Italians furious as two new KFC restaurants set to open in historic skiing hotspots

Detailed summary

There are only around 150 KFC restaurants in Italy, including one in Catania in Sicily (Picture: Getty Images) The Dolomites is known for world-class skiing, stunning scenery, and…

The Dolomites is known for world-class skiing, stunning scenery, and hearty food.

Up in the mountains, the cuisine is an Italian Austrian fusion: think Knödel (a type of dumpling) and Kaiserschmarrn (shredded pancakes).

But now, those hitting the slopes will also be able to pick up a bucket of fried chicken, a Zinger Tower meal, and perhaps even a tub of gravy.

Two new KFC restaurants are opening atop the area’s most famous resorts: Cortina d’Ampezzo and Madonna di Campiglio, and Italians are fare from thrilled.

National newspaper, Corriere Della Sera, reported that the decision has been criticised by government ministers, particuarly those responsible for food, tourism and agriculture.

Minister for tourism, Gianmarco Mazzi, told the publication he believes holidaymakers choose the Dolomites for the ‘authenticity’ of the food, pointing out that Italian cuisine is recognised by UNESCO.

He continued: ‘Certain decisions risk distorting the identity of our iconic places, making them the same as all the others.

‘The mountains should be valued for what they are, not standardised, because it is precisely their identity that makes them unique and attractive throughout the world.’

The two KFC restaurants will open on December 5, with the chicken giant saying the locations were chosen as a way to ‘surprise people,’ by ‘reaching places’ that are unexpected.

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