Sacher Hotel

Sunday lunch at the Hotel Sacher : Vienna, AT

After walking around the Stadtpark and Karlsplatz, we headed over toward Stephansplatz and the center of town. As it was lunchtime, we decided to pop into the famed Hotel Sacher for lunch and Sachertorte. We sat outside, but I shot this one photo looking into the interior dining room. The Sachertorte was wunderbar! The photos below were taken using Instagram.

Table cloth at the Hotel Sacher : Vienna, AT

Hotel Sacher -- a Viennese instutiton : Vienna, AT

Veal schnitzel. Not nearly as good as pork. Should have gone to Herb's : Vienna, AT

Heaven on a plate -- Sachertorte mit Schlagobers : Vienna, AT

The Hotel Sacher is the exclusive maker and the only maker allowed to market its torte as "Original Sachertorte". Every year, the Hotel mails more than 250,000 of these wonderful cakes to homes and businesses all over the world. We bought one to take back to Christine and Hellmut as a thank you gift. I wish we'd bought one for us to bring home, but we knew we'd be on the road for at least another week and were afraid it might not keep. If you chance to visit Vienna, put the Café Sacher on your must-do list for coffee/tea and torte.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012

Busy Day

Eggs Benedict at Coastal Kitchen : 15th and Capitol Hill : Seattle, WA

Fresh fish : Pike Place Market : Seattle, WA

View of Downtown : Queen Anne Hill : Seattle, WA

Today was spent running around Seattle. It started on the north end with a trip to the post office and ended in downtown not far from Pike Place Market.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 2/12

Gourmet Farewell

The Golden Hour in the Vineyards above Perroy, CH

I recently started working with a new department at my job. One of our staff, a consultant from Washington, D.C., is leaving our team soon and we decided to have a dinner party for her. A member of our administrative staff is Chinese and her Swiss husband is a chef. The two of them teamed up and made the loveliest, tastiest meal. These are just a couple of pictures of the beautiful food that was served that evening.

The most amazing appetizers : Chef Daniel : Perroy, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/11

Tea Time!

Tea Time at the Tate : London, UK

Half way through our touristing, we had tea at the Tate Modern. We had the Earl Grey with scones, clotted cream, and raspberry jam. It was yummy!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/11

Real Brunch

Brunch at Au P'tit Bonheur : Chambesy, Geneva, CH

Believe it or not, that's real bacon and this is real brunch! It's hard to find a place for brunch in this area, but Maya found Au P'tit Bonheur through Glocals and et voilà! Eggs Benedict. If you live in the greater Geneva area, this is the place for a late breakfast on a sunny Sunday morning. Tres fantastique!

Note: The owners speak English, French, German, and Italian!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/11

Swiss Dream...

Swiss Chocolate Dream at the Hotel Oberland : Lauterbrunnen, CH

When we go to Lauterbrunnen, we like to stay at the Hotel Oberland. The owners, Mark and Ursula, and their staff, are lovely people and the food is outstanding! In fact, the best schnitzel I've ever had outside of Austria is to be had at the Hotel Oberland. This was our dessert one evening and boy, oh boy, was it YUMMY! The square cow on the chocolate on the right is the Hotel Oberland's logo.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/11

MEAT!

The smoker/oven where the meaty goodness is brought to fruition... : 

Český Krumlov, CZ

Mmmmm... Meat! : Český Krumlov, CZ

If you want to eat meat--and more specifically, pork--while you're on holiday, the Czech Republic is the place to go. And one of the best restaurants to satisfy the carnivore is in Krumlov at U Satlavske's. Excellent pork served on wooden plates. YUMMY!

U Satlavske : Český Krumlov, CZ

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/11

Bouillabaisse

The presentation of the fresh fish that went into our bouillabaisse :
Restaurant Michel : Marseille, FR

The entire point of the weekend in Marseille was to celebrate the birthday of Mr Martin Olson, the son of expat friends Sue Hill and Les Olson. Sue and Les kindly invited us to join them and friend Faith McLellan in what has become an annual ritual for Martin's birthday: bouillabaisse in Marseille. It's only a three hour train ride from Geneva on the TGV (bullet train), so we all made a weekend of it. If you live in or visit France, there are some dishes you just have to try and bouillabaisse is one of them. Otherwise known as fish soup, bouillabaisse acquires its best character and flavors from the local fish stock. This hearty soup is served with croutons and aioli and potatoes boiled in saffron. We ate at Restaurant Michel, which, according to Les, is the place for bouillabaisse in Marseille. This being my first time eating this cuisine, I don't about that; but I know this: it was mighty fine eats.

