On March 18, Cibo Trattoria in the Moda Hotel will continue their monthly culinary journey through Italy with a special menu showcasing the Austrian-influenced cuisine of the Trentino-Alto Adige region (read: not your typical Italian meal). I had the good fortune of test-driving their inaugural regional dinner, showcasing Piemonte, just a few weeks ago (snaps below).

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It was superbly done set piece with simply expressed, super clean flavours, rare pairings courtesy of Sebastien Le Goff (I hadn’t enjoyed a Dolcetto in quite some time), and very fine company.

From the press release…

Trentino-Alto Adige is an alpine region along Italy ’s northern border with a distinctive cuisine that features German and Austrian influences. Pork, smoked meat and fish, and wild game; along with polenta, wild mushrooms and berries, are staples of the region’s cuisine.

This wont be a “typical” Italian meal. Rye and caraway breads, sauerkraut and horseradish are rarely found elsewhere in Italy and pay homage to the region’s Bavarian and Austrian history.

The menu, created by Executive Chef Neil Taylor, features:

Smoked local trout, rye bruschetta, fresh horseradish
Speck canederli with smoked ham brodo
Polenta nera, wild mushrooms and thyme
Nicola valley venison, wild berries, cabbage, chestnuts and red wine
Apple fritter, cinnamon and sour cream

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The five courser is a bargain at $48, with wine pairings also available. To reserve, call 604-602-9570.

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