Bofinger – Is this all lunchable?

Posted on July 15, 2017 by sybillesbeenthere

Paris – We spent a long weekend in Paris and a friend recommended this Alsatian restaurant in brasserie style to me.

The weather was really hot and so we were “for once” happy to be inside in the air conditioned restaurant. The spacious and high rooms are spectacular and the main room has a glass ceiling (cupola style) with beautiful colors that gives the special atmosphere.

The food was excellent. Actually, we just wanted to go for a light lunch, but the menu was so tempting so we were even persuaded by the very nice waiter for a small dessert….picture shows it all.

Outside

Inside

Glass cupola

Goats cheese with honey

Fresh oysters and half crab

“Small” lobster salad

Small dessert

Wall paintings

Toilets

www.bofingerparis.com

Mauri’s La Casa – Top of Feusisberg and top Italian kitchen in the area

Posted on June 28, 2017 by sybillesbeenthere

Feusisberg – Mauri (Maurizio Brocca, 20 years owner of former La Rocca in Zurich) renovated and reopened the location in the heart of Feusisberg just recently in May.

When you enter the restaurant, you feel, like in someone’s home…this someone must have Italian roots. It is Mauri’s home; as he dreamed it to be and how he likes to live he told us. A lot of wood (they made the floor and a lot of other interior designs themselves). A lot of pictures and photographs that remind one of Italy. A highlight for all meat lovers is the wood fire barbecue in the center of the restaurant and a big fridge where the different kind of meat are presented.

My friend and I had the “tavolata” (3 course surprise menu served on platters…like at mamma’s table in the older times) and it was just fantastic (but a LOT of good food to be honest). The homemade pasta is still watering my mouth when I think back.

The guys had a giant size Tomahawk steak which was just wonderful and grilled on the charcoal as ordered.

On the terrace a fumoir is planned and in the backyard opens a garden restaurant soon. On street level there will soon also open an Osteria (simple Italian dishes), but at the moment planned for smaller events of about 50 people.

The official opening is still to come, but I am already looking forward going again!

exterior

interior

menu – part of it

homemade pasta

charcoal bbq

bar

antipasti plate – serves 1 person!

meat…

memories of Italy

mauris-lacasa.ch/

One Ocean Club – Bar and restaurant at the harbor

Posted on June 8, 2017 by sybillesbeenthere

Barcelona – If you want to do some “people and yacht watching” while dining exquisitely, One Ocean club is your choice.

The atmosphere, view and food is very good, but not really a bargain budgetwise…

I recommend having a drink before dinner at around 8 or 9 pm and then enjoy the sunset at dinner. If you are a couple you will most probably get a table directly at the water on the terrace, as these are the only tables for two 😉

Reservation absolutely needed.

www.oneoceanclub.es

Restaurant “Il Consiglio di Sicilia” means recommendations of Sicily

Posted on May 15, 2017 by sybillesbeenthere

Sicily (Donnalucata) – What a great recommendation in this tiny Sicilian town. We were 10 people and sat on the beautiful terrace outside. The food was delicious, staff very friendly and helpful finding the right dish for everyone. The food is all regional products from farmers.

Before lunch we walked through the town and found the (tiny as well) fish market, consisting of about 4 stalls. But here counts quality and not quantity obviously.

We also tried the dessert the “Cannolo” pastry with ricotta filling which was also featured in the Washington Post and voted one of the best in Sicily.

Exterior

Terrace

Interior

Street food Sicilian style

Fish market with a view in Donnalucata

Filled sardines

Table outside

raw sea fruit

Caramelized butterfish

Other recommendations

https://www.facebook.com/IlConsiglioDiSicilia

Vota Vota – Italian gourmet by the sea (temporary)

Posted on May 5, 2017 by sybillesbeenthere

Sicily (Sampieri) – We rented a villa in Sicily with some friends. As many of them are quite good cooks we only went out dining a few times.

Vota Vota was really a highlight: Not only the scenery directly at the beach, but also the food was just delicious! You can order a set menu or a la carte. As we were in Sicily in May it was not very full but I believe the whole space with bar outside can be packed with people in summer.

www.votavota.it

BBQ at Yoroniku

Posted on October 23, 2016 by sybillesbeenthere

Tokyo – For our last evening we wanted to get a real treat. A friend recommended this popular place in Roppongi for great quality meat.

Inside, you are sitting around an in built BBQ and the staff will grill your meat just as it has to be – namely perfect.

We chose the set menu containing almost every part of the cow starting with tongue, heart, 3rd stomach and finally ending with the Chateaubriand and Kobe slices.

I was really delicious. You have to book early, let’s say at least 1.5 months in advance.

Set menu

Grill built in the table

What part is it?

Marbled meat

Sunrise in Tokyo

savorjapan.com

Teyandei THE cool place for Japanese food in tapas style portions

Posted on October 23, 2016 by sybillesbeenthere

Tokyo – If you want to try as much Japanese dishes and styles as you can get with a modern twist then go to Teyandei. A Japanese friend recommended it to me and I am really sad such a great place does not exist in Zurich.

The staff does not really speak a lot of English but somehow you manage. It helps if you are seated around the kitchen and grill so you may order a dish you have seen prepared already and just show the staff. The words you DO need to survive are simple: Aligato (Thank you), biru (beer) and oishiiii (delicious). By the way for Swiss people, I strongly recommend the webinar crash course to learn some Japanese by Ronja Sakata.

To summarize, a place with really tasty food, cool and trendy young people (a bit loud maybe;-)) and not at all expensive. I highly recommend! Book early and bear in mind, this is a “take off shoes” restaurant…

View over Tokyo Yoyogi park

Menu card

Inside Teyandei

very, very small dried fish

Spicy prawns with mayonaise

Appetizer platter

Meat with avocado and Parmesan

Welcome

Otora Sake, my favourite

Dessert made of pumkin

the bill

teyandei.com

Once in a lifetime ryokan ASABA

Posted on October 16, 2016 by sybillesbeenthere

Shuzenji (between Kyoto and Tokyo) – When in Japan, a visit of a ryokan (Japanese inn) is a must do!

We selected this beautiful place and enjoyed every minute of it. The rooms are in traditional Japanese style with tatami mats in the whole hotel, so you are only allowed to walk in socks or bare feet. As soon as you arrive at the hotel you get rid of your shoes anyway and you receive a beautiful kimono (yukata) to wear throughout your stay…so you can dive into this other world and let yourself get indulged.

During all your stay you can take a bath in the natural hot springs inside and outside (open air). If you feel too hot you can also feed the koi fish (yes, they are always hungry!) in the pond or just relax and enjoy the calming atmosphere.

Dinner is served at any time you want in your room. This time we were also sitting on the floor at a low table, but luckily for us and our bones with a big cushion :-). This food was again beautifully prepared and decorated in the theme of autumn. For the second time we tasted fugu fish…and luckily are still alive.

After dinner the staff prepares your futon beds at the very same place in your room. In the morning you can choose between continental breakfast and Japanese breakfast…after a little discussion I agreed to the Japanese breakfast. I am really NOT fussy at all with food and I bravely ate the grilled barracuda, eggplant, miso soup and rice but when I opened the mussels soup bowl I had to give in 😉

Definitively a place I will never forget!