The Winter Olympic Games kick off on Feb. 6, 2026 in Milan and Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy. I figure the abundant, wanderlust-inspiring shots of the Italian alps and quaint trattoria are going to stoke some interest in Northern Italian cuisine. And, two weeks of watching people throw their bodies down and across ice and snow will surely whet many an appetite here in the U.S.
Fortunately, there are plenty of places to eat food from the Northern Italian regions featured in the Olympics here in North Jersey. But be forewarned: You can’t just go to any red sauce joint or restaurant with a name that ends in a vowel to dine on Northern Italian dumplings, risotto and cured meats.
