Food and the Olympics, where to eat Valtellina in Bormio and Livigno
From chopping boards to fine dining via farmers' markets, here are some suggestions for enjoying mountain cuisine at playgrounds
Bormio and Livigno are proving to be among the undisputed stars of the Winter Olympics: although their names do not appear in 'Milan-Cortina', it is on their slopes that some of the most important challenges are celebrated. After all, these are the first 'widespread' Olympics in the history of the Games.
The Valtellina, which has always been recognised for its typical products, alpine pasture cheeses and pizzoccheri, is confirmed not only as an important sporting destination, but also as a gastronomic pole capable of narrating territory and tradition. In a context that foresees a boom in tourist presences, the local food and wine industry, from restaurants to markets, from mountain huts to seasonal chalets, is called upon to enhance typical products and intercept an international public. According to estimates, tourist spending could grow by up to one billion euro in the long term (2027-2030) in Lombardy, with important repercussions on the hospitality and food & beverage sector.
Bormio and Livigno thus become not only sporting stages, but real laboratories of Alpine taste. Markets, seasonal chalets, high-altitude refuges and starred restaurants intertwine with events and entertainment: the area demonstrates how a food and wine experience can become a key element of Olympic hospitality, telling the story of the Valtellina mountains and the identity of their food through every dish, every tasting and every event.
Bormio: markets, music and tastings
Until 22 February, the Gardens of Piazza V Alpini will host FuoriPista: Villaggio Coldiretti Valtellina, a food and wine market and entertainment that combines tastings and direct sales of Valtellina's 0 km products. The wooden huts, tasting routes and spaces dedicated to entertainment make the village an ideal place for families, tourists and gastronomy enthusiasts.
Also in Bormio, Piazzale Motta becomes the heart of Stelvio Après Ski, where music, entertainment and gastronomic proposals accompany the days on skis. On 14 February, in the Old Town and Sondalo, there will be activities for children, performances by street artists, and tasting tours of local products, followed by a DJ set that will enliven the town until sunset.
