Greetings from Merano

I am just sitting in the living room of our sumptuous Suite overlooking the serene thermal town Merano in wonderful South Tyrol - my favorite destination for a short weekend getaway. This time I am on the way with Mr. Food Executive and we have been generously invited by the Relais&Chateaux Hotel Castel Fragsburg. This is the latest addition to the few South Tyrolean 5-star hotels and also the smallest luxury establishment of the Alps, with only 20-rooms. 

Yesterday we have been at the world famous Merano Wine Festival 2014 and of course we had lots of excellent Italian wine. The good thing about this event is, that only the best wineries can exhibit in the Art Deco Kurhaus, the main venue of the Festival. The bad thing is, that the entry fee is 90.00 Euros per person excluding the fee for a glass which is another 10 euros. Well, after spending 100 euros you are allowed to drink as much wine as you can and of course you can eat as much as you can in the Gourmet Arena - for that offer it's more likely to be a fair price. 

So how did we start? First we tried Champagne (Laurent Perrier and G.H. Mumm were some of our first wines we had), followed by several Rose sparkling and Ca'del Bosco's best Franciacorta wines (the Italian synonyme for Champagne - forget Prosecco). Of course we went to our top favorite wineries only, otherwise you end up drunk before even tested the white, red and sweet wines, nor Grappa or limoncello. 

So we went further and visited Irene from Felsina, our friends from Capannelle (who might invite us at their luxury B&B in Gaiole soon :-) ), the Baracchi stand with its excellent wines, our Instagram colleagues of Il Borro (a Relais&Chateaux property owned by Mr. Ferragamo - the Designer), as well as the stand of Castello Banfi - a world class 5-star property near Montalcino. Of course we tried some Ornellaia, excellent Argentinian and Georgian wines, as well as the best of every region in Italy. 

At around 4.30 we left the Kurhaus to get back to the our heavenly base - the Castel Fragsburg. Before we dressed up for dinner, we went to the Spa to have an hour of relaxation. They have a very nice wellness area with two saunas, steam bath and a relaxation room overlooking the valley and Merano. 

48 Hours at the Hyatt Regency Palais Mediterranee

First of all I would like to apologize for writing a review of this hotel so late! The truth is that I wanted to wait for the really cold times, like we have it actually in Austria, and to motivate you to immediately look for your next summer getaway!

So, why should you stay in Nice during your holidays on the Côte d'Azur? This question came up to my mind when planning my summer trip for 2014. I mean it is the fifth biggest city in France, and by far the most enchanting big city I have ever been (AND even lived at - after Prague of course ;) - even though it was for 2 weeks only). After I returned from my two-week language trip, I had one week holidays at home before I started my summer journey. That's why I promised myself that when I return, I want to return in style.

So did I and checked in at the Hyatt Regency Palais Mediterranee, formerly a Concorde Property, now a Hyatt managed hotel. The arrival went smooth and we found the hotel immediately as one of the most prestigious buildings on the whole coastal part of Nice. Upon check-in I was greeted so friendly by the Marketing/PR Manager - Floriane. She organized an impressive, bright and large room (situated in the highest floors) overlooking the whole town of Nice. The design of the hotel did not meet my personal likes but was perfect in combination with the facade and the overall interiors. 

At the room, I recognized that the room also offers a huge terrace and lots of space for my luggage - a BIG PLUS! Also the bathroom was very generous with separate shower and tub, while the toilet was situated in a separated as well. They changed their bathroom amenities from Annick Goutal to the typical Hyatt Regency Portico amenities. I was kind of disappointed when I had to register this change, but Floriane left no stone unturned and looked for the last Annick Goutal products in the whole hotel. AND upon returning from my day trip to Saint-Paul-de-Vence, plenty of Shampoo, Conditioner and Shower Gel was put in the bathroom. Isn't that perfect service? For me this is what makes a luxury hotel.

