Passione Rossa, a small family owned restaurant set in a former potato storage shed within the Romantik Hotel BollAnt’s im Park near Frankfurt, was a gourmet surprise. The first hint of the pleasant and tasty meal that awaited us was the friendly welcome we received on our arrival at the restaurant on a quiet winter Sunday.
The refined and delicate dishes we were served contrasted with the old farm setting.
After driving for several hours through rain and some snow covered roads hoping to find sunny shores, we arrived at the Residenz am See, a small family owned and run hotel facing Lake Constance. It was a gray and rainy Friday afternoon and our spirits drooped when we discovered the sunshine we had hoped would arrive was absent. During our stay we caught brief glimpses of blue skies and the sun and thanks to our pleasant accommodations and welcoming staff made the best of the winter weather. As part of our check in process two of the hotel staff explained our options, answered questions and accompanied us to our penthouse suite.
A two and a half hour drive from Meersburg found us at the reception desk of the Hotel Sackmann. A friendly young lady responded kindly to my greeting. When I asked in my broken German if she spoke English she smiled and helped us complete the check in process in English. During our self drive German trip and while at the Hotel Sackmann we encountered that attitude many times. It made us feel welcome.
Named Tschifflik, meaning small palace in Turkish, for the former property built on the grounds by the Polish king who had it constructed it, this small restaurant was the most sophisticated of several attractive places to entertain the palate at the Romantik Hotel Landschloss Fasanerie. Everywhere we ate during our two-night stay at this woodside hotel was a delight. From the breakfast buffet to the hotels’ Mediterranean (Restaurant Orangerie) and regional (Restaurant Landhaus) restaurants every meal was a success.
Perched midway up New Zealand’s North Island on a narrow isthmus of rolling hills between two major bodies of water, Auckland is a city resolutely focused on the sea. On its eastern coast, the Hauraki Gulf leads to the South Pacific Ocean, while its western side overlooks the Tasman Sea. This privileged seaside location has fostered in Aucklanders a long-standing love affair with the sea.
Once again lunch at Restaurant Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée at the prestigious Plaza Athénée Hotel in Paris was outstanding. Although the last time we were there the food was excellent this time it was even better. The popular restaurant named for the famous French chef remains in the top tier of gourmet dining. An elegant dining room, sophisticated ambiance, very good service, and marvelous contemporary French food allowed to enjoy a noteworthy experience.