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Restaurants around the world

Trattoria da Amerigo

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Finally we managed to organise a weekend in Bologna. Of course it is not possible to go to Bologna without visiting Alberto’s lovely Trattoria and Dispensa “Amerigo” in Savigno. Actually that was the reason to go again to Bologna…..

The Trattoria is a kind of its own. It is not a bed and breakfast but a dinner and bed concept. The rooms are all decorated individually and located in a separate house. We chose the disused ancient stable room. It is all very nicely done with a touch of Italian industry design.

But to come back to the restaurant – this is the real Italian eatery you can find with local wine, fresh seasonable food. Antonio and his team offer a warm welcoming atmosphere. It is a real ordeal to choose your menu for the evening, as your stomach will never be big enough for all the good food that is served in the Amerigo. So I cannot put everything in words, but best advise: Go, try and indulge the temptations of fresh cut ham, salami, daily made stuffed pasta, meat from the farmer next door and dolci made by mamma…..

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www.amerigo1934.it/

Drogheria della rosa

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Bologna – also known as the fat city “La Grassa” is a culinary must! On a Friday we enjoyed an authentic Italian dinner in this former ancient pharmacy. The decoration in the restaurant is “a little bit of everything” and quite opulent. The guests – families, couples old and young and a lot of Italians too – are welcomed with a free glass of “spumante” when they sit down. After that, everyone receives a small platter of fresh cut salami or ham. The menu card contains all Italian delights one can ask for. The food was quite good, especially to mention the Spaghetti al ragu (the real Bolognese sauce). Woman receive a rose when they leave the restaurant…

www.drogheriadellarosa.it/

Florhof – Still a place one can be pampered

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Zurich – The Hotel and Restaurant Florhof is one of the oldest buildings in Zurich with a lot of history. The restaurant is worth a visit in winter with its cosy dining room and in summer with the romantic quiet garden at the back of the house.

Yesterday my best friend needed some TLC and I thought the Florhof will do her a lot of good.

As we could not decide on all the good things on the menu, we asked the sommelier Mr Giacometti if he could bring us three of the starters and one main course to share. No problem for the Florhof and the kitchen crew. So we tried the paté covered with a special bread from Berne, chutney and fresh brioche. Following, we had two ways of tuna, tatar with mango and marinated sashimi. But not enough – our gustative nervs were tickled with scallops on fresh spinach and black truffle – just delicious! The main course was a veal cutlet. The meat was great and cooked perfect, the risotto sadly was a bit disappointing. Jens, the very friendly new cook chatted with us about the food and possible new event ideas for summer.

Together with the food we enjoyed a different wine for every couse. All in all a very fair price for what we received and definitely worth going again soon.

www.florhof.ch

Osteria Gallo d’Oro is indeed a precious retreat

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Lugano – We spent last weekend in Lugano and enjoyed the first springy rays of sunlight.

In the evening we tried a restaurant a friend recommended us. We had a look at the website and it sounded quite nice. We did not expect a lot. We then were tought different. The atmosphere is at first not very cosy – but the food was excellent, tipical ticino ingredients, fresh and cooked with passion. The service too was great, very friendly and personal. I recommend a variety of the first courses, then either thin sliced liver with a red wine reduction or the “Tagliata”, sliced beef fillet with rocket salad. You should not miss the desserts – especially to mention is the vanilla ice cream with self made crystallised orange fruits (I normally do not like at all).

www.osteriagallodoro.ch

La Baracca – A small Italian island in Switzerland

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Zurich – Yesterday we celebrated the birthday of a very good friend in the Baracca in “Kreis” 4 in Zurich. Massimo and his team welcomes every guest and you feel a little bit as if you were visiting your Italian relatives at home.

The food is indiscussably good, the pizza is crispy on the bottom and the topping always fresh and an explosion of flavour in the mouth, the pasta is not just macceroni or penne, but spignoli, strozzapreti or other interesing varieties with delicious sauces, the fish or meat just excellent, simple and good. The atmosphere is very relaxed and you can just enjoy a perfect evening with your friends. It can get quite lively and loud later in the night. This restaurant definitely one of my favourite places in Zurich.

www.ristorante-labaracca.ch

Fantastic and new AURA

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On 18 January the AURA opens officially its doors. It is an event location, restaurant, bar and smokers-lounge centrally located in Zurich nearby Paradeplatz.

Of course I had to visit the restaurant asap and did so last Thursday. The “aura” is fantastic with a surprising interior design. The AURA restaurant works a lot with natural wood, chandelliers, oversized pots with plants, matching background music, different table tops and very friendly service. This place could be also in Cape Town, New York or Buenos Aires.

I had the US beef (aged 6 weeks on the bone) and it was quite good. You can have this meat only for 2 person, but the presentation of the food is worth it, it really comes with the bone…my friend chose the fish and was really happy with it. So really worth going there, but also a little pricy.

If you need a venue for an event up to 600 people, check out the rooms next by in the “Alte Börse” that have all been renewed. The main attraction is the 360° 3D projection.

www.aura-zurich.ch

Parma – Best Gnocchi north of the Alps

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About two weeks ago we went skiing in Davos. Not to miss is a visit in Parma, THE Italian restaurant in Davos with its own open charcoal grill in the main restaurant. They serve Gnocchi to die for with their secret recepy and mouthwatering sauce. I already tried to get the ingredients out of the couple that leads the restaurant, since I know it from 2005, but no chance. I also recommend everything else they serve, even the green salad with the french dressing is delicious. Don’t miss to book a table in advance, otherwise you wont get in or end up in the room beside the restaurant which isn’t as nice and cosy.

Restaurant Parma
Dammstrasse 2, 7270 Davos Platz, Switzerland
Tel: +41 81 413 48 66

Il Camino – worth going the way

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In December I was in Zurich in Il Camino. I read that a mother and her daughter took over the restaurant in August 2009 together with an Austrian cook since May 2012. The inside of the restaurant located just next the newly opened “Europaallee” did not change much. Its cosy with a little twist of Swissness and could be also somewhere in the Alps. The food and wine was delicious and service very friendly and attentive. They have also a private room for max 12 guests on the upper floor (looks like another smaller livingroom in the house) and a garden in summer. So worth going there:

www.restaurant-camino.ch