On everyone's lips: potatoes from Arzl

Updated 01.07.2021

The Pitztal potato is considered a speciality. At the Hochzeiger, guests can now enjoy particularly delicious dishes that melt in their mouths. Thanks to regionality.

Warm days, cool nights and sandy soil: The area around the village of Arzl, which lies at 880 metres in the front Pitztal valley, is made for the potato, which in Germany is known mainly as the potato. The great tuber thrives particularly well here. Since there has been an increased focus on regionality, it has moved into the limelight. At Hochzeiger, the Arzler Erdapfel is now coming out as a speciality - with delicious recipes that put it in the limelight.

Whether as Pitztaler Erdäpfelgröstl, Arzler Erdäpfelriebler (potato fritters), jacket potato with sour cream, in the classic version with bacon or vegan with local vegetables - the once disdained filling side dish is always the star. Those who try it realise that not all potatoes are the same. The Arzl varieties are considered particularly tasty, although Benedikt Lederle, catering manager at Hochzeiger, prefers to work with the firm-cooking "Ditta". "We have been relying on local products for years," he explains. "But now, with our offensive, we also want to raise awareness of regionality among our guests," says the 33-year-old, who cooked a lot abroad before returning to his home in Pitztal. You have to think outside the box, regional networking is the order of the day.

Of course, the game comes from the local forests and the beef from the farmer around the corner. "We don't just take the fillets, but process the whole animal," Lederle emphasises. "That makes it much easier for the suppliers." It all comes down to fairness.

The prices are also fair - despite all the regionality and the resulting increase in quality. The jacket potato, for example, is available for 10.30 euros (vegetarian) or 10.50 euros (classic). "And all this up on the mountain," emphasises the restaurant manager, who is already thinking about new ideas. A brief excursion into history: in the past, each region had its own task and speciality. Game in the rear Pitztal or in St. Leonhard, sweet corn in Jerzens, the potatoes, as mentioned, in Arzl: "Down in Imst, the trade then took place."

Mountain railway info: The Hochzeiger mountain railway operates daily from 9 am to 5 pm until 17 October (no lunch break). Ascent and descent with the cable car cost 19 euros for adults, 7 euros for children. www.hochzeiger.com