Nature and all its wonders have shaped his life. Norbert Niederkofler was born in the Dolomites, in Alto Adige, the northern part of the Italian Alps. From a young age, he wondered what was beyond those high mountains.
That childlike curiosity became an essential part of his personality over time. Studying and understanding the natural cycle of what surrounded him led him to travel the world. London, Zurich, Milan, Munich, New York were some of the cities that made him a cosmopolitan man, but which also awakened his passion for his roots, for his land.
It was in the German city of Munich where he worked with his mentor, Eckart Witzigmann, from whom he learned how nature contributes to haute cuisine. Upon his return to Alto Adige in 1994 he began his journey towards a more ethical cuisine, a cuisine that was characterized by respect for the environment.
At the Hotel Rosa Alpina in San Cassiano, Badia, he transformed an old pizzeria into a sophisticated restaurant inspired by Italian and Austrian traditions. This is how St. Hubertus was born, under the philosophy of “Cook the mountain”.
It is a cuisine of profound respect for the cycles of nature, its farmers, producers and where waste must be kept to a minimum. This cuisine allowed St. Hubertus to be awarded three Michelin stars in 2017.
Michelin: “Unforgettable human experiences”
After his long experience at St. Hubertus, Norbert Niederkofler felt the need to take a step forward, but different. At 2,274 meters above sea level, he opened the AlpiNN restaurant in 2018, so that diners could experience the flavors of mountain cuisine in a magical place at high altitude. It was not long before he received an important reward: his first green Michelin star, which the guide awards to restaurants that promote sustainable gastronomy.
With that same desire to live unforgettable experiences, five years later (November 2023) he founded the Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler in the same region of Brunico, a project that according to the Michelin guide “more than dishes are unforgettable human experiences”. It is a cuisine that combines human values and respect for nature, at a pace dictated by the seasons. And it does so now closer to producers and farmers, within the walls of a fascinating and charming 19th century place.
People approach with their cuisine dishes that evoke the flavor of the Italian Alps, presented in a way impossible to find anywhere else. Since its inauguration, the Atelier Moessmer has become a space where exclusive men and women of the world, accustomed to the best international cuisine, live extraordinary moments.
And it is his Alpine cuisine, based on local ingredients and aromas, the responsible management of resources to avoid waste and the unique experience of diners that have made Norbert Niederkofler’s cuisine considered “unforgettable.” His impact on world gastronomy was such that just four months passed since the restaurant opened its doors for him to win the three Michelin stars that characterize a truly exceptional cuisine and the recognition of the green star.
Bancamiga rewards loyalty
It is the essence of this mountain cuisine that Bancamiga and Mastercard bring to a select group of customers, at the Vizio Restaurant in Los Palos Grandes.
“It is an honor for Bancamiga to reward the loyalty of our customers with the mountain cuisine of Norbert Niederkofler, whom we have tried to bring to the country for two years, and it is now that we have finally achieved it. It is the first time in more than a decade that a chef of these characteristics visits Venezuela,” said the President of the Board of Directors of Bancamiga Banco Universal, José Simón Elarba, on Tuesday night, after sharing with the famous chef, clients and professionals of the kitchen and banking sector.
For Norbert Niederkofler it is a pleasure to visit Latin America and especially Venezuela, a Caribbean nation with a rich and varied cuisine, while sharing with professionals the importance of rethinking economic-social development, investigating the relationships between production, product, territory and consumption.
“The starting point of this change must be the kitchen, conceived as a catalyst for cultural processes for the diffusion of a sustainable development model. In this sense, the chef must assume the role of emotional educator, capable of promoting a new lifestyle,” said the chef, who since his arrival in the country has been in the Quinta Crespo market and in the fish sales area of La Guaira.
During his career he has accumulated six Michelin stars and important recognitions such as the following: Green Star, five Gault-Millau caps, three “forks” at Gambero Rosso and The World’s 50 Best restaurants #29.
With information and reference images provided by Bancamiga
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