A Snack with Mother Nature

The people of this region love a hearty but simple afternoon snack – what is called in their South Tyrolean dialect a "Marende". A "Marende" is as much a part of this culture as the blue apron is a part of their traditional garb. Both are firmly anchored in their rural folkways. When you have to get up before the crack of dawn, work hard in the stalls and around the farmyard, you've earned the right not only to the mid-morning brunch known as a "Hoalbmittoag", but also to a hearty "Marende" in the afternoon. Of course, this traditional meal consists solely of items which come from the farm, itself: A hunk of well-cured bacon, gray cheese, homemade bread, and of course a good "Läps" (a refreshing drink of wine mixed with water).