It was a dark and stormy night…and, in the morning, foggy and raining. We decided not to commit suicide riding 26 switchbacks the six miles and 1,000 feet down from Passo Pordoi to Canazei in the fog. So we called the Wolf Wagon to pick us up and take us down to Canazei in his VW van-taxi. Nice guy who had his roller skis in the back.
Mr. Wolf dropped us off at the beginning of yet another amazing dedicated paved bike trail.
What? You’re tired of great landscapes, quaint Alpine villages, trailside cafes and little baby goats?
OK, then let’s talk about food. We try our best not to be the “ugly Americans.” That means not expecting things to be just like home and, instead, adopting the cultures we travel through.
Let’s start with breakfast. We try and select inns and little hotels that offer a free breakfast with the room. But it is not Kansas anymore. You can see the roots of the common American breakfast of eggs, bacon, hashbrowns and toast when traveling in the British Isles but on the continent things are different. In France your breakfast might be just a baguette and coffee. Here in the high mountain villages it is a big spread of cold cuts and cheeses, yogurt, cereal, breads and pastry with coffee or juice. Once in a while you get the option of scrambled eggs or an omelet.
For lunch we usually stop at a trailside bicigrill and get a sandwich and caffe.
Don’t expect a foot-long Italian hoagie with everything on it. Guessing what the menu means is often disappointing. If you order “toast” you will get a sandwich with toasted bread and meat and cheese.
We take advantage of half-board whenever it is offered because it gives you breakfast and a 5-course dinner, from a fixed menu, for a really low bundled price with your room. It allows you to explore the chef’s choice of local cuisine, like our dinner last night at Hotel Col Di Lana of salad, tuna carpacio,
hand-made noodles with wild mushrooms,
roast deer with mixed vegetables,
finishing with a lemon pie.
Gourmet quality at a budget price.
Hungry yet? I’m gonna go get some!