The beds were extremely comfortable and also the pool area is quite cool, although I felt a bit disturbed by an ongoing party on the restaurant terrace, which is also the huge atrium where the outdoor pool and the bar is situated. No problem at all for me: I just used the indoor area of the pool and could relax after such a stressful day. The Hyatt Regency Nice has also a collaboration with the beach club in front of the hotel and I guess the rates vary around 20 euros per day/lounge chair, which is quite alright for the French Riviera. 

Unfortunately I did not have breakfast included, so I went to various cafés in the pedestrian area around the hotel. There is a very nice Illy Bar and an excellent Italian Restaurant in the pedestrian area next to the Le Meridien Hotel.

All in all I enjoyed my stay at this luxurious Hyatt Regency property and can warmly recommend this hotel to every traveler who plans to stay in Nice during a round trip on the Côte d'Azur. 

Thank you very much to the Hyatt Regency Palais Mediterranee Nice for providing a special price and for the upgrade. Our above written review is our personal opinion and hasn't been influenced.

Hauben Genuss ohne Hauben?

Es ist Herbst in Österreich hat es wiedermal geschneit und die ersten Hotels machen sich für die Wintersaison bereit. Doch es gibt noch was, für was sich die letzten Oktober Wochen auszeichnen: Nämlich die Veröffentlichung des neuesten Gault & Millau Restaurantführer. Ich dachte mir ich nutze die letzten Tage der Saison und reise ins Kleinwalsertal. Ich muss zugeben, dass ich schon mehrmals das Vergnügen hatte in diesem Tal, welches nur über Deutschland zu erreichen ist, zu Speisen. Damals dachte ich mir, je mehr Hauben desto besser. Eigentlich eine logische Schlussfolgerung denn laut Gault Millau sind die, die am meisten Hauben haben, die besten Restaurants. Aber wenn bei einem Restaurant mit 13 Punkten und einer Haube das Süßkartoffelpüree zum Saibling Filet komplett kalt serviert wird bzw. das Kobe-Rindscarpaccio völlig überwürzt ist hat das meiner Meinung nach nichts mit Hauben und der gleichen zu tun.

Deshalb traute ich mich in ein Restaurant zu gehen, ohne Hauben oder Stern, empfohlen von dem Vermieter meiner Ferienwohnung.  Das Sonnenstüble im Hotel Birkenhöhe eröffnete 2009. Mit ca. 34 Sitzplätzen im abgetrennten Teil des Hotelspeisesaals unter der Führung von Bärbel und Matthias Bantel werden hier bis zu 8 Gänge Serviert.

Ich entschied mich für das Herbstmenü mit 4 Gängen für insgesamt 70€.

Haben Sie schon einmal in einem Nicht-Hauben-Restaurant gleich zwei Amuse Bouche serviert bekommen? Ich habe in benachbarten Restaurants im gleichem Tal mit bis zu 2 Hauben nicht mal einen Gruß aus der Küche aufgetischt bekommen. Angenehm überrascht vom Wassermelonen Cocktail und der sehr gut abgeschmeckten Ravioli, dessen Füllung ich leider nicht identifizieren konnte, wurde der erste Gang Serviert.

Auf der Karte Stand: Ei. Ich dachte mir das wird nicht schon nicht so schlecht sein. Auf dem Teller landete ein gefülltes Ei, Bergschinken vom Biobauern, ein pochiertes Ei, Kartoffelsalat und Pfifferlingen. Ein guter Einstand in einen schönen Abend.

Als zweites gönnte wurde mir das Beef Tatar an den Tisch gebracht. Leider war die Portion ein bisschen zu groß aber vom Geschmack gut abgestimmt und toll auf einer Schieferplatte angerichtet.

Zum Hauptgang wurde mir ein österreichischer Spitzenwein empfohlen.  Der "Heribert Bayer In Signo Leonis 2009" aus dem Mittelburgenland korrespondierte hervorragend zum Kürenwald Reh. Abgerundet wurde der Hauptgang durch den kleinen Topfenknödel.

