Category Archives: Top pick

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/

Chez Vrony – A safe value since years

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Zermatt – A wonderful sunny day in the mountains, perfect weather for skiing. What more can you ask for than a terrace with Matterhorn view! But – there is more: Chez Vrony is a true value since years. The staff, especially Vrony and Max are always so friendly and welcoming and although the queue can be long if you have no reservation.

If you managed to get a table you will start with the nicest roggenbrot (rye bread). This time we had the raclette, accompanied by fig sauce and strawberries, very yummy. I had the Vrony salad with chicken breast, also very well and not too heavy. Because I know from earlier years, they serve one of the Worlds best apple pie, I just needed to have it. Like this, our lunch was perfectly rounded up. By the way, also Chez Vrony’s interior design is all from Heinz Julen.

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www.chezvrony.ch

After 7 in Backstage

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Zermatt – On our first night in Zermatt we booked a table in the restaurant of the Backstage hotel. The restaurant kitchen is managed temporarly by Ivo Adam (www.seven-ascona.ch).

The hotel and restaurant was opened only in 2011 and designed by Heinz Julen, the renewed Swiss designer (www.heinzjulen.com).

No need to mention that the design of the whole house ist just stunning with the known combination of industrial and wooden material. The biggest chandelier is in the welcome area of the restaurant, including champagne glasses, violins, saxophones and even a mirror ball.

The food was just excellent and also the service. Specially to mention the sourdough bread that was baken at the table in a heated stone. After 30 very long minutes of waiting, we ate this fresh bread with different dips, oil and salt. We chose the menu with different wines offered and were amazed.

Although we paid a fortune for the evening I would recommend the visit (if Ivo comes back to Zermatt next winter).

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www.backstagehotel.ch

Zum See

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Zermatt – Finally back in Zermatt and back at the Zum See restaurant!

Since i discovered this restaurant 6 years ago it is a MUST to visit at least twice per stay.

The restaurant is located on rhe ski piste just below Furi, and also accessible by foot in about 25 mins from Zermatt. It has approx. 50 seats inside and also a nice terrace outside with partial view of the Matterhorn. If you got time, have a look at the kitchen…a wonder how they can prepare all these dishes out of this tiny room.

Today we tried the fish soup – which was just delicious with a bit of fish, a bit of mussels scented with saffron. After that, we had the pan fried liver with roeschti and of course the legendary milken (sweetbread) on asparagus. I believe, everyone ever said “I dont like that” would at least be surprised how good it tastes, if not after all starting to love it. It was crispy on the outside and very tender inside. Accompanied by a fruity Heida (regional white wine) this meal is perfectly finished.

Awwww no, not yet…. there is the famous cremeschnitte for dessert! A pastry filled with cream: it feels light like in heaven. Thank god the slope is almost finished and the way home just enough to help digest a little.

For me one of the best restaurants and of course the best in Zermatt.

http://www.zumsee.ch/

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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/

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