Ski and Snowboard News, Deals, and Events

Each year Europe's premier chefs gather in Alta Badia, a popular ski destination in South Tyrol, for the Chef's Cup charity race. January 2010 marked the fifth year of this giant slalom event.

Founded by the two-Michelin-Star chef, Norbert Niederkofler, the race attracts more than 100 chefs and winemakers each year. The Chef's Cup is not only a fun giant slalom, it's a big charity event with fine food and a gala dinner, which this year supports children in Somalia.

Alta Badia in South Tyrol is an alpine valley containing the villages: Corvara, Badia, La Villa, San Cassiano, and Colfosco. The area has made a name for itself as a winter destination for gourmet dining on the slopes and contains the highest concentration of gourmet restaurants in Northern Italy.

Sciare con gusto "a taste for skiing" is a popular theme in 12 mountain refuges: 12 top chefs from South Tyrol create their own signature dish, combining local produce with international ingredients, and each is served in a different mountain refuges throughout the winter.

Of course skiers in Alta Badia can also get the more commonly served mountain dishes, like pasta, fries, and steaks, but if you've never tried marble trout marinated in Swiss pine grappa, rye bred and juniper butter, crispy brisket in pücia crust sauerkraut and radish salad, pumpkin spätzle (small dumplings) with porcini mushrooms or speck ham and smoked ricotta cheese, then you may want to rethink your mountain dining experience.

Tourism Director of Alta Badia, Manfred Canins says, "We know that ambitious skiers don't want only perfectly prepared slopes, they also expect the extraordinary cuisine we offer in the valley and also on the mountains."

Last year the villages of La Villa and Badia invented the Gourmet Skitour Santa Croce. The ski area of Santa Croce is especially suitable for family excursions given the gently sloping sunny pistes. The Gourmet Skitour Santa Croce takes skiers on a panoramic trail through woodland and hamlets. Local gastronomic specialities may be tasted along the way at eight refuges, such as barley-soup with pie-crust, an assortment of dumplings and pastas, grilled or smoked sausages, deer, and ham. Be sure to try chef Erwin Isara's sugared pankcake with raisins which has attracted visitors to the Santa Croce refuge for 50 years.

Early birds who can't wait for the first run of the day can hop on a snowcat at 6:50 a.m and start the day with an energy-packed breakfast at the Col Alt Mountain Hut which serves typical South Tyrolean produce including bread, eggs, speck, milk produces, apple juice, honey, and jam. Then it's onto the slopes to reach the bottom of the valley before the ski lifts open.

Top 12 restaurants in South Tyrol, Italy:

Ristorante St. Hubertus in San Cassiano; Ristorante Siriola in San Cassiano; Ristorante Stafler in Mules/Campo di Trens; Ristorante Schöneck in Pfalzen/Mühlen; Ristorante La Passion in Vandoies; Ristorante La Stüa de Michil in Badia; Ristorante Zum Löwen in Tisens; Ristorante Kuppelrain in Castelbello Alto Adige; Ristorante Trenkerstube in Meran; Ristorante Jasmin in Klausen; Ristorante Zur Rose in San Michele; and Ristorante Anna Stuben in Ortisei.

More delicious dining options in ski resorts across Europe:

Bavaria, Germany:

Residenz Heinz Winkler in Aschau: two-Michelin-Star chef Heinz Winkler offers a Cuisine Vitale in his artful way.

Restaurant Überfahrt in Rottach-Egern: a new restaurant with two-Michelin-Star chef Christian Jürgens.

Le Ciel in Berchtesgade: serves French inspired cuisine by Ulrich Heimann with a panoramic view.

Austrian Alps:

Hubertus in Filzmoos: Johanna Maier is one of the top women chefs in Europe.

Obauer in Werfen: brothers Karl and Rudi Obauer have been cooking at a high level for 27 years.

Alexander in Fügen: Alexander Fanhauser creates new dishes at 1500 meters altitude.

Petit Tirolia in Kitzbühel: Chef Bobby Bräuer came to the mountains from the bright lights of Berlin.

Paznaunerstube in Ischgl: Chef Martin Sieberer is an artist with a keen sense of smell.

La Fenice in Lech am Arlberg: Chef Franz Riedler is addicted to Mediterranean charm.

Kellerwand in Kötschach-Mauthen: Mother Sissy and daughter Stefanie Sonnleitner are offering a light wellness cuisine.

Swiss Alps:

Gasthof Rössli in Bad Ragaz: chic restaurant run by Chef Ueli Kellenberger specialising local seasonal produce.

Restaurant Paradies in Ftan: Two-Michelin-Star Chef Boris Benecke serves delicate light dishes.

Chesery in Gstaad. Chef Robert Speth specialises in Asian style menus.

Gourmet Stübli La Miranda in Samnaun: Chef Markus Zeiser creates a swiss-mediterranean cuisine.

French Alps:

La Ciboulette in Annecy: Chef Georges Paccard is well known for his modern take on classic dishes.

Le P'tit Polyte in Les 2 Alpes: tasty innovative dishes served with a view.

La Table de l'Ours in Val d'Isere: famous for its upscale barbecue grils. 

Le Chabichou in Courchevel: two-Michelin-Star Chef Michel Rochedy is visionary in his cooking creations. Diners can see the slopes through the window.