Tag Archives: Tubingen

Sundays

Bratwurst in Bebenhausen…

I very nearly gave in to the urge to stay in and read a book this afternoon.  But then Bill said he wanted to go out and do something.  I had been wanting to visit Bebenhausen Monastery for awhile, so I suggested we go there.  It turned out to be a good day for a visit to this monastery, located in a peaceful valley on the outskirts of Tübingen.  The GPS sent us through Herrenberg and Holzgerlingen to get to the kloster, not our usual route to Tübingen.  As the gorgeous monastery appeared on the horizon, I gasped in awe.  It really is a beautiful place.

It turned out Bill missed the turn for the parking lot, so he drove up a hillside and managed to find a lone parking spot right next to the tower pictured below.

The “Schreibturm”…

 

We passed this little garden area on the way to lunch.

It was about 1:45pm when we arrived, so we felt it would be prudent to get lunch before exploring Bebenhausen.  I have a tendency to get “hangry” and a lot of restaurants take a “pause” after 2:00.

There are several traditional Swabian restaurants in the town.  We stopped at the first one we came to, Gasthof Sonne, which is billed as a “laid back gasthaus”.  The had the Biergarten open and plenty of people were out there enjoying the warmer weather and hazy sunshine.  We took a seat and prepared ourselves for a very typical German lunch.  There was a sign outside that read “warm food” all day on  Sundays and holidays.  But there was also a sign that read that they only serve coffee and cake after 2:30.  I’m not sure which one was accurate for today.

Bill looking impish, probably because I told him I’m about to come after his eyebrows with tweezers.

Beer makes everything better.

 

This restaurant serves very typical Swabian fare.  It’s very hearty and tastes good, but it will fill you up.  We both opted for sausages.

Bill had the “Linsenteller” (lentil plate) with beer sausages, spaetzle, and lots of lentils.  He probably won’t be hungry again for awhile.

I had bratwurst with potato salad and a mixed salad.  The salad had a really nice dressing on it.  It was kind of like mustard vinaigrette with a twist.  I was sad when a little gravy ended up on my new turquoise shirt.  I need to start carrying a bib with me.

 

More people came into the restaurant as we were finishing up.  At one point, a party of three asked if they could sit with us.  We actually had three chairs open, although one was at the end of the table and my purse was on it.  I had forgotten I put it there.  Then someone else motioned them over to share their table.  A few minutes later, a young couple came in looking for a table and asked if they could sit with us.  We welcomed them.  They heard us speaking English and apologized in fluent English for not realizing we’re Americans.  Actually, I took that as a compliment.

They wondered if we’d understood their request.  We said we did.  Then they asked where we’re from and we told them.  We also told them we live here.  I was impressed by their language skills and embarrassed by my lack of language skills.  But we probably do okay for Americans…  Bill called for the check, which came to about 31 euros.  Service was friendly and professional and the food was good.  Yeah… after a total of five years living here, I have the German comprehension skills of a toddler.  But I’m slowly getting there.

The outside of Gasthof Sonne.  I’d go back, even if it does get lukewarm reviews on Google.  I noticed at least two other restaurants in this little town, one of which was connected to a small hotel.

 

We walked back to the monastery and quickly found the entrance, which is situated in a small gift shop that has everything from whisky to cold water for sale.  Admission costs five euros per adult.  There is also a family ticket available.  You walk into the kloster and there’s a “rundweg” that takes you through the monastery.  It’s very beautiful and peaceful inside.  There are signs explaining what you’re looking at, but almost everything is in German.

Littered with coins!

Graves of abbots.

Dormitory room… or “cell”.

Washroom in the dormitory.

Straw mattress?

This was what I was waiting for.  I love walking into European churches.

We finished walking around the monastery, then visited the WC, which is clean and free of charge to use.  Then we walked around the grounds.  It was a beautiful day to tour the area, which is coming alive with spring.

Lots of fish swim in this fountain.

A good view of the parking lot Bill missed.  There’s a larger one further down the road, obviously for buses and overflow.  There’s a brief but pleasant walk from the larger lot.  Parking is free of charge.

