Stellenbosch – A beautiful small boutique hotel, spa and great restaurant to start your South Africa trip nice and relaxed…a short visit from a little cat included.
Sihlbrugg /Hirzel – I read an article about this restaurant in “Zurich geht aus” and it sounded quite good.
Today, I went for a relaxed Sunday lunch and it was just great and I would not have expected such good food! Normally, I’m not a “sauce-lover” but I had one of the tastiest experiences with this foie-gras sauce today….I could not wait longer to write about it.
With the sauce…obviously…came a dish and a whole sundays menu. It started with tagliolini with cray fish and it looked just lovely with the little red crabs arranged in a triangle (see pic below). The pheasant was honoured to lay next to the addictive sauce, accompanied by Brussels sprout, red cabbace and potatoe “knödel”.
We spent all in all 3 hours in the restaurant and were pampered from start to end with a lovely crew, all dressed in beautiful dirndl-dresses.
Illhaeusern near Colmar
This summer, I invited my husband for his round birthday to a short trip to Alsace in France.
During the day we visited Colmar which is such a pretty little city and it looks like it has been all painted from a fairy tale book…
Overnight we stayed in a lovely hotel just about 15 minutes from the Auberge, called Hotel de L’illwald. A really nice place and built in the same typical style the houses are in Colmar (timber framing).
But now to the highlight of the evening. The chef Mr Haeberlin ears three stars in the Michelin guide and the family has a long tradition in this house. The venue is embedded in the countryside and the river Ill flows calm and nicely in front of the garden. People told me, normally there are a lot of swans swimming in there, but I guess it was their day off…
We enjoyed the apéro in the garden area, before we were let to our table. We were placed in a very private bay of the restaurant which made it even more romantic.
I think, this time the pictures need to speak about the food as this would be 5 pages or longer. Of course we had the tasting menu with – I really do not remember – about 8 courses that were absolutely amazingly delicious! The staff of course was also very nice and professional.
So, I recommend to go and try once…but beware of the prices 😉
Zurich – Last week I went for dinner with a friend. We were looking for a place that is centrally located, good food of course and not too loud to be able to chat around.
The beautiful historical building itself is a highlight and houses also a bar and a hotel. In the 70ies and 80ies the Helvti was one of the few bars that was open also long after midnight, when Zurich was not such an open-minded city yet.
This time I had meat loaf with fresh mushrooms and mashed potatoes. A dish that I love but never cook at home….mouth watering!
In summer one can enjoy lunch or dinner on the terrace overlooking the river sihl.
http://www.hotel-helvetia.ch/de/home
Zurich – Some days ago I had planned lunch with a colleague. We talk quite regularly about new restaurants in Zurich or elsewhere. She knew about the reopening of the restaurant end of January 2014. Formerly it was nothing special in there. Even a TV show was made about the Hotel City http://www.hotelcity.ch/home.html , no comment at that place…
The restaurant itself is really nicely made and the people stress the concept from farm to table. The prices are ok and what we had for lunch was really good, so all in all, I will go again….
San Diego – After all the fast food we wanted to go for a posh dinner. We read about this exclusive place already at home. They serve various set menus of which we took the 6 course surprise menu.
The atmosphere is very elegant and you feel as in a historic building from the early 20ties.
The food was extraordinary delicious and service very attentive. The room is huge and as heating is not very popular in California we decided to take our dessert at the warming fireplace.
http://www.thegranddelmar.com/san-diego-dining-addison/
Zurich – Last week I had lunch at the restaurant Equinox in the hotel RenaissanceTower. Actually I just wanted to eat a mixed salad before the event in the hotel started.
But my eyes caught something on the menu, one does not get in every restaurant: marrow. When I cook Osso Bucco (also known as Gremolata) at home, I always buy some additional bones with its delicious and soft inner part…It was worth ordering it, as it was fantastic and presented in the bone.
Besides this, I saw on many tables Hamburgers (with Luma beef) and other very nicely presented dishes. On top, we received a small sweet to taste which was also delicious for free.
The restaurant and hotel are located in the old industrial zone of Zurich – Escherwyss. There are no factories anymore but the hotel took over the theme and interpreted in a modern way in the interior design. I have to mention the special attention of the staff here, they really know good service!
Baar – Besides the spectacular view – if it’s not a foggy day – the food in the Baarcity is really good and prepared with an eye on the detail.
We ordered the salad of fresh spinach with goat’s cheese followed by lamb and a sea bream, which was my choice and a real delight. Service was very nice and attentive. For this restaurant you need to invest a little more than just your pocket money…..but worth it.
In summer there is also a terrace on the roof top.
sybillesbeenthere 