.html