Das Dessert konnte ich leider nur noch halb genießen, weil schlichtweg die Portionen zu riesig waren. Aber trotzdem probierte ich die neue Art der Bayrischen Creme die wieder auf der Schieferplatte angerichtet wurde. Das Gericht passte zu dem ganzen Abend: Richtig gut aber zu viel.

Alles in einem wurden meinen Erwartungen die ehrlich gesagt nicht hoch waren aufgrund der nicht vorhanden Auszeichnungen mehr als Übertroffen.

Der Abend wurde schließlich in der neuen Hotelbar mit einem Glas Wein vom Koch abgeschlossen. Um es in den Worten vom Michelin zu sagen: Das Sonnenstüble im Hotel Birkenhöhe ist eine Reise wert.

written by:

Felix Bantel - Food Executive

Präsentation Ornellaia 2011

Meine Reise als Food Blogger begann mit einer Einladung des Ornelleia Weinguts aus Italien. Im Mai war es wieder so weit der Jahrgang 2011 wurde vorgestellt. Es war nicht wie ein großer „Apple Product Launch“ mit vielen Tausend Gästen in einer riesigen Halle sondern im exklusiven und bekannten Bayerischen Hof in München- auf dem erst vor kurzem renovierten Dachgeschoss. Eingeladen waren höchstens 50 Leute die sich alle gut mit Essen und noch VIEL besser mit Wein auskannten.

Zum Aperitif gab es Roederrer 2006 Jahrgangschampagner dazu servierte der Oberkellner kleine Häppchen mit Forellenmousse mit ausgezeichnetem Geschmack.

Als Vorspeise begeisterte mich das Thunfischsashimi welches mit einer feinen Kruste aus schwarzem und weißem Sesam hervorragend abgeschmeckt war.

Der Zwischengang zeichnete sich durch das perfekt geschmorrte Kalbsbäckchen aus. Die Kartoffel-Blutwurstroulade war leider nicht mein Fall das ist jedoch Geschmackssache. Die zweite Komponente des Zwischengangs war das Pochierte Kalbsfilet mit Charlottemousse und Bohnenkernen dies traf genau meinen Geschmack!

Der Hauptgang führte uns wieder in das Ursprungsland des Weingutes, Italien: Das Bistecca alla Florentina vom Chiamina Rind mit Gemüse Gratin und Rosmarinkartoffeln entsprach leider nicht ganz meinen hohen Ansprüchen. Das Fleisch war leider ein bisschen zu Zäh und die Rosmarinkartoffeln schmeckten nicht wirklich nach dem Italienisch Kraut.

Aber was einem immer in Erinnerung bleibt ist das Dessert. Von Creme Brulée bis hin zur feinsten italienischen Käseauswahl war alles dabei. Mein Favorit an dieser Extraordinarien gut schmeckenden Variation war das Schokomousse! Simple but delicous!  

written by:

Felix Bantel - Food Executive

48 Hours at the Byblos Saint-Tropez

Some people describe it as legendary, some as an institution. After my unforgettable stay I agree with both and conclude it as a one-of-a-kind experience - and finally it was the absolute highlight of my summer holidays! A real Leading Hotel of the World as it should be!

Saint Tropez, the capital of jetset has of course many many luxury hotels on relatively small space. I was always seeking to stay at the new Sezz or the Muse, both near Ramatuelle, and far from the old town of Saint Tropez. Due to the fact that I only had two nights to discover Saint Tropez, I knew I had to find an alternative. I wanted to go to the beach by hotel shuttle during the day and visit the town at night. So the only option was to look for a hotel in the centre. Therefore I came across the Byblos and I never regret this decision during my stay.

