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Another wonderful evening at Osteria da Gino’s in Nagold…

My husband’s mother, Parker, just flew from San Antonio, Texas to Germany to see us for the first time since we moved back here in 2014.  Parker is a wonderful person and I’ve missed having easy access to her.  We came to Stuttgart from San Antonio and she used to come to our house all the time to spend the night or have dinner.

We spent yesterday morning driving to and from Frankfurt to collect her at the big airport.  Then, having arrived home at about 3:15pm, Bill picked up our stylin’ new glasses from the optical shop in Nagold.  I’m pretty pleased with our badly needed new spectacles, although I don’t like wearing glasses as a rule.

Last night, we went to see Gino at Osteria da Gino in Nagold (not to be confused with the one in Herrenberg).  As many places as we’ve dined since we came back to Germany, I think Gino’s is probably my favorite.  He and his wife greet us like family.  In fact, when Bill called for a much needed reservation a few days ago, Gino’s wife immediately recognized the name and gave him a very warm greeting.  They are truly wonderful hosts.

I have reviewed Gino’s restaurant plenty of times in this blog.  I have never been disappointed on any visits there, even though Gino’s style is different than most anywhere else we’ve been.  For one thing, I have never once been offered a menu at Gino’s place.  He or his chef just comes over and asks you if you want each course.  The antipasti is usually pretty much the same thing.  An orange and fennel salad, grilled vegetables, sliced cheeses and sausages, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes, and bread.  But then he’ll bring out pasta and that course often varies.  Then we’ll have fish or meat and we never know what that will turn out to be.  We’ve had everything from filet mignon to osso bucco.  Finally, dinner is capped off with dessert, which is usually a platter of different things… or maybe tiramisu.  You just never know.  One thing you will never be served is pizza.

Anyway, here are some photos from last night’s food extravaganza.  Gino had a full house last night– 26 people in his tiny dining room.  It had the ambiance of a good party, with everyone sharing a table and a good time.

I took a few photos of Nagold, which is now beautifully decorated for the holidays.  If you haven’t visited this cute little town, you should come by and see it.  It’s super quaint and adorable and there are a lot of nice restaurants there.  

 

We had to keep our tour of Nagold brief, since Parker didn’t bring a heavy coat with her.  She said it’s about 80 degrees in San Antonio right now.  I would be surprised if she owns a heavy coat.  As soon as we walked into Gino’s restaurant, he turned around and tried to place us in his mind.  It’s been too long since our last visit.  His adorable wife remembered us immediately.  Gino doesn’t speak English, but that doesn’t matter.  He has such a big personality that it’s easy to be friends with him.

We were seated with a party of five at a long table.  Lots of people were enjoying Gino’s hospitality last night.  I don’t think I have ever seen his dining room when it wasn’t full.

Obligatory shot of Bill…

and his lovely mom, Parker.  Now both of our mothers have visited Gino!

We started with a lovely bottle of Primitivo.  We actually had a bottle, which was kind of a switch.  Usually, Gino brings us little carafes and I don’t know what I’m drinking.  I enjoyed this wine enough to look for it next time I’m shopping.  It was very pleasing.  Incidentally, we didn’t specifically order this.  They suggested a Primitivo and we said that was good.  This is what they brought us.

The four above shots are of the antipasto.  We had the orange and fennel salad with olives, fresh sausages and cheese, mozzarella and tomatoes, and grilled vegetables.  I am always pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy the way Gino’s chef grills the veggies.  They are delicious.

Next, we had a pasta course.  Bill and Parker had their spaghetti Parmesan with truffles.  I had mine plain, sprinkled with just a little ground pepper.  Although his restaurant is too small to witness this in the dining room, Gino’s hardworking culinary crew makes this dish in a big wheel of cheese.  Bill watched them preparing it as he passed the kitchen.

Next, the main course.  We all had filet mignon, cooked medium rare and topped with rosemary, with roasted potatoes and sauteed spinach.  I noticed a couple of ladies having zander filet, which was the fish option last night.  One man had what appeared to be shrimp.  If Gino offers you something that doesn’t appeal, chances are excellent that he’ll have something you’ll love.  We enjoy letting him take the wheel, though.  He has never disappointed us.

And finally, dessert.  This was just enough because we were a bit full.  Parker and I were going to have espresso, but I think they forgot to bring it.  By the time we were finished with dinner, it was time to go home and sleep.  

The bill for this lovely meal was just under 300 euros.  We usually spend in the neighborhood of 160 to 175 euros when it’s just Bill and me.  But then, we also always get four courses, which you certainly don’t have to do.  We saw at least one couple having two courses.  They were the first and only ones to leave for a couple of hours.  Most people who dine at Gino’s seem to go for the whole program.  Fortunately, you can pay by credit card.

As I mentioned before, Gino’s food is usually fantastic.  But what I love the most about his restaurant is that it’s unlike any of the others in the area.  Every time we go there, it feels like we’ve been invited to a great party.  More than once, we’ve met new people there and even made new friends.  And Gino and his wife are just wonderful, warm hosts who make us feel at home.  I love bringing friends and family to this place.  As usual, I warmly recommend Osteria da Gino in Nagold if you ever have the chance to visit.  Just don’t go on Sunday and don’t go there looking for pizza.

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New glasses and lunch #2 at Il Due in Nagold…

A couple of days ago, Bill and I went to the optometry clinic on Patch Barracks.  We both badly needed to get our eyes checked.  It had been about three years for both of us and I knew my prescription had changed noticeably.  So we went in and had a good exam, which I wrote about here.

Today, we decided to take advantage of the American/non German holiday and visit a optical shop.  We went to Nagold, because there are several eyewear shops there.  We stopped into Pro Optik, which is clearly a chain, and picked out frames.  We happened to be there during a sale, which was a good thing.  I found frames that I think/hope will be more comfortable than the ones I have now.

