The Foodie Olympics: From Winter in Italy to the Hearts of Quebec
This year, the Olympic flame will flicker in the mythical mountains of Milano-Cortina. The Winter Olympics never cease to impress. The incredible sporting feats, the way they bring people together to support a common cause, the magnificent mountainscapes, the winter buzz that just hits the spot in our snowy country … and of course, the après-ski feasts!
Celebrating Winter
When you picture Italy, you probably think of a coastal town, bright yellow lemons, green olives, and red tomatoes with the warm sun beaming down. But the North—with its mountains, shimmering snow, divine lakes, and winters you can actually feel—holds a very special place in our hearts. That’s in large part because Stefano’s father, Mattia, grew up in northern Italy, where winter sports were simply a part of life … after all the Alps were the backdrop to his childhood. So, it should come as no surprise to learn that both father and son love a game of hockey! But this region also strongly appeals to us because of the delicious parallels with Canadian cuisine. Dishes are traditionally generous and comforting, designed to warm you from the inside after a day spent out in the cold.
These dishes showcase strong Germanic influences. Northern Italy shares borders with Switzerland and Austria, and for a long time was part of the Habsburg Empire. Rooted in Alpine traditions, the Germanic imprint has endured through the years. Yet beyond the region’s historical past, one thing is clear: northern Italy’s cuisine has always been deeply rooted in the precise reality of the climate and alpine terrain. You can forget about olive oil in northern Italy; here it’s all about butter and cream! There’s no shame in serving polenta morning, noon and night, and its cuisine showcases cheeses, cabbage, potatoes, and other winter vegetables, as well as cured meats and slow-cooked meals. Put simply, northern Italy serves up simple, hearty, nourishing meals that are exactly what you need when you come in from the cold with snowy boots and rosy cheeks. Exactly the type of food that both your grandma and your nonna love to cook. It’s true, we love our cabbage rolls, slow-cooked meals, and gratins. People say that Canada isn’t a country, it’s winter embodied, and we can unashamedly say that our ancestors knew exactly how to serve up delicious winter fare!
Food as a Living Memory
The Winter Olympics have inspired us to create a vibrant, nostalgic menu, even featuring some Faita family classics. As you know, some of our fondest memories are tied to food. In Stefano’s case, many of his fondest memories are tied to his nonna, Angela. She took care of him and his sister while their parents worked, and her recipes, handed down orally, have survived through the years. Like her delicious spiced-milk polenta, which we’ll share with you below. Think of this as a menu to celebrate a cuisine few people know about, with recipes evoking the magic of winter and the comfortable and cozy feeling that comes from sharing meals with the people you love the most. It’s perfect for celebrating the winter season and the astonishing culinary ties of northern Italy and Quebec. There’s no better way to bring together sport, tradition, and a love of good food!
Serving Northern Italy, morning, noon, and night
Breakfast
- Nonna Angela’s polenta e latte: a nourishing, comforting breakfast that more than a few lucky children have enjoyed in Northern Italy, including our very own Stefano.
- Ambleti (crepes): thin, golden crepes that are absolutely perfect for breakfasts and festive brunches.
- Bicerin: a chocolatey, creamy, comforting coffee from Turin, one of the biggest cultural and culinary destinations in northern Italy.
Coffee break and après-ski
- Vino cotto (mulled wine): is there anything better than a steaming cup of spiced mulled wine on a cold day? It’s an essential drink for an Italian winter!
- Bombardino (Canadian version): the must-have hot après-ski cocktail. A flavour bomb enjoyed widely in northern Italy, this time with our little local twist.
- North Italian cheese and charcuterie board: an appetizer that ticks all the right boxes. It’s also the perfect opportunity to showcase Quebec’s equivalent produce, such as the Louis d’Or cheese.
- Fonduta Valdostana: who doesn’t love a cheese fondue? Stock up on sides and get dipping!
A well-deserved dinner
- Polenta lasagna: who says lasagna needs pasta? This gluten-free polenta lasagna is just as rich, cheesy, and satisfying as the original, with crumbled sausage to bring it to another level.
- Tipsy risotto: an absolutely divine specialty full of north Italian personality … and red wine!
- Seupa alla valpellinentze: a rustic cabbage soup served with melted cheese and bread … it’s basically the north-Italian version of a French onion soup.
- Cassoeula: Milanese stew at its best! Comforting, rich, delicious, and easily adapted to everyone’s tastes, it’s the ideal dish to warm you on a cold winter’s day.
During the Winter Olympics, you’ll catch us chanting our favourite athlete’s names. But mostly, you’ll catch us sitting around the table with our loved ones enjoying these dishes that stoke the fire in our winter-loving hearts. There’s no better time to discover Alpine Italy and its parallels with our beloved local cuisine. Cold weather food, traditions, family, and sharing—just how we like it!
Buon appetito!
