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A tour through the "MeinBeck" bakery

Discover Merano – Day 3: Baked goods, breakfast tips, South Tyrolean speck and more – As they say, you should always quit while you're ahead, and so my third day in Merano was also my last. I'd already experienced quite a bit (read about it here), and my final day was packed with wonderful highlights and interesting places to visit. And today, on my departure day, I'd like to take you along virtually one last time.

Bakery and confectionery „Mein Beck“ + extensive breakfast

My numerous visits to Munich bakeries and their production facilities gave me some prior knowledge about my next stop. So it was all the more interesting for me to finally visit an Italian bakery. I watched the bakers at work, learned how to make Vinschgau bread, hand-rolled bread, and Schüttelbrot (a type of flatbread), gained a good overview of the Italian baked goods range, and discovered what the people of Merano prefer to bake and eat compared to those in Munich. The "Mein Beck" bakery has been around since 1999 and is one of the leading bakeries in Merano and the surrounding area. The family business produces over 80 products, including many seasonal pastries, cakes, and breads. All five branches have a very stylishly furnished café area where customers can enjoy their freshly baked goods, as well as lunch, daily specials, and a very extensive breakfast menu.

Making Schüttelbrot (crispbread) is not that easy.

After my own attempts at baking (…I managed the Vinschgau bread quite well, but failed miserably at the Schüttelbrot…), my companion and I then had the opportunity to have breakfast ourselves in one of Mein Beck's cafés. On the first floor in Eppan (all branchesA veritable feast was laid out, offering everything from fresh scrambled eggs, a wide variety of breads and sweet pastries (including the traditional South Tyrolean chestnut hearts), to a tiered tray overflowing with South Tyrolean salmon, cheese, ham, and salami, and homemade muesli and porridge – everything one could wish for on a lavishly set table. A healthy smoothie, fresh juices, Prosecco, coffee, and tea were also served. At breakfast, I learned that all of Beck's rolls and baked goods are not only healthy and delicious, but also made exclusively from the finest ingredients, revitalized with Grander water, and enriched with natural brine and purely plant-based fats. No preservatives, premixes, or other artificial additives are used. My absolute favorite is the hand-pulled Vinschgau bread; it has a slightly spicy flavor and – at least in South Tyrol – has already achieved a certain "celebrity" status in terms of bread and overall popularity.

Everything is handmade at "Mein Beck"„

Vinschgau bread rolls (also called "Vinschgerl") are made from wheat flour, rye flour, natural sourdough, preferment, caraway, fennel, coriander, natural brine, yeast, and energized water. The whole-grain version, the "whole-grain Vinschgerl," is made with wheat flour, rye flour, rye meal, flaxseed, caraway, sunflower seeds, natural brine, natural sourdough, yeast, and energized water, and has a slightly coarser texture than the regular Vinschgerl. I can only recommend that you have breakfast, or at least... a Be sure to plan a visit to "Mein Beck" if you're in Merano. Aside from the fact that the cafés themselves are quite stylish, it's also interesting to..., NNew things to discover and taste. Those with a real sweet tooth should also try the "chestnut hearts" I mentioned (…also available with the same filling on top as "chestnut tartlets" or "chestnut slices"…). These consist of soft Chestnut puree made from the finest sweet chestnuts, coated inn a delicious chocolate glaze. Besides chestnuts, sugar, honey, water, butter, salt, chocolate, and cream, nothing else goes into these little temptations. So come and visit – it's worth indulging and discovering South Tyrolean pastries.

Bacon cutting for beginners at Kofler Delikatessen

Kofler Delikatessen: South Tyrolean salami, speck and more.

The best bread gets even better with something delicious on it, right? We can all agree on that. One place that makes this happen is "Kofler Delikatessen"—known for "South Tyrolean-style indulgence" when it comes to ham, speck, salami, smoked meats, and sausages. Anyone entering this small shop, or Merano meat boutique, immediately senses the professionalism of the delicatessen owner, in addition to the warm hospitality. Surrounded by shelves and counters piled high with salami and speck, you'll find tasting boards of flavorful salami, small gifts, baskets of speck, and complementary products: salts, spices, high-quality knives, and much more. Cheese and fresh meat specialties are also available in the shop.

