Restaurant Check - The Restaurant (Taubenkobel) in Schützen am Gebirge

Sunset in Vienna - Lovely, isn't is?

The last weeks have been very stressful for me and my team but after all these stress you are even more looking forward to some relaxing days. We decided to visit Vienna and the world-class "Taubenkobel" restaurant, voted as Austria's 2nd best restaurant after the famous "Steirereck" in Vienna.

Welcome to "Burgenland" - a very tranquil region!

The town itself is everything else then revived. Maybe one of the most silent towns even I have seen. As mentioned above the main reason for our trip is the restaurant and not the village, so after finding parked Ferarris and other luxury cars, we finally arrived at "The Restaurant formely known as Taubenkobel", as it is called since March 2014.

The gate to food heaven in Austria.

Upon entering the small gate you are transformed into another world. A world that doesn't really fit inside this town. We were greeted in a very friendly way and got a tour through the restaurant via the open-kitchen, the fish corner and the fire place.

Welcome at the Taubenkobel!

As we were placed on our table, refreshing towels arrived together with a plate of freshly sliced salamis and ham. Although the design is very (very) unusual for an Austrian restaurant, we finally began to love all this details about the restaurant. Instead of cutlery you only find a wooden plate and a small pot with a special milk cream - in fact the first course of the long menu.

Excellent Rosé Champagne with refreshing towels.

The most impressive thing on this evening was not the wine glass (which is similar to a whiskey tumbler), no, it was the way how the bread is served. Put in a wooden bowl and broken on your table into different and dissimilar pieces. Is it really impressive or just not adequate?

The first course - Part 1

We from our side, we were impressed of all the courses and all the presentations of the food. We found out that the focus of this restaurant is placed on the food and its origin and not on details, decoration and  light interiors.

The first course - Part 2

Last but not least I can guarantee you, that this restaurant is really worth a trip to probably Austria's most calm region. They also have wonderful rooms and suites and they are belonging to the world-class Relais&Chateaux Hotels and Resorts, so what else do you need as a reason to go there?

Creamy butter, sea salt and lard.

A very unusual bread

The second course (the white cream is made into the plate)

A very unusual wine glass with an outrageous wine inside.

Third course - Part 1 - a cream soup of pea

Third course - Part 2 - Profiteroles with gorgonzola cream

 Fourth course - Jelly of pumpkin seed

Even I had a premiere, too: A georgian wine!

The main course before preparing

The prepared main course - a knuckle of pork

Finally our dessert - Panna Cotta with different herbs

The wonderful courtyard in the middle of the small village.

Staying at the Beau-Rivage Palace

Last weekend I had the chance to stay at one of Europe's best hotels and I was so excited to this world-class property. Now, after a weekend full of stunnig impressions, I would like to share my experience:

From the moment I arrived to the last greeting at check-out, my stay at this picture-perfect and movie-scene like palace hotel, was absolutely outstanding. 

We got an upgrade to a fascinating and eye-catching Junior Suite with lake views in the recently renovated part of the hotel, and I was flashed by the design, the views, and of course the state-of-the-art technologies. The bathroom was enormous with luxe Bulgari Eau Thé Rouge amenities, separate shower, double vanities with en-mirror tv and partial lake view. The walk-in wardrobe was simply amazing, I felt like on-set of a new movie! 

After a heavenly night in the extraordinary beds with pillow spray by Cinq Mondes, I have already been awaited for breakfast at La Terrasse. The buffet was not enormous but everything was of high quality and the service was very kind. They brought us coffee, a bread basket and of course fresh fruit juices together with a glass of water. 

The Cinq Mondes Spa is a nice place to relax, although the layout of the pool area was not my taste and the pool was a way too cold for this time of the year. 

I can warmly recommend this hotel to everyone seeking for an unforgettable experience!

Thank you to the Beau-Rivage Palace for the amazing Upgrade and this opportunity to test the hotel!

Restaurant Check - Landhaus Bacher, Wachau

After a long time without blogging, I am back from many different culinary experiences throughout Austria. As reported in previous posts, I was testing four of Austria's most famous and best rated restaurants. 

