Das Dorf Der Alpen: Afterwork Farmers Market

Autumn is the season of harvest. Der Zaggeler reaps what Der Halbweiße planted in the spring and traditional Almabtriebs retrieve livestock from alpine pastures after a summer of freely grazing to their heart’s content. Farmers have collected nature’s bounty, and now we get to enjoy the fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, and cheese. Das Dorf der Alpen brings this to us every Thursday afternoon at Marktplatz.

Der Zaggeler and Der Halbweiße are Tyrolean folk characters representing Spring and Autumn. Read more about it here: RUMER MULLER PARADE – A TRULY TYROLEAN EXPERIENCE

Beautiful organic produce

Das Dorf der Alpen: Every Thursday

Das Dorf der Alpen, an evening farmers market, recently launched at Marktplatz. This market is only open on Thursday evenings from 4.00-8.00 p.m., allowing Innsbruckers the opportunity to buy local produce, but more importantly, get to know who and where it comes from.

If you don’t know what something is, ask the farmer about it and they’ll give you a recipe for it.

This is a great place to visit for true foodies, local or visiting, looking to dive deep into the ingredients used to make regional specialties. If you love Kaspressknödel, for example, you can see what they look like and try a sample on its own. It’s also a great opportunity to discover new produce. I took home a few things I’d never seen before.

Showing off the goods

The farmers are also vendors to many of the city’s top restaurants, including Die Wilderin. Die Wilderin chefs were on hand at the food tents cooking up some really impressive dishes.

Butcher to Grill meal

You could even buy meat from the butcher and have the chefs cook it for you.

This blood sausage and seasonal veggies cost €1. I couldn’t believe it.

Inauguration

The inauguration ceremony was one of my highlights in the past months. Live music and food stands made the event a cultural attraction, not just a farmers market. Knowing that the food stands were only present for the inauguration, I visited all three days and tried as much of the food as possible. Die Wilderin offered free samples of Bovist, Puffball Mushrooms. This was a first for me, and now I wish I could have it year-round.

This is only half of the Puffball Mushroom we sampled.

We tried it fried with Austrian style potato salad. Crunchy breading and the texture almost implodes when you bite into it. It paired really well with the herbal mayo on the side and acidity from the sauce on top.

Fried Puffball Mushroom and potato salad

Farmers markets should be on your to-do list for any destination you’re visiting. It’s a great setting to get a feel for the local vibes. You experience real hospitality that wasn’t taught at a training session by Human Resources. Real people, who love what they do, and are happy to share it with you. If you’re in town this fall, pop into this farmers market and get a taste of Innsbruck. You can find this vibe scattered throughout Innsbruck at the various farmers markets dotting the city.

If you had to pick one flavor to describe Innsbruck, what would it be?

I can’t decide between Zirben and Graukäse. What flavor would you say identifies Innsbruck?

Leave your answer in the comments, I’m really curious to see what others think.