Upon entering, my companions and I were warmly greeted by Klaus Kofler himself, who expertly explained everything we wanted to know about speck and ham. I even got to try slicing speck myself and learned that South Tyroleans prefer to enjoy their speck with a thick layer of cured bacon cut into paper-thin slices, while the "exposed tourist" (…that's me…) tends to remove the rather valuable layer of cured bacon, including the spice crust, and cut off wider strips. Because I liked the shop, the people, and the products, I asked a few more questions.

The Kofler meat boutique

At Kofler Delikatessen, the grandfather was already involved with the topic of bacon and sausage and their careful production several decades ago. Thus, they knew early on: "Homemade tastes best!"„, And so, grandfather's recipes still form the basis for the excellent Kofler products in the shop. The delicious sausages and meat products are now being produced by the third generation. Take a bite! then Digging into one of their delicious salamis or bacon, you can immediately taste the fragrant mountain air that gives it its distinctive aroma. Furthermore, the high-quality raw materials and ingredients used are paramount to the superior quality of Kofler Delikatessen's products. Browsing the shop was a real pleasure. It quickly becomes apparent that bacon makes up a significant portion of Kofler's selection. The countless varieties of bacon are made from a wide range of cuts of meat, as well as fresh herbs and special smoking techniques. From the flavorful farmer's bacon in its various forms, including cheek bacon, to herb-cured or belly bacon, and even Kofler bacon with alpine blossoms, there's something for every bacon lover. Their sausage selection is equally impressive, ranging from venison, roe deer, and wild boar to fennel, beef, and garlic salami, as well as pepper, truffle, and peperoncino salami. lEcker! Laden with bacon and sausage, I left happy and laden with new knowledge., the delicatessen. Be sure to add a visit to Klaus Kofler or Kofler Delikatessen to your to-do list if you're in Merano. In that case, you can even spend a little time in the Kofler Delikatessen online shop browse.

Red beans with shrimp

Restaurant Villa Heidelberg

A charming restaurant and café with a cozy terrace, inviting interior, and South Tyrolean cuisine. A glance at the menu quickly reveals that Villa Heidelberg serves traditional South Tyrolean dishes with a touch of "dolce vita." From homemade cakes to local ingredients and refined creations, Villa Heidelberg offers a truly delightful culinary experience. We started with a homemade Hugo cocktail to toast our meal. In my opinion, it's still a great way to start, especially if you're just ordering it as a snack. With its current menu, Villa Heidelberg is participating in the ongoing culinary weeks and focusing on red: beetroot, dark red meat, and red fruits and vegetables. We specifically chose dishes from this selection, opting for venison carpaccio with raspberry dressing and chanterelle salad (€14), red beans with sage and grilled shrimp (€13), and beetroot gnocchi with cabbage and bacon salad (€12). As an added bonus, and because it was supposed to be especially good at Villa Heidelberg, there was also a homemade lasagna, which I thoroughly enjoyed. My favorites were definitely the carpaccio and the cleverly used red beans combined with the shrimp. I can't be so full that I don't still have room for something sweet, so true to the saying "sugar has a stomach of its own," I also had a cheesecake – also homemade, of course. Check out the Website of Villa Heidelberg Let me take a closer look – I think you would feel comfortable here too.

CONCLUSION: My Merano trip

For this last paragraph, I paused my writing and reflected on my days in Merano. Merano is a city I would gladly return to anytime. Partly because of the people, the climate, the wine, and of course, the outstanding regional cuisine. "Regional" here means something quite different than what we're used to: cheese, ham, bacon, milk, herbs, honey, bread, cakes, eggs, meat, etc. – all seemingly right on our doorstep. There's an endless amount to discover, from the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle (Article 2) and the Michelin-starred Restaurant Sissi (Article 4) to the thermal baths. in I would return to Merano (article 2) and also to Restaurant Sigmund (restaurant 4) for a portion of plum dumplings. The people are incredibly friendly and you immediately feel at home. The Hotel Suite Seven, with its warm and welcoming service, is also highly recommended. super delicious With its breakfast, stylish rooms, and personal service, this would definitely be one of my first choices for accommodation again. When I think of Merano in the future, I think of vacation. Of good weather, great wines, friendly people – and all just a three-hour drive from Munich. I will definitely be back. Many thanks again to the Merano Tourist Office.

+++ This article was created in cooperation with the Merano Tourist Office. Thank you! +++

Contact for inquiries

Discover Merano | Merano Tourist Office – Via Freiheitsstraße 45, I-39012 Merano/Bolzano
Telephone: 00390473272000

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