The guy who helped us was really young and spoke a little English… his English was better than our German.  Using both languages, we got the job done.  He got us set up for glasses and we gave him a short lesson on American politics.  Like most every German we run into, he was interested in our thoughts on Trump and Clinton.  He even laughed and said, “Fuck Trump.”, which I thought was interesting.  In America, if you heard someone helping you in an eyewear store saying that, they’d probably get fired!

After about a half an hour or so, he had our fittings done and said we’d have new glasses by December 8th.  We’ll be out of town if that’s when they get to us, but at least I have the right contact lens for my right eye, which needed a stronger prescription.  I can see a whole lot better now.  I think our two pairs of glasses will cost approximately five hundred euros together.  I’ll be glad to ditch the ones I’ve been wearing and it’ll be nice to see Bill in a pair that weren’t issued by the Army.

I very rarely wear glasses, so I have never really shopped for them very often.  Today, after realizing that we don’t speak German, the sales staff kind of left us to our own devices to pick out frames.  It was kind of nice.  Usually, I get some lady in the optometrist’s office trying to get me to upgrade.  I remember in 2002, I bought new glasses and got the kind that turn into sunglasses.  They were very expensive and ultimately a waste of money, since I rarely wear my glasses out of the house.  Last time, I bought a pair in Georgia.  They were on sale and look okay, but they aren’t very comfortable.  I think the new pair is a little more comfortable and more my style.  I probably still won’t wear them much, though.

After we ordered our glasses, we decided to have lunch at Il Due, which is an Italian place we tried for the first time last month.  I’ll be honest.  I wasn’t planning on having lunch in Nagold, but the smell outside of Il Due was so good that I was lured in.  Bill was game, too.

Today, we opted for some traditional Italian.  They had lasagne as a special.  After finding out there were no mushrooms in it, I ordered that.  It came with a side salad.  Bill had a Pizza Salami.

My side salad.  They have a few varieties of dressings available.  I went with a vinaigrette.  

Bill’s pizza was outstanding!  We will have to come back and get take out from there.  It was probably some of the best locally made pizza I’ve had yet.

And my lasagne, which was delightfully cheesy and included peas and meat sauce.  It was a little bland, but otherwise very enjoyable and filling.  I couldn’t quite finish it.

As we were enjoying lunch, we were marveling at how many nice restaurants we have in Nagold.  Seriously… for its size, it really does offer a great variety of high quality eateries.  I think I like it more than even Tuebingen.  We had half of Bill’s pizza packed up and paid about 33 euros before tip for our lunch.  Tonight, I think we’re having pork loin at home.  I’d like to have a Thanksgiving meal, but it’s just the two of us.  That’s one bummer about being in Germany during the holidays.  But at least there are good restaurants here.

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Insane 15th anniversary celebration at the Alte Post in Nagold!

Edited to add: Alte Post has sadly closed.

Yesterday, Bill and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary.  Although last year, we went on vacation to Ireland for about ten days, this year we needed to stay in town because Bill is still earning time off from his new job.  At the very least, it’s always been our habit to go out to dinner on our anniversary.  We’ve enjoyed some wonderful anniversary meals over the last fifteen years.  However, last night’s glorious repast will definitely be a tough act to follow!

Initially, we considered finding a really nice restaurant in Stuttgart, like we did two years ago.  In 2015, we tried the “surprise menu” at Five.  As cool as that restaurant is, I think Bill and I have determined that we don’t always like surprise menu concepts, mainly because there are a few things I can’t abide, like truffles and mushrooms.  Also, the prospect of driving all the way from the edge of the Black Forest to Stuttgart was unappealing to both of us, since Bill is working today.  After trying and failing to find the right place to eat, I finally said, “Why don’t we go to the Alte Post’s gourmet restaurant again?”

I have written about Nagold’s Alte Post a few times.  This beautiful former hotel is now split into two restaurants.  There’s the more casual and less expensive Luz Bistro & Bar, which is on the first floor and open daily (except Sundays and Mondays) for lunch and dinner, and then there’s the more formal and expensive Alte Post Restaurant on the second floor.

Bill and I eat at Luz Bistro somewhat regularly, and you’ll find many posts about those experiences in this blog.  Last night was only our second time in the gourmet restaurant, Alte Post, which takes eating to a whole new level.  The Alte Post gourmet restaurant is only open Wednesday through Saturday nights from 6:30pm until 11:00pm.  The “deadline” for coming in for dinner is at 8:30pm, although I recommend making a reservation rather than just walking in.

We tried Alte Post’s gourmet restaurant for the first time in March of 2017 and had some very interesting and expensive new food experiences.  I really broke some boundaries on that visit and was eager to try it again.  I am so glad I did.  Although we dropped a large load of euros on our anniversary dinner, it was money well spent.  Every course was positively orgasmic and I say that as someone who can be picky and isn’t necessarily impressed by culinary gimmicks.

We only live about four miles from Nagold, so getting there is usually easy.  However, last night there was a very bad accident on B28, which is the road that usually takes us to Nagold.  We were met by the police, who directed us to detour.  We drove back through our town and went via Mötzingen, a little village adjacent to Jettingen that we usually only see when we’re being forced to detour.  Even after the detour, we arrived about fifteen minutes ahead of our reservation time of 7:00.

Although there was a function going on in another private dining room in the restaurant, we were the first of two couples to arrive for last night’s multi-course extravaganza!  Yes, that’s right… one of the lovely things about Alte Post’s gourmet restaurant is that your table will be relatively private.  There’s one dining room with a large table in it and the smaller room with four tables set for two.  Only two of the four were used last night, so you get plenty of room to spread out and enjoy.

We were personally attended to by Marina Hentsch, who along with star Chef Stefan Beiter, runs the whole operation.  Every time we’ve visited the restaurant, we’ve seen her waiting tables or otherwise attending to guests.  Besides providing stellar front of the house service, she is also a wine expert (sommelier).  Thankfully, Hentsch does speak some English (and French, apparently), though she claims her English isn’t good.  We found her very charming as she seated us and offered us an aperitif.  Since it was our anniversary, we started with a round of champagne.  And she brought us a little snack, pictured below…

This is tuna rolled in a little “cone” and topped with radish slices and caviar.  Although I was a little timid at first, this set the tone for a perfect evening of fine dining.