To my shame, this reminded me a lot of Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia.  I spent four summers working there.  Of course, Germany for real is way better than fake Germany in Williamsburg.

For another two euros, you can tour the palace kitchen.  I recommend taking the trip, especially since there is information in French, English, and Russian.  It was the only part of the monastery that had information in languages other than German.

Some old style “modern” appliances.

If we’d wanted to, we could have spent more time strolling around the beautiful grounds.

One last shot before we decided to head home.

We took a different route home, driving through Tübingen instead of Holzgerlingen and Hildrizhausen.  Basically, my Mini got a nice tour today.  I put the top down and probably annoyed people with my music.  It was nice to get out.  I’m glad I resisted the urge to stay in and read.

I would highly recommend a visit to Bebenhausen, especially when the weather is so agreeable.  It’s a very beautiful place, even if parking is a bit obnoxious.  And what better thing to do on a Sunday than go to a place where God is the cornerstone of life?

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Wining and dining at Ratskeller in Tübingen

We had beautiful sunny weather today, although it was cold and kind of windy.  I got the idea to go to Tübingen to pick up some wine at Vinum Weine & Feines, one of my favorite wine stores in the area.  I wanted to see if they had any Georgian Saperavi.  It’s the only wine shop I’ve found yet in Germany that carries Georgian wines.

Before we hit Vinum, though, we needed to have lunch.  We decided on Ratskeller on a whim.  We’ve passed this place a bunch of times, but never noticed it had a restaurant.  Apparently, it’s a club that hosts bands in the evenings.  I was actually lured there by the sign below…

The sign above the bowl reads :”Bitte, hier trinken anstatt zu pinkeln.”  Translation: Please drink here instead of peeing.  I’d love to know what prompted the management to post that sign…

 

Today’s specials.

 
 

The front facade.  

 

Bill stares in wonder at the locally produced IPA he found.  It was actually very good.  He was impressed.

 

Nice to see the Germans getting in on making craft beers.

 

I had a glass of wine (grenache and syrah blend), which came with a small glass of sparkling water.  Notice under the tulip is an ad for a Jam Session.  The Ratskeller hosts bands.  I think our table was actually on the small stage.

Ratskeller seems to specialize in burgers.  They had everything from a plain ol’ cheeseburger to veggie burgers.  They even had choices for vegans.  I noticed they had a few other items for those who didn’t want sandwiches, as well as soups, salads, and specials.  Bill and I decided to have burgers, although neither of us went for the usual American beef variety.  I had a chicken burger and Bill had a vegetarian apple and cheese burger.  He said the cheese was somewhat mild and it came with a dressing and tomatoes.

Bill’s apple and cheese burger.  This was one of the weekend specials.  He didn’t realize it was a meat free sandwich, but enjoyed it just the same.  The fries were ordered a la carte and came with a “dip”.  They had ketchup and mayo, as well as a number of more exotic dips.  We both had ketchup.

 
 

My chicken burger had thin breaded chicken breast filets, sliced tomatoes, a curry dressing, lettuce, cheese, roasted onions, and pineapples.  It wasn’t bad at all, although the burger was pretty large and got kind of messy.  I couldn’t eat the whole thing.

 

The interior of the restaurant is pretty nice.  There’s an attractive bar area, as well as a cavernous dining room that looks like it was the old cellar.  I noticed they had lots of board games there for people to play.

The “cavern” dining room… on the way to the ladies room.

 

Board games for the bored.

And the bar.

 

I noticed there were signs posted warning clients of the patrons of date rape and sexual harassment.  Apparently, Ratskeller and other local night spots are committed to preventing their guests from being harassed.  It was translated into several languages.  I was glad to see it.

“No means no.”

In French and Arabic.

In English…

Our bill came to about 33 euros.  All in all, we enjoyed our lunch and would eat at Ratskeller again.  It has a nice atmosphere, reasonable prices, and pretty good food.  Maybe next time, one of us will brave one of the more conventional beef burgers.  After Bill paid, we headed to Vinum for wine shopping.  I snapped a few more photos on the way.

Someone has a weakness for Gremlins, Garfield, and Odie.  Guess they must be about my age.