Last weekend I've been to the wonderful area of Lower Austria, excately in the wine region Wachau. I stayed at the Steigenberger Hotel Krems, referred as the best hotel of Krems, I did experience some awkward issues. 

To be honest, this hotel is modern and definitely one of the Top 5 places to stay in Lower Austria, but I did not like the way this hotel is leaded: I had ants in the first room (but the women at the front desk gave me a new one), there was no staff member in the spa, towels are hidden behind loungers in the relaxation room, breakfast was hectic and very crowded, and the elevators and hallways are too old-fashioned!

Steigenberger Hotel Krems - Double Room Standard

Maybe I will try the Loisium Hotel in nearby Langenlois, about 10 minutes north-east of Krems. They have large, bright and airy rooms designed by Steven Holl. The only thing is that they are a bit more expensive and therfore too expensive for just an overnight-stay, also because their spa is way larger and it is an Aveda branded Spa.

Steigenberger Hotel Krems - Panorama Sauna

Nonetheless, the main reason for my trip was to visit some good wineries and of course to dine at the Michelin-starred Landhaus Bacher in Mautern an der Donau, owned by the Bacher-Wagner family.

The restaurant is wonderfully decorated with a Mediterranean touch, paired with fine tableware and a picture perfect garden in the middle of the village. Completely unexpected: the extraordinary and absolutely top-attentive service, leaded by the best Maitre - Mrs Johanna Stiefelbauer - and the two daughters of Mrs Lisl Wagner-Bacher. 

Not only was the service fantastic, also the food of course! Due to the fact that I had ordered the Nespresso Gourmet Menu (via telephone, a few days in advance), I got a set menu at a reduced price, which is quite a good deal if you want to get to know some restaurants, you have never been before. So this seems to me like a strategic marketing promotion.

Although the prices are upscale, as usual for such category of restaurant, I would definitely go there again as soon as I am back in the Wachau region! 

Amuse Bouche: Horseradish with beetroot and a pudding of creamcheese

First course: a soup of leek with an one-hour egg

Second course: Boiled fillet beef with spinach

Main course: Breast of guinea fowl with vegetables and gratinated rigatoni

Dessert: Parfait of chocolate (three ways) with milk ice and peaches

Small chocolat cakes served with the coffee

Wonderful garden in front of the restaurant

Steigenberger Hotel Krems - Indoor Pool

 

Steigenberger Hotel Krems - Outdoor Panorama terrace

Restaurant Check - Paznaunerstube, Ischgl

Yesterday, Friday evening, I went to Ischgl to test one of Tyrols best restaurants - the Paznaunerstube in the luxurious Trofana Royal Hotel. As this was not the first time for me to dine at this traditional-styled restaurant, I knew what to expect. 

Honestly, after this visit, Mr. Sieberer made sure again that he is the best cook in Austria's most charming region - Tyrol! Not only was the taste of the food excellent, also the way it was served, was more then impressive! One course was served in a wooden box where smoke came out while serving, and the Foie Gras (an amuse-bouche) was simply put on a stone!

Although it is nearly impossible to cristallize the highlight of the evening, I would say it was the trolley with approximately 30 different kinds of Pralines. Heaven for all sweeties!

It was an unforgettable evening and I can highly recommend this excellent restaurant to all travelers going to Ischgl or West-Tyrol!

http://www.trofana-royal.at/en/gourmethotel-ischgl/paznaunerstube.html

Wonderfully decorated table

First Amuse Bouche - fresh cream cheese 

Second Amuse Bouche - Foie Gras on the rocks

Third Amuse Bouche - Bacon dumpling with lobster

Fouth Amuse Bouche - Salad of mushrooms

Fifth Amuse Bouche - Foam of mushrooms and truffle

First course - lobster meets tuna

Second course - warm carpaccio of veal and 24 hours cooked spare-rib

Third course - Passionfruit Sorbet

Fourth course - fillet of veal with asparagus and mashed potatoes

Fifth course - chocolate vulcano and vanilla ice with strawberries two-ways

Last but not least - An excellent coffee with housemade pralines!