Hotel Europa

What do a northern Italian café and a Chili’s have in common? Hint – it’s more than you’d think. Americans are no strangers to combined cuisines, gamely noshing on Tex-Mex, Indo-Chinese, or Cajun for dinner. However, even seasoned foodies might do a double take looking at the menus in Trentino, Italy. Meet: Austro-Italian food. 

Surrounded by the majesty of the Dolomites and looking out over the peaceful turquoise waters of Lake Garda, it’s no surprise that the Hotel Europa boasts its panoramic views, its proximity to the beach, and… its hamburger restaurant? Though it takes inspiration from its American visitors, the menu at HamburgeRiva paints a surprisingly comprehensive picture of Trentino’s local fare. 

Ingredients like mozzarella di Bufala and pesto di basilico live somewhat incongruously alongside essiggurken and kartoffelrösti, and you could just as easily be served a side of spaghetti or sauerkraut anywhere in the area. This delicious – if sometimes linguistically confusing – melding of cultures and cuisines is due to Trentino’s unique situation as an autonomous northern Italian province that has been governed and peopled throughout history by Italians and Austrians alike. You’ll hear Italian and German spoken in equal measure, as well lesser-known Ladin – which is often mistaken for an Italian dialect but is, in fact, an entirely separate language native to the region.

Though the instability of the province’s contentious history has not always been kind to its residents, Trentino’s people are proud of their multicultural heritage and host an array of events each year to celebrate the melting pot of flavors and traditions that make the area so special. Autumn yields a cornucopia of treats, filled with street fairs dedicated to Trentino’s artisanal foods, such as their famous cured meats, 200+ varieties of cheese, and – in deeply Germanic fashion – beer. 

Keeping in the spirit of cultural commingling, the province is putting together a proposal to incentivize new people to move there. The plan would offer up to €100,000 for those willing to help revitalize a number of towns and villages suffering from a waning population. Despite a healthy flow of tourism, houses remain empty and in need of renovation, and communities begin to dwindle. If this plan is approved, it could offer a whole new host of denizens an opportunity to enjoy what Trentino has to offer – and even add their own flavor to the mix.