Bill looking sharp as we decide how we’re going to do things…

 

The first thing to know about Alte Post’s gourmet experience is that a set menu is offered.  You can have up to seven courses, but you can’t simply pick the courses you want.  Last night, there were courses featuring tuna, lobster, quail, salmon, beef, duck, and dessert.  We opted to have five of the seven courses because the quail included truffles, which I knew I wouldn’t like.  The other couple who came in later (and spoke French the whole time) apparently had the full seven courses.

We also had the wine pairing, which I highly recommend if you like tasting different wines with foods.  Marina Hentsch does a great job choosing wines and explaining them, although it helps to know a little German in that case.  I surprised myself by understanding a fair amount of what she said.

The menu is offered in both German and English.  You can also check it out online and outside the restaurant’s front door.  If you have any food idiosyncrasies, I recommend checking the menu before you book your table.  Otherwise, you may find yourself trying and enjoying calves’ brains, as I did the first time we tried the gourmet restaurant!  The menu does change regularly.

Not the best lighting, but this is an example of one of the tables.  

Last night’s menu in English.  Bill took a German menu.

 

Once we ordered our five course feast, Marina Hentsch went back to the kitchen and returned with the amuse, pictured below…  It was actually in two pieces.

These little bites were mindblowing.  There was a tomato and tuna bite, sushi with goat cheese and shrimp, and a tempura fried shrimp on a rice cake.

They were followed by hollowed out eggshells, painted black, and filled with a warm curry spiced soup.  It had a bit of a kick to it, which Bill especially loved.  Our hostess also brought us delicious potato bread with salted butter.  It was so good!

Our first course– fresh tuna with beetroot and green apple.  The beetroot reminded me of a very dry Fruit Roll Up.  It crackled and was very sweet, almost like candy.  I don’t normally like beets much, due to their earthy flavor.  I have to admit this was kind of a treat.  Under the beetroot curl, there was a little dollop of what tasted like apple flavored ice cream.  You wouldn’t think this would go with tuna, but it all worked surprisingly well.  It was paired with a steel aged chardonnay that was crisper than I was expecting and delightful.

Bill’s reaction thus far…

Next, we had Norway lobster served on top of mashed potatoes with bouillabaisse (fish stew) and beautifully decorated with a flower petal.  This was served with another chardonnay which was aged in oak and imparted buttery notes.  Sorry this photo is a little blurry.  I took two shots and they both turned out this way.  🙁

It was followed by my favorite of all of the courses, the salmon.  Salmon is one of those dishes that I tend to love or can take or leave.  A perfectly cooked piece of salmon is a delight to me, but when it’s dried out or dull, it leaves me underwhelmed.  This particular presentation was very exciting.  The chef paired it with sweet potato curry, avocado, and mangos.  I don’t usually like sweet potatoes much, but paired with the curry and Asian spices, this course practically exploded in my mouth.  I loved it!  This was served with a locally produced Riesling, that had a lovely essence of peaches that married beautifully with the curry.

Next, we had the duck, which was Bill’s favorite course.  It was served medium rare in pepper sauce with Preiselbeeren (cranberries).  I told Bill that I think I’d love a Thanksgiving dish of duck with cranberries and he immediately started talked about getting out his Anova precision cooker.  Again, beautifully done, though the duck had the misfortune of following the spectacular salmon.   

Finally, we enjoyed dessert… a panoply of chocolate.  There was a truffle that was full of warm chocolate “lava”.  I don’t really go for lava cakes much, but this was nicely done.  There was a little cloud of foam on top, along with a smidge of chocolate ice cream topped with mousse and garnished with walnuts, grapes, and something that reminded me of very high end Cracker Jacks minus the peanuts.

 

Once we finished dessert, we were offered a digestive.  Bill declined, since he was driving, but I tried a locally produced Mirabelle (made in Nagold for the restaurant).  I had a Mirabelle last week in France, so it was interesting to try it here in Germany.  It was not served chilled, as it was in France, which I think made it easier to detect the subtle flavors of plums.

Then we had a round of espresso, which was served with yet another two part treat, pictured below…

Four little candies– a marshmallow, a peanut chew wrapped in edible “plastic” (which I still peeled off, but didn’t have to), a very intense spiced jelly gumdrop, and a little chocolate cookie.

And this amazingly exquisite half lemon filled with light cream and topped with crispy, curry flavored flakes that reminded me a little of shredded wheat.  It was surprisingly delicious.

 

So, by now, you may be wondering how much this dinner set us back.  Well, folks, I will confess that hospitality at Alte Post doesn’t come cheap.  Our bill came to 346 euros before the tip.  However, I think it’s important to bear in mind that we were two of only four people in the dining room and both the service and the food were impeccable.  We were both raving about how excellent everything was as we walked back to the car, still bowled over by some of the exotic flavors we encountered last night.  It all worked so amazingly well!

As I mentioned, this was only our second time in the gourmet restaurant.  It really should be reserved for special occasions or nights when you just want to sit for a few hours and enjoy very fresh food creatively prepared.  Yes, it’s very expensive, but I think of it as one of life’s little experiences… ones that make putting up with all the bullshit worthwhile.  I can see why Chef Beiter is a “star”.  If you like gourmet food, I highly recommend visiting Nagold and trying Alte Post.  Bring a credit card and an open mind, and be prepared to spend a couple of hours.

A bonus was that last night, I managed to wear my contact lenses without pain, although you can see my eyes are pretty irritated…  By the way, we did dress up because we like to, but there is no need to do that if you don’t want to.  The other couple who joined us were wearing jeans. 