Plating the potatoes and fish that will accompany the bouillabaisse soup :
Restaurant Michel : Marseille, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/11

Marseille Confidential

Marseille Confidential : Marseille, FR

As mentioned yesterday, this past weekend featured a trip to France's second-largest city, Marseille. Located on the Côte d'Azur, this city and its surrounding metropolitan area is also France's oldest city. Marseille was founded in 600 B.C. by the Greeks as a trading port.

Jesus as Graffiti : Marseille, FR

Just a few photos from our first evening in town. Nothing too exciting or iconic in today's pictures. We arrived late in the afternoon and spent the early evening exploring the neighborhood around our hotel and eating meat-laden couscous at a fabulous Tunisian restaurant--La Kahena--near the waterfront.

Couscous at La Kahena, Marseille's most respected Tunisian restaurant : 

Buried under all of that meat are vegetables and couscous. The broth and soup in the bowls 

above were well-seasoned and added an additional layer of flavor to the entire mix. Yummy! : 

2 Rue République, Marseille, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/11

We Gather Together...

 We Gather Together... : Thanksgiving in France : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

Last night, my boss hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for nine American expats and 21 people of other nationalities. We had folks from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands, Russia, and the United Kingdom. The food was fabulous, but the company was the best part. We enjoyed the six culinary elements of Thanksgiving: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie, as well as offerings from around the world. It was an international smorgasbord and it was wonderful!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/10

Goodbye grey skies, hello blue...

Happy Days Diner : Versoix, CH

Before going to the turkey farm in Crozet on Saturday, we started the day with my boss, Faith, and friend Erik (Caffrey's human) at Happy Day's Diner in Versoix, CH. The diner claims to feature an American menu complete with such Americanisms as A&W Root Beer, real bacon and eggs, and fluffy pancakes. Maya and Faith had scrambled eggs and toast, Erik had a hamburger, and I tried the French toast. The food left a little bit to be desired, it was still fun and we've all said we'd go back every once in a while for breakfast. As with diners like this in the U.S., the best part of the establishment was, of course, the decor! To see a few color photos of this quirky little slice of Americana in Switzerland, go here.

Decor Americana : Happy Days Diner : Versoix, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/10

Mexican Food in Interlaken

Mexican food Swiss-style : El Azteca : Interlaken, CH

We left Lauterbrunnen and went down to Interlaken for lunch at a Mexican restaurant we'd read about. In our ongoing quest to find decent Mexican food in Switzerland, I've eaten at six Mexican restaurants in this alpine country. They rank thusly for me (out of five stars):

1. La Fonda, Schneidergasse, Basel ★★★★
2. Tres Amigos, Stadthausstrasse, Winterthur ★★★1/2
3. El Azteca, Jungfraustrasse, Interlaken ★★★
4. La Diligence, Chantepoulet, Geneva ★1/2
5. Fiesta Mexicana, Balexert, Geneva ★
6. Mañana, Cornavin, Geneva -10 ★. Dog food tastes better!

El Azteca is attached to the Hotel Blume on the Jungfraustrasse. It wasn't too shabby.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/10

Mürren

Typical Swiss chalet : Mürren, CH

As mentioned previously, we stopped off in Mürren to walk around this storied village, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy the sunset. We started with a little snack at the Hotel Edelweiss and had hoped to eat at a larger restaurant we noted at the entrance of the village (I can't remember the name now.) It was recently featured by Rick Steves or Anthony Bourdain or someone equally fame-inducing. Unfortunately, they were fully booked up. Fortunately, we made the telecabine back to Stechelberg with only minutes to spare and instead enjoyed a lovely schnitzel dinner in the restaurant at the hotel/chalet where we were staying in Lauterbrunnen. More photos here.

