Italian Alpine Cooking at Al Camin, Cortina; A Review

al camin cortina

After checking in at the Ambra Cortina, a luxurious fashionable hotel where we stayed for 2 nights, Dad and I were immediately whisked away into the Dolomites for a chance to taste some of the town’s best Alpine cooking.

Elisabetta, the hotel’s owner and our host for the evening, drove us and fellow travel blogger Fiona (from London Unattached) up a winding dimly lit road looking down onto the town. “It should be Michelin star!” she exclaimed in her sophisticated Italian accent as we parked outside a cosy chalet style building, a few heads laughing over wine inside. 

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - Wooden Menu with El Camoin engraved

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - Wooden wall interiors with wine bottles mounted to walls

We’d arrived at Al Camin, one of Cortina’s top fine dining restaurants. Walking inside, Elisabetta immediately greeted the staff as if they were family, showing us to a comfy corner of the room. Wooden walls were decorated with traditional crafts, each individually created by local artisans of Cortina who trade in laces, weaving and carpentry. 

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - Wooden wall with key print behind crisp white table cloth lined tables

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - gnarled branches decorated with corks

Al Camin is a family run establishment, owned by head Chef Fabio Pompanin and his wife Lorena, who swiftly poured us a glass of fine Prima Cuvée Brut. The restaurant was intimate and cosy, offering a warm, welcoming atmosphere only found in the friendliest of places.

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - A glass of champagne next to a bottle of Monte Rossa

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - Shelves full of wine bottles

A woven bowl of breads were brought to the table as our first taste of Italian red wine was poured from Fabio’s carefully selected collection. The choices of baked goods was grand, including a pile of addictive crunchy herb bites.

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - A basket of crunchy breads

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - A bottle of Villa Spinosa wine

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - a bottle of red wine being poured into a glass

Sitting looking over the menu, it was easy to see why the restaurant was famous for fresh, seasonal produce and traditional mountain cooking. Deer featured heavily in each course and I couldn’t resist ordering the fallow deer tartar to start.

The tartare itself wasn’t as flavoursome as some raw meats I’ve had previously, but the combination of hazelnuts and porcini mushrooms was divine. Perhaps it was the exquisite presentation but I just couldn’t stop taking pictures of my plate!

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - Steak Tartare

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - A plate of steak tartare with knife and fork

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin

The rest of the table each ordered the soup of the day after it received rave reviews from Elisabetta. The nettle soup was equally bright in colour and flavour; a creamy, warming appetiser.

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - A bowl of green nettle soon with spoon

In true Italian style, I decided that I couldn’t miss a chance to sample each course and with pasta being one of my favourite foods, the rosemary tagliatelle with rabbit and olive ragu was an unmissable dish.

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin

This was perhaps my favourite plate of the night, a rich yet not too heavy bowl of homemade pasta, served with a sweet tomato based sauce. Although a fan of olives, I’m less favourable of their intense flavours when in a dish as they can be extremely overpowering, yet Fabio’s rabbit ragu was one of the best pasta dishes I’ve had to this day.

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin

For seconds Dad chose the grilled sea scallop with radicchio baked in foil, sprinkled in Parmesan and drizzled in balsamic. They were perfectly cooked and presented beautifully, a simple yet satisfying plate.

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - Scallops served on a black slate

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin

Next came the deer loin with raspberries, red onions and finferli mushrooms. A perfectly pretty plate, it received top marks from Fiona.

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin

Lastly I ordered the poached egg with taleggio cheese fondue and black truffle. I was intrigued by how it would be presented and wasn’t disappointed when I saw a hot bowl of melted creamy cheese topped with a silky egg and thin truffle slices. It was heavenly rich, gooey and filling. Although a divine dish, I did feel that it needed a little texture, perhaps some toasted foccacia or similar. 

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin

As our plates were cleared, the wine was replaced with a vintage bottle of Livio Felluga Dolce. With each sweet sip we became more entranced by the irresistible dessert menu. 

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin A glass of dessert wine next to the bottle

Feeling a little full, I selected the lightest sounding option of puff pastry cornets with ricotta and orange sauce. Independently the soft cheese and citrus flavours were beautiful, but together I couldn’t help but find it a bit of an off putting acidic flavour. 

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - dessert of a puff pastry cone and slithers of orange

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - cream inside a puff pastry cornet

Dad on the other hand ordered the best pud on the menu, buckwheat cake with egg nog mousse and cranberries. Safe to say I had serious food envy of his festive choice.

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - buckwheat cake surrounding eggnog mousse

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin

Lastly Fiona selected the chestnuts parfait with persimmons coulis. It was presented like fudgey nut bars with a thick fruit sauce that was similar to that of a plum or date. 

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - logs of chestnut parfait

As our meal came to an end, we quickly popped our heads into the kitchen to meet Fabio. He was an incredibly warm yet modest man that despite the language barrier welcomed us into his space, showing us where he creates his beautiful dishes.

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin Chef Fabio in his chef jacket

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin

Stepping out of Al Camin, I was hungry for more. The passion and thought that had gone into each dish, and not just its flavour, was outstanding. I could fully understand why it was a Michelin recommended restaurant and loved by locals for its fine traditional dishes. If this is Italian mountain cooking then Mama I’m home. 

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin

Italian Alpine Cooking at El Camin - gnarled branches decorated with corks

Our meal at Al Camin was complimentary but as always all views are my own, even when I’m given bowls of perfect pasta.

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Travel Between The Lines is an honest, thoughtful journal of adventures far and near. For those who love nothing more than to traverse the world between the comfort and calling of home.

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