A GOURMET’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

ANDY FENNER, owner Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants, @andyfenner

WHERE? Italy and Austria

OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE KNOWS ITALY IS GOING TO BE GREAT. And it was. But Austria stole the show for me. It can stand toe-to-toe with anything I’ve seen in terms of natural beauty and the food is so much more than schnitzels (although they have phenomenal schnitzels). And the wine is incredible, showcasing so many unusual varietals.

MY MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE was meeting Dario Cecchini (probably the world’s most famous butcher) and having lunch with him and his wife. He took off his apron and gave it to me with a massive hug. Very special.

I’D GO BACK FOR A GLASS of Grüner Veltliner and smoked pork sausages cooked on the fire next to the lake in Ossiach. It’s a small town and the prettiest place I have ever visited. I also had a reindeer steak at a super-classy restaurant called Alte Point in Arriach. It was simple food but executed perfectly and the warmth and hospitality made it a meal I will never forget. And the charcuterie. And the cheese. And the local beer.

called La Subida. The place was like a fairytale, and they are serious about food and wine there and, interestingly, vinegar. We brought some home and I can never look at vinegar the same way. There