Simple alpine repast: bread, sliced meats and cheeses, gerkins and onions : Mürren, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

The Jam Witch of Bergheim

Bergheim's version of a jam fairy can be found behind the doors of
Confitures Artisanales : Bergheim, FR

In contrast to the Jam Fairy of Niedermorschwihr is the Jam Fairy of Bergheim. Bergheim's version makes jam out of everything. And I mean, everything. There was jam made from wine (good with fois gras), fruit, vegetables, flowers, roots, berries. You name it, she's jammed it. If you venture to Bergheim, look for Confitures Artisanales near the Hotel de Ville. You'll be in for a treat!

On the far right, Bergheim's version of Christine Ferber--
Madame Gabrielle Hegeunauer : Bergheim, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Christine Ferber - The Jam Fairy of France

 The overhanging sign announces the location of France's Jam Fairy, Christine Ferber : Niedermorschwihr, FR

For those who know jam and France, you know that Christine Ferber is the goddess of confiture. Rachel, who shares our love of good food, knew all about Christine and, as we were going to the Alsace, asked if we could go to Niedermorschwihr to check out her offerings. I like a good jar of jam and I like the Alsace, so what the heck! Turns out Madame Ferber's jams are, indeed, quite tasty.



Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Raclette au le Refuge de Florimont

Raclette au de Refuge de Florimont : Gex, FR

Maya's friend Rachel has been in town and the other night we took her for the cheesy, gooey goodness that is raclette. This is definitely one of those not-good-for-you, but oh-so-good alpine dishes that is great on a cold, stormy evening. We had the perfect, yucky weather for just such a meal. Based on the recommendation of a friend, we went to Le Refuge de Florimont, which is half way between the towns of Gex and Col de la Faucille on the side of the Jura mountains.

Cornichon and smoked meats, along with steamed potatoes, 

are served with raclette : Gex, FR

We also shared a Gexiflette--a variation on the region dish tartiflette. This particular 'flette feature bleu du Gex--a local blue cheese. Think scalloped potatoes on steroids and without the bechamel sauce. Also very unhealthy, but very yummy.

Gexiflette--a variation on tartiflette, a regional dish of the Haute Savoie : Gex, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Dinner

Decent cut of steak : Aboard the CGN Savoie : Lake Geneva, CH

One of my ongoing complaints quests is to find good beef in Europe without going broke. So far, the only decent beef I've had was either imported from Argentina or was had at Soupçon, a restaurant in Geneva. The menu for the dinner cruise on the CGN Savoie offered a New York sirloin, rather than the traditional l'entrecôte cut that is so common over here. (Eating the sole of shoe is often tastier and more tender than eating l'entrecôte. But I digress.) Having noted an American cut of steak on the menu, I figured what the heck. It wasn't too bad, but it also wasn't great.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Tres Amigos

Old and new together : Tres Amigos : Winterthur, CH

One of the things I love about Europe is how they keep elements of an old, historic building but add a modern utilization. Case in point, the Mexican restaurant Tres Amigos in Winterthur, Switzerland. In our ongoing quest to find good Mexican food in the center of Europe, Tres Amigos ranks up there as one of the better ones. My favorite is in Basel. The worst--three of them--are in Geneva.

Beautiful stained glass skylight at Tres Amigos : Winterthur, CH

Note to Krissy: There's a Tres Amigos in Chur.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

Salsa!

I enjoy cooking and trying different combinations of foods. This is a photo of some pineapple-kiwi salsa I made recently for a party. It was also the first time I hollowed out a pineapple to be the dish for the salsa.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/10

Now Serving...

Co-exist : Vienna, VA

Arrived in the D.C.-area on Memorial Day and promptly began running errands--doctors' appointments, house inspection, visiting with friends and family, etc. My sister was kind enough to let me use her car while I was in town. As thanks for her generosity, I took it and had it washed and cleaned. The car wash was next to a McDonald's and I was amused by the sign next to the iconic Golden Arches. Perhaps it is possible for polar opposites to co-exist?

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/10