 

The city square is looking fine, as usual.

 

I especially love visiting here when the sun is out.  Lots of people were enjoying the sun, drinking coffee and beer outside.  It was still a little too chilly for me.  I guess you can take a girl out of the South, but not the South out of the girl.

The entrance to my favorite bottle shop in these parts.  

 

They have whisky and other tastings, too.  We didn’t partake of any whisky today.

 

But if you want to try some of their wines, you can help yourself to the ones they set out.

 

Just grab a glass and go to town!  I only tasted two today.  I’m usually pretty shameless when it comes to tasting wines at Vinum, but restrained myself.

 

We did manage to score two bottles of Georgian Saperavi.  In fact, we cleaned them out of what they had on display.  I want to encourage them to stock more.  For those who are curious…

This is what we’ve picked up on our last few visits.  If you like leathery, full bodied reds with a lot of character, you may want to give it a try.

 

This was the total haul.  We were conservative because Bill forgot his wine bag and we are already pretty flush with vino right now.  I just got a bunch of Armenian wines from Armenian Brandy and Wines out of Belgium.

 

Right next to Vinum is an optical shop.  I liked the eye charts they had for men and women.

Apparently, women prefer shoes…

 

And men prefer beer.  Actually, I’d rather take the beer test.

On the way to the parking garage, I noticed someone was using a US mailbox.  I haven’t seen one of these in over three years.

Tübingen is always lovely, but especially when the sun is shining!  Bring on spring!

 

Tomorrow, it looks like we’re going to head to a place we’ve not yet been… provided the weather is decent and we get up and going in time.  We probably should have spent more time out and about today and probably would have, if not for the gusty wind!  I am so ready for better weather!

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Baden-Württemberg

Dinner at Afrika Bar und Restaurant– African food in Tübingen

I had every intention of getting out yesterday, but the depressing weather and my natural tendency toward being lazy kept me at home.  Bill decided that come hell or high water, today we were going to have lunch or dinner somewhere.  He decided he wanted to try the Africa Bar and Restaurant in Tübingen, mainly because he’d seen them at the Afrika Fest in years past and enjoyed their food.  Although I tend to be lazy this time of year, I couldn’t resist the promise of good food in a different setting.  Africa Bar and Restaurant, which has a focus on Ethiopian and Eritrean food, opened at 2:00pm today, so we decided to pay them a visit.

A familiar scene in the Catholic areas near where we lived.  The town we lived in when we lived here the first time was very Catholic and we saw lots of Fasching activities.  Where we are now is more Protestant, so there are no banners in our neighborhood.

We are about to hit prime time Fasching season here in Germany, so I took note of the typical decorations.  Indeed, in Tübingen today, we saw lots of young people decked out in costumes.  It’s their time to have a little fun before Lent starts.  Africa Bar and Restaurant is located near the university in Tübingen and it’s obviously a restaurant that is popular with the students.  We found street parking near the entrance, along with the charming graffiti noted below…

Yep, it’s a college town.

The outside of Africa Bar and Restaurant.  

We were invited to take any free table we wanted, so we picked a four top near the front door.  The menu was in German and Ethiopian and included South African wines and African specialties such as ostrich.

Bill checks out the menu.

 

All of the tables included information on the Injeera bread served with the dishes and how one is to use it while eating.  Also, there was information about the cuisine.

 

Bill and I decided to share a bottle of South African shiraz.  They also had a couple of other red varieties, white wines and blushes, as well as the usual beers and non alcoholic beverages.

This shiraz was very drinkable.  I would order it again.

I have had ostrich meat before and enjoyed it, but to me it’s the kind of thing that has to be done right.  I have had ostrich that I’ve loved and some that has almost made me puke.  So I decided to play it safe and have chicken.  I went with the Doro Wat, which was a very tender chicken leg and thigh with mildly spicy sauce, vegetables, a peeled, hard boiled egg, and very mild white cheese called Ayibe (cottage cheese that is mild and crumbly, kind of with the texture feta, used to soften the spiciness of the stew).

Doro Wat– basically chicken stew.  It was at about the time we got our food that they turned on the African music, which really added to the ambiance.  