Next week, we will be visiting Delice in Stuttgart.  I understand that will also be a culinary adventure.  I look forward to returning and reporting!

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Lunch at Il Due in Nagold…

I have been wanting to try Il Due (the two), an Italian restaurant in Nagold, for ages.  We went there one night and they were totally full.  Most times, when we visit Nagold, we notice this restaurant right off the main square is completely packed.  Although I was struggling with very irritated eyes thanks to fall allergies, we decided to go to Nagold today… and wonder of wonders, we managed to get a table at Il Due.

The place was rather full, but not entirely so.  We sat down next to a very pleasant looking German couple who were very friendly to us.  After we ordered drinks, they moved to another recently vacated table because they ran into another couple they knew and were invited to join them.  I didn’t know it at the time, but the same thing would happen to us about an hour later.

Anyway, Bill and I decided to order from today’s specials.  Bill had a glass of Pinot Grigio and I had a glass the Barbera region in Piemonte.  He had ravioli with Steinpilzen (stone mushrooms) and I had Seeteufel (monkfish) with black tagliatelle and vegetables.  The dining room was energetic, with plenty of of locals enjoying the Italian fare.  I’m pretty sure there was a birthday party going on in a private dining room, too.  We saw people leaving with bouquets of flowers.

Bill studies the menu.  We had plenty of time to look at the menu because service was a little slow.  No big deal, though.

There were only a couple of women taking care of the whole dining room, so service was a bit slow.  It wasn’t a big deal, though, because we weren’t in a hurry.  Our big plan after lunch had us going to the Lidl to buy German style American food for tomorrow’s blog post.  When our food did arrive, it didn’t disappoint.  I could see why Il Due is so popular.

A well stocked wine shelf.  Il Due has a nice bar area with padded benches.  

I went with a Barbera that was on special.  It had really nice jammy flavors with rich red fruits and was just very slightly effervescent.  Bill had the house Pinot Grigio, which was tart, but not all that exciting.  He liked it fine.

Bill’s ravioli, which was priced at about 14 euros.  It was filled with mild mushrooms and topped with rocket, freshly shaved Parmesan cheese, and a cream sauce.  I didn’t try it because mushrooms are of the devil.  But Bill loved it.

I was very happy with my choice, which sold for 24,80.  I’m pretty sure the price was mainly because of the saffron cream sauce.  Seeteufel is monkfish, which is also known as angler.  It’s very dense and reminds me a bit of catfish, without the dirt essence that usually comes with catfish.  It was lightly fried and served with black tagliatelle, black because it was infused with squid ink.  And there were lightly sauteed green beans, carrots, and broccoli.  I really enjoyed this dish, though I couldn’t finish the pasta.

As we were eating, Bill noticed the family that lives across the street from us.  They sat at a table at the back of the restaurant and didn’t notice us by the window.  Just as we were finishing lunch, they saw us and we ended up hanging out for awhile.  I had a couple more glasses of wine, switching to primitivo, which was also very nice had a pleasant vanilla essence.  Our neighbor had a rose that she said was a bit sweet.  We ended up having a great chat and I almost felt a little sad for the wait staff, since they were having their “pause”.  I will note that they were very gracious.  Our neighbors’ daughter had tiramisu for dessert.  The neighbor had a beer; his wife had another glass of wine and so did I.  And we finally got to know each other better after having lived across the street from each other for three years.

I guess Il Due is that kind of place… where people meet and hang out.  We saw more than a few people running into each other there today.  The food was very good.  The service was pleasant and professional.  I would not hesitate to visit again, although I would recommend reservations if you’re going on a popular night like Friday or Saturday.  It’s not a big restaurant and it’s very popular in Nagold.  Pizza and pasta is available, as well as fish and beef.  Warmly recommended!

In warmer months, outdoor seating is available.

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Shrimp salad and brats at Luz Bistro in Nagold…

ETA in 2025: Luz Bistro is no longer open.

Apologies for the fact that today’s review is of a place Bill and I have enjoyed several times since we’ve been living near Nagold.  We had really beautiful weather today and Bill decided he needed to drag me away from the computer for lunch.  It was late in the afternoon and we knew Luz Bistro in Nagold would offer food for those of us who don’t eat lunch at noon.  We have eaten at Luz enough times to know that the food and service would be good.  With the unseasonably warm and sunny weather, we knew we couldn’t go wrong today.  Bill is also leaving for a business trip tomorrow and will be gone a few days, so we knew we had to do something this afternoon.

We decided to enjoy the terrace, which was open and unshaded.  Personally, I would have liked it if a couple of umbrellas had been open for those of us who are light skinned, light haired, and light eyed. I am generally rather sensitive to the sun, but I’m particularly sensitive right now.  For some reason, my eyes have been giving me a lot of trouble.  I think it’s due to allergies.  My dog, Zane, has the same problem and actually went to the vet today because one of his eyes is all puffy and bloodshot.  I have the same problem, but I haven’t been to an eye doctor yet.  We’re still looking for one, if anyone has suggestions  😉

It was about 2:30pm when we got to the restaurant.  That’s when they have their short menu, which basically consists of lighter or simpler fare.  They have Wiener Schnitzel, a couple of salads, bratwurst, and flammkuchen, as well as desserts.  I was a little hungry, but not ravenous.  For the second week in a row, I went with a salad.  What an interesting trend for me!

We ordered a bottle of gray burgundy (a pinot gris) from the restaurant’s proprietor.  It was nice enjoying white wine in the sun, even if there was a guy smoking a stogie near us.

I think Bill had been planning on having beer, but I talked him into the wine, which he enjoyed.  It was 26 euros for the bottle.

