Speckfest

Despite the encouraging name, we are talking about a more-or-less typical Marende here: Speck, Kaminwurzen and cheese, plus three types of bread: a Semmel, some dark bread and a tooth-breaking “Schüttelbrot.” The only “extra feature” in this case is that there are two types of cheese: the expected Bergkäse and the additional cheese of no name or taste. Industrial butter in aluminium wrapping seems to have become an essential part of a Marende as well. The only other ingredients were homegrown tomatoes and a few onion rings, so ordering an extra salad was an intelligent thing.

There is very little to write about this Jause except that the cheese was generally forgettable, the Kaminwurzen completely acceptable and the Speck very very good. It is not at all surprising that most South Tyrolean restaurants offer Speck as a separate dish, with no extra ingredients. It is that good. Combined with the salad and significantly strengthened by the Speck, this Brettl would have normally been a slightly better than average experience. However, with the super-friendly service (thanks for the Schnapps!) and the surroundings that are nothing short of breathtaking, the Schneeweisshof’s Jause is worth more than its culinary value alone.