From the kind first "Bonjour" at the entrance, the experience continued by a very kind and smooth check-in by the so kind Barbara at the front desk. As they know how to manage a world class hotel, they upgraded me to a breath-taking Two Bedroom Seaview Suite and continued with treating me like royalty by serving a bottle of Rosé Byblos and homemade sweets - I was overwhelmed!

The style is typical for this part of the Cote d'Azur and I can assure that the Byblos is 100 per cent Saint Tropez, no minimalistic design nor unprofessional staff members. Of course the main highlight of the day was my Suite with a balcony overloooking whole Saint Tropez, the pool and the Mediterranean Sea of course. Upstairs there was another bedroom with twin beds, en-suite bathroom with shower and a completely new Samsung LED-TV with the function to connect your mobile device. On the main floor of this Deluxe Suite, a large living room with writing desk was connected by a sliding door to a master bedroom with oversized King abed and en-suite bathroom and double basins. The only toilet was situated next to the entrance of the Suite.

The concierge was extraordinary and reserved a table at a fabulous new Retaurant called "Le G" and made it possible to get sunbeds on Club 55, without having lunch there (Normally impossible during the high season)! The shuttle goes to every beach you want to go and whenever you want to go. When we arrived at Club 55 we were given one beach bag each with two towels, provided by the driver of the Byblos.

The breakfast comes with a picturesque terrace, perfect service and pool views. The buffet is well selected with high quality products and the best: it is served until 12 noon! That's amazing, isn't it? And welcomed as well, after a typical Tropezian night in one of the world renowned clubs. Unfortunately the glamorous Le Caves du Roy was not open on weekdays so we could not attend one of the dazzling party nights there. Instead we enjoyed a late-night dinner on the harbor in a very chic restaurant, followed by a drink on the terrace of Byblos' B-Bar. 

Finally, the Byblos is simply a gorgeous place. I love this hotel and will return there again soon.

We would like to thank the Byblos Hotel Saint Tropez and Groupe Floirat for the generous special offer and the amazing suite upgrade.

72 Hours at the Hotel Il Pellicano

First of all I have to admit: the Il Pellicano is on every luxury taveler's top list. So of course I had certain (high) expectations and of course I was preparing myself for the stay by reading some reviews of recent guests on tripadvisor. Due to the fact that a very bad review of 2014 showed up, I immediately contacted the hotel not to get a room in a cottage. 

As mentioned on the previous post, we were staying in the luxurious, yet more romantic, Il Salviatino above the majestic city Florence - by the way my favourite place in Italy! After a two hours drive through the Chianti and Maremma regions we finally ended up driving a winding country road from the unspectacular Porto Ercole to the amazingly located Il Pellicano. The iron gates opened and we entered a very different world. A very nice lady greeted us, checked us in and offered a glass of ice tea. After a few minutes, one golf cart finally arrived and brought us to our cottage (Right, I did NOT get a room in the main building!!!). 

The room was really really small for a beach resort and also very dark. The only highlight of our room itself was the very huge garden and the half meters of sea view. Inside the bathroom, the smallest and narrowest I have experienced all summer long (where I mainly stayed at Leading Hotels) there was a shower without any glass door nor a curtain. It might look nice but after using it, the whole floor was under water and the toilet was full of water, too! The bathroom toiletries were quite nice, but remember more like medicine than a fresh summer breeze. Also the wardrobe made a very used impression and did not invite us to put our things inside. I would have wished to find a welcome present like a wine or something like that. 

We really appreciated the fact that all soft drinks and snacks from the minibar were free of charge, they refilled it every day and the products were of high quality and very generously filled. They have excellent lemonades, chips, nuts and chocolate. I also feel that the housekeeping does a good job and they are very correct, towels and amenities have been replaced twice a day. We had also a loggia next to the garden with two chairs and a table as well as two sun beds in the garden. We were really spoilt by the excellent beds of Il Salviatino, so we did not like the pillows and the sheets of Il Pellicano. In my opinion they should offer a pillow menu or duvet sheets!