 

There was a lady sitting behind me who was speaking rapid fire German with an Irish accent, which Bill immediately picked up on.  I was reminded of earlier this week, as I watched old ER episodes on iTunes and a guy was on there speaking Armenian with an American accent.  I don’t pretend to be fluent in Armenian by any stretch, but I did live there for over two years and had to use the language. It’s funny to hear it spoken with an American accent, although the actor speaks better than I ever will!  He was clearly born and raised in California, though, where there are many Americans who are ethnic Armenians and learn the language.  I ran into quite a few of them twenty years ago when I lived in Armenia.  They were coming there to go to dental or medical school.  “Western” Armenian is different than “Eastern” Armenian, though, and I was kind of proud to be able to tell the difference.  Especially since I have both a former Armenian teacher and one of my former Armenian students as Facebook friends.

Enough about my time in Armenia… on to the food.  I didn’t take a lot of pictures today because I was updating my phone during lunch and I prefer to use the phone for restaurant reviews because it’s somewhat less conspicuous.  Maybe it’s because I was born in the 1970s, but I feel weird taking pictures of food in restaurants.  But I also know they are an essential part of my reviews.  So feast your eyes…

This was my huge shrimp salad, which came with garlic bread (which wasn’t all that garlicky).  The salad was really nice, though.  It included four perfectly clean, generously sized, grilled shrimp.  I couldn’t finish this.  It was a lot of roughage covered with a very pleasing creamy dressing.  It reminded me a little of Ranch… perhaps slightly more delicately flavored.  I had lettuce, cucumbers, and corn to go with the shrimp.  I don’t usually go for a lot of dressing on my salads, but this was pretty perfect.  Not too much and not too little.  It was priced at just under 16 euros.

Bill had bratwurst with potato salad.  I tasted his sausage, which was grilled to perfection and came with mustard and bread.  It was very good, although perhaps a little heavy for such a pretty day.  This would be great in colder weather.  Bill said he wished he’d had the salad, although the sausage and salad were tasty.

All told, our bill came to about 61 euros before the tip.  The ladies who took care of us have waited on us before and were very professional, as usual.  It’s always a pleasure dining at Luz Bistro/Alte Post in Nagold.  We’re going to have to go back soon for an evening in their full scale restaurant like we had last spring.

If you live near Nagold, Luz Bistro is a nice place to have a “grown up” lunch at any time of the afternoon.  It’s really nice that they’re so close to where we live.

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Our first visit to a German Freibad… and Chinese food in Nagold!

This morning, I took note of the warm, sunny weather and the fact that I love a good swim.  I said to Bill, “Why don’t we go to the pool in Nagold?”

As expected, Bill was down on the idea.  He doesn’t like pools, mainly because he hates being seen in his bathing suit.  I wasted no time reminding him that just a month ago, he joined me in the buff at a spa in Bad Wildbad.  He had a great time.

“Please…” I begged.  “We don’t have to stay long!”  I was really wanting to try the cool slide at Nagold’s awesome Freibad.  Finally, Bill gave in to my pleading and we headed over there at about noon.  It was four euros each to enter.

It wasn’t too crowded or hot today and we easily found a spot in the shade.  I took a quick dip, then thought better of the slide, which was crowded with kids… some of whom didn’t seem to be paying much attention to people coming down after them.

I enjoyed a brief swim in the super deep pool where the diving boards are, then watched some of the kids doing flips into the water.  A few were doing their best to make the biggest splashes they could– and doing painful belly flops in the process.  They were so full of youthful exuberance.  I remembered when I was a kid, jumping fearlessly off the high dives and sliding down the slides.  We had none of that today, but it was still a lot of fun… at least until the clouds started rolling in…  Anyway, I was mightily impressed by Nagold’s pool.  It beats the ever loving hell out of the public pools we had when I was growing up.

In case you were wondering, yes there are changing rooms (this was one of Bill’s concerns!).  

And there are lockers, too!  You put in a one or two euro coin to take the key.  When you bring the key back, you get your euros back.  There’s also a Biergarten (of course!) that serves food.

Check out that slide!  I will have to try it next time.  We’ll get there earlier so I don’t have to worry about crashing into any kids.  I didn’t see anyone directing traffic, making sure people got out of the way.  I did hear at least one adult screaming all the way down, too.

Bill looks snarky as he takes a seat.  I had to point out that I brought four towels, two to sit on and two for drying off.  He never did get in the water, though.

They have a low dive, high dive, and a platform.  The platform appeared to be closed. 

Bill watched the divers…

This was the main pool, complete with the creepy mushroom shower thing…  It was about waist deep for me.

The rules for the slide…

I liked the deep pool better.  It was really nice, even if I am no competitive swimmer.  I did have to pass a swimming test to graduate from college, though.

Action shot!

The clouds were threatening and I was getting cold, so we decided to go have lunch.  It was raining when we left, but the rain had stopped by the time we put our stuff in the car.  Parking in Nagold is free on Sundays.  There’s also an indoor pool at this park.

We decided to try the Pavillon China Restaurant in Nagold.  It was our first time there.  They have a late pause that starts at 3:00, so we were there in plenty of time.

Obligatory shot of Bill.

We were given cold, refreshing plum juice with our beers.  The inside of the restaurant is very nicely decorated with Asian decor and a large fish tank.  

Bill had a special that included beef, shrimp, and chicken, as well as assorted vegetables.  I had my usual crispy duck, which was served with no mushrooms in it!  Yea!

We got rice…

And pineapple infused sweet and sour sauce came with my duck.  

I really enjoyed the duck.  I didn’t really try Bill’s dish because it had mushrooms in it.  He pronounced it excellent and brought some home for tomorrow’s lunch.  The crispy duck had carrots, peppers, bamboo shoots, and zucchini mixed in.  I really enjoyed it.  The bill came to 28 euros and change.  Bill left a generous tip, which made the waitress smile big.  She enthusiastically wished us a good day.  I would definitely go back to the Pavillon China Restaurant next time I want Asian food.  It was very good.

The front of the restaurant has these cool looking columns.  

Not the greatest shot of the front, but there were people sitting out there.  It’s very close to the Edeka in Nagold.

