Our group or 13 met in Venice in the morning and headed directly to the Dolomlites for a week of food and wine and magnificent scenery which started at the elegant restaurant in the Faloria Resort in Cortina d'Ampezzo (where the 1956 Olympics were and 2026 Olympics will be held). We had a wonderful lunch on the way in Gambrinus in the tiny Veneto town of San Polo in Piave and all adored the Elisir Gambrinus served after which was served by Obama at the US State dinner for the Italian P.M!!
The wines were all lined up on the tables and from outside the region, but magnificent choices indeed.
Our meal started with an amuse of lamb meatball and watercress and then the Wild game bresaola arrived with porcini mushrooms in El Brite herb oil and toasted "puccia." The wine was a Valpolicella Superior 2020 that was very fruit forward, but not of the Sudtirol(Dolomite) region.
Ampezzan style "Casunziei" is a truly local beetroot stuffed ravioli that was novel and delightful. The wine was a Tai Rosso from Punto Zero 2018.
Everyone was swooning and then the rare and tender Venison entrecote arrived with marinated eggplant and potato chips that even the non-game foodies loved. Agno Tinto 2017 was 100% Sirah from Vignalta in Padova to the south of us.
Dessert was an amazing frozen apple tarte tatin as this is the biggest apple growing region in Italy.
Great first night and much more to come!!