Injeera bread.  You’re supposed to use the bread to pick up the food.  It’s kind of moist and tastes a little like sourdough.

Bill went with the ostrich, which was very good.  He had a choice of mild, medium spice, or spicy.  He had the medium spice and said next time, he’d try the spicy.  Bear in mind that Bill is from Texas and likes spicy food.  I don’t like it that much and was fine with the mild heat in my chicken dish.

 

If he hadn’t ordered the ostrich, Bill says he would have tried the vegetarian sampler, which is supposed to be very good.  It comes with lentils, spicy potatoes, and African vegetables.  There are also lamb and beef dishes available.  Most dishes were priced at about 12 euros and were very generously proportioned.  I saw some salads going for about six euros or thereabouts.

We were pretty full after we ate, so we decided to end with some Ethiopian coffee.  We had ourselves a little ceremony, of which I videoed.  See below.

See the steam coming out?  When that stops, the coffee is ready.

 

If you like coffee and don’t mind waiting for it, the Ethiopian coffee ceremony is an experience well worth enjoying.  First and foremost is the delightful aroma that comes from the coffee brewing.  It smells like chocolate and coffee and is just heavenly.  Then there’s the ritual of making the coffee and waiting for it to get to the right strength.  There’s popcorn for that.

Waiting… waiting… eating popcorn… and waiting…

 

There’s enough coffee for two cups each.  It’s served black and strong, with optional sugar if you want it.  I usually like a little cream in my coffee, but this was a pleasure to taste black with some sugar.  It was a great way to cap off a delicious and interesting meal.

All told, our bill came to about 57 euros.  Bill tipped generously, which earned a hearty thank you from our server.  We will definitely be back to try more of the East African delights at the Africa Bar and Restaurant.  In the warmer months, a terrace is available.  It’s also near a jazz club, which I know I would enjoy.

If you’re tired of the usual food in Stuttgart and don’t mind a trip to Tübingen, I would highly recommend a visit to the Africa Bar und Restaurant.  We found the food and service warm and the prices very agreeable… better yet, they had everything advertised on their menu, which is not always the case in some of the more exotic restaurants we’ve tried.  Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday (with a pause from 2-5pm) and from 2:00pm until 11:00pm on Sundays.  Monday is their Ruhetag.  Thumbs up from us!

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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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Kenn dein Limit… and lunch at Krumme Brücke in Tübingen

I saw this poster today and was rather proud that I managed to decipher it in under five minutes.

My eyes are finally back to normal and we had very pleasant weather today, so Bill and I decided to take a trip to Tübingen for lunch.  Actually, we started off and halfway there, I got paranoid about my curling iron.  I wasn’t sure if I turned it off.  So we turned around and came back.  I unplugged the iron, whizzed, and we started off again.  Then Bill got paranoid that the front door wasn’t locked.  Fortunately, we weren’t yet out of the neighborhood before he decided to turn around and check the lock.  All was fine, so off we went.  We reached Tübingen at about 2:00pm, which is when some restaurants stop for a pause in service.

The sign out front…

 

Nice…

Because we had arrived at the witching hour, we decided not to be too choosy about where we had lunch.  I noticed a pleasant aroma coming from Krumme Brücke, a little eatery I’ve passed a hundred times all five years we’ve lived in this area.  Although we have passed this restaurant many times and I have been curious about it, today was the first time we ever stopped in for food.

At 2:00pm, the place was pretty busy.  Most of the tables were full, though we managed to find a two top by the masonry heater across from the bar.  I saw some steps and wondered if maybe there was an upstairs dining room, but there wasn’t.  The short flight of steps led to the kitchen the the tiny bathrooms.  Krumme Brücke is truly a hole in the wall kind of place with not a lot of seating, especially as the weather cools down and everyone eats indoors.

The menu at Krumme Brücke is fairly eclectic.  Not only do they not take a pause between lunch and dinner, they also have a menu that is full of different stuff.  I think it’s mainly a German/steak restaurant, but I saw pasta, fish, and even a few “international” dishes.  I had gyros, for instance.  Bill had cevapcici, which is a Balkan dish.  I also noticed soups and salads.

