Monthly Archives: April 2013

Hiltl still on my Hitlist

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Zurich – Last week I spent a chatting evening with the ladies and we decided – as many times before – to have dinner at the Hiltl. The Hiltl was the first vegetarian restaurant in Zurich and for me – the best I know.

The good thing about the Hiltl is that after the delicious choices of fresh and mostly healthy food you find something for every taste and appetite. They have a big buffet with warm and cold dishes and salads and you pay per gram. The staff is always very friendly although the restaurant on different levels is always packed!

There is also a club and a lounge.

http://www.hiltl.ch

Osteria Piazzetta Cattedrale

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Ostuni – Still in Ostuni we also needed somewhere to have dinner. A very good friend of mine recommended this cosy and elegant restaurant, just opposite the Cathedral of Ostuni.

I had a beautiful starter made of zuchhini and presented in a flan with different herbs. As main course I chose the delicious tagliata di manzo with salad. As they had also fresh fish that the waiter presented on a plate, some of us were not dissapointed with their choice.

The dessert was a pear pie, extraordinary good – no wonder they are also in the guide of Gault Millau.

http://www.piazzettacattedrale.it

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Taverna della Gelosia

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Ostuni – During our holiday in Puglia, south Italy we spent one night in Ostuni, the white city. For lunch we found a beautiful restaurant that had tables outside on different levels as the city is built on a hill with thousands of steps. The tables are under one huge fig tree and surrounded by many beautiful plants. In the distance you can even see a little bit of the sea.

For starters we ordered a variety of tipical antipasti from the region. Many of the recipies stem from the middle age. We had cod fish in black crispy dough, broccoli flan, a special fresh cheese with a topping of apple, pear and some spices and much more.. I cannot really remember. Actually, we were already full but ordered before three different pasta to taste. The first was a green pasta with different herbs, spinach and vegetables, the second a black pasta (orecchiette) with a vegetable sauce and the third thick fettucine with tomatoe and cinghiale (wild boar). It was all just fantastic food and I really recommend to go.

http://www.tavernadellagelosia.it

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Ammolite – the new jewel in the Europapark

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Rust – Sure, if you hear Europapark, you do not think about fine dining. You associate it with screaming children destroying the buffet in the hotel you are locked up at a weekend – no way to escape.

But we went with my godchild on a two day trip to Rust and checked in the new built Bell Rock Hotel. For me the coolest hotel you can book there. And they even harbour a gourmet restaurant – The Ammolite. It was really great, service, food and ambiance! This restaurant is located on the ground floor of the lighthouse and does not really match the rest of the area. I can definitely recommend the foie gras covered with chocolate with rhubarb and the lamb in a heavenly herb crust. You can also get a 3 or 6 courses set menu if you like to taste more of their great food. Even my 9 year old godchild enjoyed the treats between the courses…countless amuse bouches…as they were a little bit hectic and behind the plan in the kitchen.
Definitely worth visiting.

PS: The wine was excellent too: 2009 Winklerberg, Spätburgunder Großes Gewächs

Lindenhofkeller

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Zurich – On a Friday evening we went to Lindenhofkeller. I heard so many good things and always wanted to go…but Zurich offers just too many choices. Finally, we managed to get a table, because without reservation it is just not possible.

As a starter my company chose the veal cheeks, he just loved the dish and I went for a beautiful presented lobster and crab variation (see pics). The main course is the house specialty which is veal (from the back of the calf) cooked at low temperature with different sauces and side dishes you can choose from, this was very decent. Actually I like more the red and aromatic meat.

The Lindenhofkeller is a cosy, romantic and very elegant restaurant with a lot of ambiance and history. You can go there with friends, your husband or even as a treat to invite your parents, they will all feel very comfortable in the Lindenhofkeller.

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www.lindenhofkeller.ch

Le Cèdre – Libanese Mezze at their best!

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Zurich – This morning I couldn’t wait to write my new post.

I was with friends in the “Le Cèdre” – haven’t been there for years – and I must say it was just a great evening. Maurice, the owner wrote down our order and recommended us some Lebanese white wine and fresh mango-passion fruit to start. But before we even started to eat the first course, the belly dancing show started. This young lady danced with so much passion and the biggest smile on her face that we could not resist to permanently stare at her.

Then – wow the mezze were served plate after plate until the table was fully covered with no chance to place one more. If you ever go there I strongly recommend ordering the following mezze and not a combined menu:

fattet hommos (chick peas with yogurt and garlic…warm, extraordinary delicious)
tabbouleh (salad with parsley, tomatoes, cracked wheat)
hommos (chick pea and tahini paste)
mutabal (grilled aubergine with tahini paste)
fatayer (dough triangles with spinach…. warm)
arayes bi lahme (flat pita bread with meat inside…. warm)
fattoush (salad with crusty pita bread pieces) – the version with the pomegranate juice
falafel
mixed grill

Maurice told us at the end of the evening a little bit about how he started his restaurant (almost 20 years ago) and opened the second one close to Bellevue some years ago. So he said he has not two children but 4….

http://www.libanesisch.ch

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Kitchen around in Zermatt

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Zermatt – I read an article about kitchen around in the Zermatt Newsletter and was really disappointed that this great action of kitchen around in different restaurants was only happening in autumn.

So I was happily surprised when I saw the flyer in the ski shop and set up our reservation for the other day.

Our first course was cooked and served for us in the Z’Art (www.zermattart.ch). They have a rather small kitchen but made it even cosier. The cook was alone with his assistant for about 25 seats and us. We could even walk around in the kitchen and found out that “Migros Budget” pans are as good as any expensive ones…

After a short walk we arrived at Cervo (www.cervo.ch) where we were served the main course. We had visited this hotel and restaurant already 1 year ago. I was surprised how many young people work in this reasonable sized kitchen. Our white covered high table at the “Pass” for starters and desserts was a perfect stance to observe the whole kitchen. The friendly lady preparing the delicious meals next to us explained us everything although we knew everyone is always on stress in the kitchen.

After we finished our meal (including a small dessert….) we were brought by taxi to the last restaurant – the  Walliserhof (www.walliserhof–zermatt.ch). The chef of the kitchen showed us his empire. This huge kitchen serves food for three different restaurants including the hotel. He explained to us that Japanese always want to try a portion of raclette and share it for 4 people, actually they do not like it.

We were served finally the dessert with a lovely dessert wine followed by grappa.

This was a great night and I learnt a lot about the processes in the kitchen and how important the right cook for the kitchen is. An experience I will not forget.

http://kitchenaround.wordpress.com

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Fuji in the mountains

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Zermatt – Last year we discovered this restaurant. Today, I count it to my top 10 restaurants in Zermatt. Actually, I do not wanted to eat any Asian food in a mountain village any more after the disappointing experience we had in a well know Chinese restaurant (that even has Gault&Millau points – for whatever reason…). But….I wanted to give it a try. The restaurant is located in a hotel. As a teen I even spent a vacation with my parents in this house and had very good memories.

The people working there are just adorable and very welcoming. This place could also be somewhere in London, Hong Kong or New York. I also like a lot the whole modern atmosphere with the big glass front and the pop art on the walls.

But not to forget the food. This teppanyaki place serves several menus, one for every “gusto” with fish, meat, vegetables and dessert. The mostly Malayan cooks make a great show preparing the fresh food with a lot of knife jingleling and fire explosion on the hot plates.

It is really worth going as you will eat great food and not be bored at all this evening.

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www.hotelalbanareal.com/de/restaurants-de/fuji-de/