Culinaria Living: Heaven of Delight

Culinaria Living reaches for the stars not only because of its elevated position above the Merano region, but also in culinary terms. In the two apartments somewhere between the sea and the Alps, you feel just as much at home as in the Michelin-starred restaurant.

There is some truth in the stars. In both senses of the word. The starry sky above Culinaria Living sparkles as magically as the lights in the village at the foot of the hill. And once upon a time, when the Culinaria restaurant was located here, the place was actually adorned with a Michelin star. In the meantime, things have calmed down a little. Together with his wife Elisabeth, Manfred now runs a guesthouse whose simplicity lies in focussing on what is there.

No more, no less.

The breathtaking view, paired with the cosiness of the flats and fine dining with local ingredients: that’s where the magic lies. As you gaze across the landscape into the distance, your thoughts take flight.

What might we have for breakfast? Many home-made products such as bread, jam or apple juice as well as regional hay milk, yoghurt and butter, eggs from the neighbouring village and our own fruit. In addition, daily changing breakfast dishes such as Bircher muesli, home-smoked aniseed salmon on cucumber, Apfelkissen or Kniakiachl.

Uncomplicated and marvellous

And for dinner? Various dishes are served, ready-cooked and prepared in the flat. The only difference is that you don’t have to worry about anything and you’re somewhere between the mountains and the sea.

Also in terms of the dishes. Porcini mushroom fagottini with red Sicilian prawns find their way onto the plate, as does Carnaroli risotto with mountain thyme and scallops. A synergy of the Alps and the Mediterranean. The ingredients are regional, and some of them are even produced in-house. It is also important to the Koflers to utilise products as a whole and use them in as many different ways as possible. Not only juice is made from an apple, but also apple and saffron jam, strudel or sorbet.

And a stay at Culinaria Living is not just a holiday, but also a pleasurable moment, a gentle touch to the soul, an intimate moment and an experience with the radiance of a starry sky on a clear night.

Fotos: Julia Nimke Photography