LUNA RESTAURANT
BOLZANO
ITALY
I am a bit sceptical when it comes to the food scene of Bolzano. No, I wasn’t always like this. But ten whole years of exploring local – and not so local – flavours in the capital of South Tyrol have given me every right to be.
And yet there I was, full of scepticism, about to cross the doors of Luna Restaurant. Obviously, I was not ready to give up on the pursuit of culinary happiness. As I stepped into the lobby of Parkhotel Mondschein, where Luna Restaurant is located, an old-world vibe hit me. My scepticism increased. Another pretentious place, I thought. But my prejudgment about the place was quickly proven wrong.
‘Welcome to Luna Restaurant’ a happy voice said behind the big entrance door. It was a warmish day. Summer was around the corner, and I was looking forward to feeling that warmth of the first proper sunny days on my skin.
‘A table for two in the garden please’ I said. I sat down and looked around. The old-world vibe was still there but this time it was mixed with a very welcoming calmness. Birds, trees and from time to time the sound of the leaves shaking at the slightest breeze. Somehow Luna’s Garden managed to get me disconnected from the rest of Bolzano. It’s amazing what a bit of green can do to your eyes and soul…such a shame that green is so hard to find in the centre of Bolzano.
As I was ordering my lobster linguine, I realised there was something familiar about that place. Was it the pergola that brought back memories of my grandparents’ garden? I cannot recall much from my toddler years, but I do remember my grandmother’s vine-covered pergola. It was under that pergola that many family gatherings and lazy summer dinners took place.
‘Are you OK?’ my husband’s voice and my hunger brought me back to the present. ‘Enjoy your starter…buon appetito’. I looked at my plate. Better-looking than my grandmother’s food for sure, I thought, as I was about to grab a generous bite of white asparagus covered in Bolzano sauce - a traditional egg-based sauce from South Tyrol!
Few minutes later my food had disappeared and so did my scepticism. Had my Bolzano food scene research reached a tipping point? Had I finally just found a new favourite food place in that city?
The suspense – and my appetite - were building up while I was waiting for my lobster linguine. Finally, there it was: firm and deliciously resilient to bite; with the right amount of acidity, juiciness and sweetness; a delicate equilibrium between ‘clean’ lobster flavours, a hint of garlic and that aromatic citrusy freshness of lemon zest.
A sudden silence: this has always been a clear indication of how much we love our food. ‘Did you know that happy taste buds can release dopamine?’. Yes, indeed…I had read it somewhere. A few ‘mmms’ and other non-verbal sounds of enjoyment later, my happiness was clear. I had undeniably found my new favourite food place in Bolzano!
I looked up. I took a last look at the pergola. It was beautiful, lush green. I looked at him while I was about to order my chocolate cake. He smiled. There was that familiar warmth in his eyes. Without needing to speak a single word he made me feel so safe…right there, just under the pergola.