On the first morning we all got surprised when we wanted to have breakfast. The whole terrace was full and we had to wait 15 minutes. It was no problem at all because they served capuccino and we could have had the possibility to eat inside. Personally, the buffet was of high quality (except the Mozzarella), the omlettes excellent and the service very kind and attentive. 

After breakfast we were ready to discover the resort and its facilities. One highlight was the beach with complimentary refreshments twice a day and excellent cocktails. The sun beds are quite comfortable and the staff was also very helpful. When we experienced that the entrance to the beach costs 95 Euros per Person for non-hotel guests we were quite shoked. If you think that the most famous beach in Europe, the Monte Carlo Beach, charges 100 Euros per Person/Day, then you might know that this hotel is likely to overcharge you.

When the sun was gone, we visited the pool. They have a generously sized salt water pool with breath-taking views of the Mediterranean Sea. They have towel service and lifeguards as well. In addition to these facilities we tried the hairdresser in the Spa. He was very efficient, but again 50 Euros for just 30 minutes is simply overpriced. The gym is on the small side but therefore equiptment is by TechnoGym.

We also had dinner in the PelliGrill Restaurant one day. The experience was very good and the food delicious as it should be for this kind of restaurant. We had a very special wine from Giglio in addition to excellent Octopus Salad and Lemon Risotto. The service could have been a bit more attentive but otherwise this experience was worth its price. When we did not dine in the hotel we got excellent restaurant recommendations by Alessia (She was wonderful and so kind, like the lady who spoke German - sorry for forgetting the name)!

In fact it is a elegant seaside hotel with an elderly aged clientele and high prices but high class service, well maintained rooms and suites as well as a excellent location for everyone seeking for nature and remoteness. Don't expect Porto Ercole to be like Portofino - it is a silent place.

I can rate this hotel with only 7,5 points out of 10 because I find it very rude, not to accept guest requests and furthermore it is inexcusable to offer such a room for a standard rate of 790 Euros per night in high season.

We would like to thank Kiwi Collection (kiwicollection.com) for providing us with such a special price. The Hotel Il Pellicano has not sponsored this review in any way. Our above written review is our personal opinion and hasn't been influenced.

24 hours @ Il Salviatino

                       

As a short stop between Innsbruck and Porto Ercole (Il Pellicano) we stayed in the luxurious five-star-hotel "Il Salviatino" in Florence, Italy.

Upon arrival we were already expected with a friendly smile and a delicious rosé sparkling wine. Due to the fact that the rooms weren't ready yet, the kind front desk employee accomapnied us to the terrace and explained us some facts about the city Florence.  

After we came back from the sightseeing-tour we were shown to our rooms, wich were quite beautiful and very generous. The only downsite has beed the very used floor in the shower, but otherwise the bathroom was quite beautiful with an old English basin, fresh flowers, seperated toilet and bidet, walk-in shower with rainshower head. The best part were the heavenly twin beds and the high-definition TV wich is built into the mirror with a big choice of international channels. When we experienced that they also offer free shoe shine service, we tried it out and after only two hours all three pairs were proper. 

Due to the fact that we expected three large pools we were kind of disappointed when we arrived at the pool area and recognized that it also could be one average pool. The view is also not that spectacular but therefore it is really silent and the pool service was attentive, too. Afterwards we wanted to visit the spa. The kind lady showed us one Spa Suite, which looked really generous with a free standing tub, a shiatsu bed and two massage beds as well as a changing area with steam bath. They also offer a fine selection of Men Treatments. 

Another highlight was the beautiful garden infront of the hotel. It was romantically designed with rose trees, other flowers and two fountains. In the evening they lit up the alley to the hotel with white candels.

A perfect place for a honeymoon or a romantic holiday for just the two of you!

Our stay at the Il Salvuatino was not sponsored. We came up to the whole expenses by ourselfs.

Our above written review is our personal opinion and hasn't been influenced.

written by:

Lukas Spendler - Beverage Executive