We had a very nice afternoon in Nagold.  I really think it’s becoming one of our favorite places to chill out on the weekends.  It’s pretty, there are a lot of good restaurants, and things to do.  A bonus is that it’s never as crowded as some of the other cities near us and it’s only about four kilometers away. I think I managed to talk Bill into visiting the pool again.  Maybe next time, he’ll even get in the water!

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Kelten-fest! Nagold, July 2017

Today, Bill and I decided to go to Nagold and visit the Kelten-fest.  Seems to me Kelten-fest is held every other year, but I could be wrong.  We were here for the one in 2015, but we never managed to get there when it was happening.  Since we are of Celtic origin ourselves, we made a point of going this year.  The fest is held in a large area near the river in Nagold.  One area is host to tents where crafts are made and sold.  Another area is where Highland games are held and musicians play.

In order to take part in the fun, you have to pay an entry fee.  A regular daily ticket is 6 euros, though if you buy the “Festkarte”, it’s 10 euros.  Go after five o’clock, and the price drops to 4 euros.  Kids under age 18 who are with their parents are free.

After we paid and got our blue wristbands, we wandered around and checked out the sights and scenes.  Celtic music played on a sound system as lads and lasses in kilts and other Celtic garb took part in the games, drank beer, ate food, or otherwise cavorted.  I kind of wished we had kilts.  Next time we go to Scotland, we’ll have to get outfitted.

The “kasse”, where you purchase your tickets.  If you go now, you won’t pay full price for today.

Helpful map points, not that it’s easy to get lost.

I was feeling too shy to pull out my good camera at this point, but it finally came out later.  These folks were participating in the Highland Games.  They had several different ones going on…

A pig was roasting nearby.  There were also people smoking salmon on wooden planks.  Those who preferred wurst and sauerkraut were also in luck! 

They were carrying this pole and running through a maze of trees…

And in this area, there were folks tossing poles.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to watch much of this event.


Across the way, there were craftsmen and women creating and selling their wares.  There were even a few animals.

Chilled out goats and a cow.

Blacksmith, doing it old school style.

Chickens!  There was also a very lazy pig in the next pen, but I didn’t manage to get a shot.

As you can see, lots to see and do and plenty of people dressed the part.

I had to take a couple of wildflower shots, too.  Time to update my Facebook cover.

Bill buys us a couple of black beers made by Hochdorfer, the local brewery.

We got larges.  Be warned, the pfand for these beers is very high…  five euros!  If you get a small beer, it’s only one euro.  Bill gave this guy twenty euros and when we turned in our glasses, we got ten euros back.  

Cool glass, though…

This was a “steak” sandwich.  I think it was pork and it had ketchup on it.  It was pretty good and not too much.  It pays to remember that steak is actually a cut and not necessarily a hunk of beef.

Now this was the culmination of our fun…

Obviously still photos wouldn’t do, so I took a video.  See below.

And a video of the Battle on the Water!

If you have young kids, you might enjoy taking them to Nagold’s playground.  It’s pretty cool.  Literally, it’s cool…  There’s also mini golf and a really awesome public pool that wasn’t too crowded and looked really inviting.  Hmmm… maybe we should go back!

 

After we walked around a bit more, we headed to Der Weinladen and picked up a few bottles of wine for the weekend.  Then we had some ice cream at Panorama.  While we were eating these ice cream sundaes, which were loaded with liqueur, by the way, we ran into a lady who always walks her pug along the same route we do with our dogs.  I felt like a total native as we said hello!  And tomorrow, we’ve been invited to a neighborhood party… our first in three years of living here (and in fact, we were not invited to any parties last time we lived here, either).

These hit the spot!

On the way out of Nagold, we stopped by the Edeka and I ran in to get some tequila and ice cream.  While I was standing in the “schnell line”, which wasn’t actually very “schnell”, I had the chance to check out the cigarette packages.  I noticed that here in Germany, it’s not enough to put warnings on the labels.  And it’s not enough to make the labels huge.  They have to put pictures of people with stomas, cancer, and other cigarette induced maladies on the packages.  I must say, it make me laugh ruefully.  People will still buy their cigarettes.  Seriously, if you live in Germany or have a chance to visit, check out the cigarette packs.  Crazy stuff!

I think Denis Leary says it best about smoking, right?  Although I am not a smoker myself…  Just so you know, this video is probably NSFW.  

 

We had a great time at the Kelten-fest.  I’m glad we went.  I hope we’ll be around for the next one.  Maybe then, we’ll even wear kilts!

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Lunch at Panorama Eiscafe & Pizzeria in Nagold…

I thought I was done blogging for today, but Bill and I got hungry after he purchased a used freezer and we decided to go to Nagold for lunch.  I am always on the lookout for new places to try and every time we visit Nagold, I notice the Panorama Eiscafe & Pizzeria is always packed.  Today, we happened to park right next to the restaurant, so we decided to have lunch there.

Bill checks out the menu.

When we arrived, it was just before 1:00pm.  Most of the tables were free for the taking, although a lot of people were getting ice cream to go.  We sat down at a table and decided what we wanted.  A shy looking girl approached and took our drink order, then came back a few minutes later for our lunch orders.  This restaurant seems to specialize on amazing ice cream creations, but they also have a lot of pizza, salads, soups, and pasta selections.  I settled on Tagliatelle Salmone and Bill had Tagliatelle with mozzarella, basil, cream sauce, and tomatoes.  I talked him into ordering it, because it sounded good to me.

I took this during the calm before the storm.

It was fun people watching while we waited for our food.  Lots of people visit this eiscafe every week and they get their ice cream to go.  There’s a sign that says if you get your ice cream to go, you can’t sit at a table.  So people were getting cones and cups of ice cream and sitting on nearby benches.  Lots of kids were frolicking under the trees, chasing pigeons, and dropping ice cream.  Nagold is a very kid (and dog) friendly town.

When our food arrived, Bill got his dish.  Mine appeared to be baked rigatoni, which was not what I ordered.  The very sweet food runner was quick to pick up the rigatoni (which actually looked fabulous– might have to get that next time) and bring me the Tagliatelle Salmone I ordered.

