Hidden Italy: Trentino-Alto Adige

This far Northern state Trentino-Alto Adige is a unique region that borders both Switzerland and Austria. A thousand metres above sea level, and home to the Dolomite mountains, it really is like an Alpine paradise tucked away in Italy!

This is the furthest north that Gino has ever been in Italy. The culinary heritage here revolves round local food markets where farmers sell their products. So, to uncover the secrets of Trentino Alto-Adige, Gino rolls up his sleeves and gets stuck into two local products, cheese and Speck.

Starting in Valfloriana or valley of the flowers where dairy and meat farmers still follow ancient methods of producing food, he meets dairy farmer Graziano, who shows Gino how to make the local soft cheese, Zighera Della Valfloria, and the uses it as his star ingredient when he whips up a quick and easy pasta dish.

Then he moves further into the mountains to learn about the local cured meat, Speck. This is without doubt the most important produce that comes out of this region is Speck, or cured meat. Dating back to the 1800s, the word Speck is trademarked and Trentino Alto-Adige is the ONLY Italian region licensed to call it this. To unearth the secret of it's success, Gino has to work hard for his supper. He finishes his journey in a picture postcard location where he whips up an apple strudel, but with his usual Gino twist.