Bill’s colorful pasta dish…

And mine…. Both of these dishes were priced at less than 10 euros. 

 

I had big plans of getting ice cream today, but as it was, I only managed about half of this pasta dish.  Bill also only got through half of his lunch.  I ended up having beer for dessert, while Bill had an espresso.  I was really sad that I was too full for ice cream.  Some of what I saw people eating was truly magnificent.  Unfortunately, I just can’t eat that much… and I really shouldn’t, given the beer baby that’s been growing for years.

I was very impressed by how pleasant the food runner was.  She smiled at us and spoke some English when it became clear that we aren’t Germans.  She seemed genuinely interested in whether or not we enjoyed our meals.  I found her very charming and it was easy to forget that she accidentally brought me the wrong dish.  I can see why this particular restaurant draws a crowd every weekend.

I still wish I had room for ice cream, but I know it’s better that I skip it…  If you happen to be in or near Nagold, the Panorama Eiscafe and Pizzeria is a nice place for a reasonably priced lunch.  Every time I go to Nagold, I like it more.  I’m shocked that we never discovered it the first time we lived here.  I’m glad we got to come back and enjoy its many charms.

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Ten great date night restaurants in or near Stuttgart, volume 2!

Although this blog was originally intended to be about travel, I have found myself posting a whole lot of restaurant reviews for the Stuttgart area.  It seems my restaurant and local attraction reviews have become more popular than my travel posts ever were.  A few months ago, I posted a list of ten great date night restaurants my husband Bill and I have found since we moved back to the Stuttgart area in 2014.  Since that first post was so popular and we have since been to more good restaurants, I figure it’s time for another list.

As before, I am not ranking these restaurants in any particular order.  I like them all and for different reasons.  All of these restaurants have been reviewed on this blog.  Some restaurants have been reviewed more than once, so if you want to read more, you should check the tags for other reviews.  Many of these places are best booked ahead of time.  In most cases, you can find them listed on OpenTable.  Here goes.

10.  Finch – Degerloch

 

Finch is the restaurant for the Waldhotel, which is a lovely hotel in the Degerloch area of Stuttgart.  Although it’s a bit pricey, the food and service at Finch are excellent.  Bill and I dined there in late March of this year because we were staying at the hotel for easy access to the Porsche Arena.  Finch offers a menu that includes everything from German schnitzel to venison, as well as a few vegetarian and vegan options.  I highly recommend making reservations if you plan to dine at Finch; the venue is small.  I especially recommend this restaurant if you’re also staying in the very nice hotel.

I loved this shrimp tempura appetizer.

9.  Alte Post -Nagold (unfortunately, Alte Post is now closed.)

The Alte Post is the fancy upstairs dining room at Luz Bistro in Nagold.  I have written about Luz Bistro before and, indeed, it was one of the ten restaurants I recommended on my first “date night” post.  The Alte Post is run by the same people, but it’s a much different experience.  The Alte Post restaurant is only open from Wednesday to Sunday and it’s a bit more formal (and much more expensive) than Luz Bistro is.  However, although we dropped a whole lot of euros at Alte Post, it remains a memorable place for a date night.  You can order between three and and seven courses and spend a luxurious evening enjoying all manner of exotic dishes.  Each course is set; you don’t get a choice, except in the number of courses you order.  Reservations are a must, but it truly is an amazing experience for foodies.  Be careful, though.  You could find yourself eating something you never thought you would.

This was a raw lamb course marinated in tomatoes, garlic, and basil.  I don’t usually like lamb, but this was excellent.  

8.  Grüner Baum -Tailfingen

Grüner Baum is a casual French restaurant in a little town called Tailfingen, which is not far from Nagold, Bondorf, or Herrenberg.  Bill and I dined there last fall and I was blown away by the experience.  We sat outside in the charming yard, which is a good bet for a nice day.  There’s also a pleasant dining room for days when the weather is not so good.  I have never not seen this restaurant busy and parking can be scarce, but it’s well worth the effort to get to if only to try it once.  I love this place for the fact that it’s a change of pace and offers something besides Swabian, Italian, or Greek food.  This place specializes in crepes, but there are also plenty of other French delights on the menu. We need to get back there soon!

A little charcuterie…  

 

And a crepe!

 

7.  Ristorante da Maurizio -Stuttgart (this restaurant has changed names; it’s now called Aria)

Here’s a nice Italian entry, located on Calwer Strasse in downtown Stuttgart.  Ristorante da Maurizio is billed as a wine bar, but we were there for the food.  Last summer, Bill and I enjoyed a very pleasant evening repast outside.  It was a prime area for people (and pigeon) watching, but I was very impressed by the food and wine.  And, with a little planning, it would probably make for a nice place for a date.

Sinful burrata appetizer!  

 

Fried perch with peaches and mint!

 
 

6. Zum Reussenstein -Böblingen

I probably don’t need to write too much about this popular Swabian eatery in Böblingen.  I understand this restaurant is already well-known among Americans, especially those who live near Panzer Kaserne.  Bill and I dined at Zum Reussenstein last year having wisely made reservations beforehand.  This restaurant features beautifully prepared Swabian delectables at a fair price.  I’m told the place is owned by a famous German TV chef.

Fantastic ham and asparagus with Hollandaise sauce…

 

5.  Reiskorn -Stuttgart

I am including Reiskorn in this list for those who are dining with vegetarians, vegans, or people who are on gluten free diets.  Reiskorn is an adorable little eatery in downtown Stuttgart.  Its menu caters to those who prefer to eat meat free, although it’s not a meat free restaurant.  Although Reiskorn’s atmosphere is a bit hectic due to its small size, the food is phenomenal and it really offers a nice change of pace, especially for those who have special dietary needs.  Reservations are highly recommended because the inside dining room is very small and it does get busy and crowded.

Vegan, gluten free falafel!  It was delicious!

4.  Buffalo Grill and Bar -Gärtringen (this restaurant is now closed)

Looking for a more casual place to take your honey?  Like burgers and steaks?  You might want to visit Buffalo Grill and Bar in Gärtringen.  Bill and I visited in April to try their burgers, which are, to date, the best I’ve had in these parts.  We enjoyed the restaurant so much that we went back the next day to try their steaks.  To be honest, I liked my burger better than the steak I had.  There’s plenty of parking and a nice outdoor area.  It’s also pretty kid friendly, in case you can’t find a sitter for your date night.  Prices are very fair and reservations are not needed.

Well, it’s not your traditional date night location, but not everyone wants fancy food on a date!

 

As of July 31, 2018, Buffalo Grill and Bar is closed.  🙁

 

3.  Die Kelter -Tübingen

Die Kelter is a really cool restaurant in Tübingen.  It offers a nice biergarten area, a bar, and an awesome indoor dining room.  Although it’s a pretty casual place, especially at lunchtime, there are some interesting options available during the dinner hour.  Vegan and vegetarian options are available, as well as choices for people with more carnivorous palates.  I like to go to Die Kelter for cocktails; they have several creative ones available in their bar.  Above all, I love the atmosphere in this restaurant, along with the way it always smells… delicious!  If you visit on a weekend night, you may want to make reservations.  Die Kelter does get crowded sometimes.

Pastrami and salad at lunchtime.  We have also been for dinner, but unfortunately, I have no pictures!

 

An example of one of Die Kelter’s awesome cocktails!

2.  Restaurant Rosenau -Tübingen

This is another Tübingen restaurant, located on the outskirts of town not far from the hospital.  The dining room is pleasant and service is very competent.  The food could be described as upscale Swabian-French.  On the night we visited, the atmosphere was subdued and very relaxing.  We are definitely due for another visit.

Duck cooked to perfection with Dauphine potatoes.

 

1.  Der Zauberlehrling -Stuttgart

We’ve actually dined at Stuttgart’s Der Zauberlehrling twice.  The first time we ate there, it was 2008 and I didn’t have my camera.  Last time we went was in April of this year and we had a marvelous time.  One thing to know about Der Zauberlehrling is that on Saturday nights, they have “candelight theme nights”.  On those nights, a multi-course set menu with an optional wine pairing is offered and everyone shows up at the same time and gets the same thing.  The food is very good and the service is outstanding.  Also, the restaurant is connected to a quirky hotel, so you can stay the night if you want to.  A la carte dining is offered on other nights, although be aware that this restaurant is not open on Sundays.  If you’re dining on Saturday night, you should definitely make reservations.

Chilled gazpacho with basil ice cream!  This was literally very cool!

 

So there you have it… ten more places to try in the Stuttgart environs.  I am now reminded that Bill and I need to go out to dinner more often and expand our horizons!

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Der Weinladen and eating Greek in Jettingen

Last night, we decided to go out for Greek food again.  We stopped by Taverne Beim Griechen.  I have written about this particular restaurant in a sportsplatz more than once, so I will keep today’s comments pretty brief.  I was in the mood for dorade, so that’s what I had.  Bill had wolfbarsch (branzino).  They were delightful.  I think Taverne Beim Griechen probably does dorade better than anyone else in the area.

This fish was sooo good.  I like their gyros, too.

 

After last week’s cave adventures, I came down with a really nasty cold.  I thought I’d be totally over it by today, but I’m still struggling with fatigue and chest congestion.  Consequently, today’s outing was very brief.  We went to Nagold to check out a wine store we discovered last weekend (when I wasn’t sick with a cold, but suffering from extreme muscle soreness).  The place is called Der Weinladen.  Strangely enough, I was prompted to go there today because I saw an ad for the store on a fence at the sportsplatz near Taverne Beim Griechen.

Before we went to the wine store, we stopped by Kaufland, where there was another store I wanted to check out.  I thought it might be a gourmet store, but it turned out it was just a garden variety bakery and snack bar.  It’s hardly worth a mention here, although it looked like they had nice breads.  The Kaufland and the stores surrounding it in Nagold is a total zoo, especially on Saturdays.

We also wanted to stop by a Metzgerei, which had some nice looking gourmet products displayed in their window.  Unfortunately, they closed at 1:00pm and we were a bit too late.  So we only managed wine shopping today…

We happened to arrive just as a bunch of other people did.

The store carries all sorts of wines from around Europe, as well as some from the United States.  We found one red from Washington State today.

There’s also liquor… everything from Irish whiskey to gin.

And they even have Dom Perignon!  I have had Dom twice and I’m not sure it’s worth the hefty price tag.  At least I can say I’ve tried it.

Der Weinladen also has gourmet items like jams, risottos, and savory spreads, as well as pasta and chocolate.

And you can buy stuff “vom fass”.  That involves buying (or bringing) a bottle and tapping one of the containers.  They had a wide variety of cordials available.

 

We left there with six bottles of wine and a couple of bottles of liqueur.  I mainly wanted the liqueurs because of the cool bottles they were in– shaped like a woman’s naked torso.  Of course, my own body is not so attractive after all the beer and wine I’ve been enjoying.  I noticed they had some very nice stemware and decanters for sale, too.  It would be a nice place to shop for gifts for your wine loving friends.

I did notice that no one working today spoke English to us, although the lady who rang us up did keep us waiting awhile while she chatted with someone who seemed to be a regular.  The experience shopping at Der Weinladen was not quite like shopping at the Alte Brennerei in Herrenberg, where we usually end up buying a lot more than we intended because they are so good at upselling and speak English.

We were thinking of having lunch, but I was feeling so fatigued from my cold that we came home.  Bill made me a sandwich with fresh bread from the bakery and cold cuts, paired with a Belgian beer.  I think now, I’m just going to kick back and relax with some bad TV.  Hopefully tomorrow, I’ll be more in the mood to explore.

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