Bill checks out the vitals on the victuals.

I wasn’t actually that hungry when we entered the restaurant, which was a blessing, because it took awhile before the wait staff got to us.  As we were waiting, the last three normal sized tables filled up, with only one tiny table facing the kitchen remaining open.  It had three chairs around it and appeared to be suitable only for drinks.  Speaking of drinks, it took awhile before we got ours.  But we both settled on Urtyp by Schwaben Brau, which was on draft.  We could have also chosen a bottled beer, wine, or any number of non alcoholic drinks.  It appeared that they had a full bar.

We tried not to be too conspicuous as we sat there waiting, but I couldn’t help but notice the young balding guy sitting at the large table next to us.  He kept staring at us.  I’m not sure why he was staring or why this often seems to happen to us in Tübingen area restaurants.  He wasn’t as obvious about it as the lady at Lustnauer Mühle was, but he was definitely noticeable in his noseyness.  Maybe it was my blue sweater.  I was wearing the same one today as I was during the last time we were assailed by a “looky lou”.

The other thing I noticed about this restaurant was that they were playing some really good American rock and soul from the 60s and 70s.  I was enjoying the music when I could hear it.  That’s actually one thing I note when I’m in a restaurant or a store.  If they play annoying Muzak, I probably won’t be back, especially if it’s a restaurant.  I have no complaints about the music in Krumme Brücke.

Bill’s Cevapcici, little sausages with ajvar sauce (mild red pepper sauce), fries, and onions.  It was pretty good and reasonably priced.  

My “German style” gyros.  I’m pretty sure this was once a schnitzel that was cut into strips and served with a rather watery tzatziki sauce.  I did enjoy the fries, though, which were nice and crisp.  The gyros tasted okay, but they weren’t really Greek style.  I probably wouldn’t order this again, although the German dishes I saw coming out looked really good.

  

Today’s offerings.

Once we finished up, Bill called for the check.  It was just over 26 euros.  After we paid, we headed over to Vinum.  We weren’t really planning to go there; I think I was just lured there out of habit.  We dashed in for a quick look, grabbed their last bottle of Georgian wine, and picked up a few cheap everyday bottles they were featuring on their tasting table.

We walked back toward the car a different way and I stumbled upon a do it yourself ceramic place.  We didn’t go in there, but I took note of it, because I figured some local American readers might be interested.  It appears to be a place where you can book an apartment to paint your own ceramics.

A couple of pics of Al Farbrica for the curious.  Like I said, I know next to nothing about this place, but am noting it for those who enjoy such activities.  We saw several women in there with girls and they appeared to be having a good time painting ceramics.  I also picked up a brochure, though it might be better to simply load the Web site in Google Chrome and get the low down.

 

We pressed on until we got to Die Kelter, which has sort of our go to spot for a final pee before we make the drive home.  We stopped in for a glass of primitivo for me and a double espresso for Bill.

They have The New Yorker in English and funky music to go with their beverages.

A parting shot before we made our way home.  I love Die Kelter.

One thing I noticed in the bathroom was a sign (at the top of this post) warning people not to drink too much.  It was in the bathroom stall, where many people have probably suffered the worst effects of being drunk.  It’s funny, because Die Kelter’s toilets are on the third floor and it’s a bit of a hike to get to them.  I would imagine it would be especially bad if one was very inebriated trying to get to them.  You have to climb several flights.  But anyway, I tickled myself by understanding the sign.  Basically it said that man can’t walk on one leg, nor on all four legs.  So know your limit or suffer the consequences!  They even have a Web site!

Alas, I don’t always…

So… that about does it for today’s blog post.  We’ll see what I come up with tomorrow.  Next week, we’re headed back to Ribeauville, so there will be France posts.

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Lunch at Gaststätte Stern and liquor at Vinum!

It’s been yet another exasperating week here in Germany.  It’s a long, irritating story that I won’t get into right now, except to say that I really needed an outing today to remind me why we still live here and rent our residence.  I am 45 years old and always thought I’d own my own house by now, but circumstances have prevented that reality so far.  So here I am, putting up with shit from my landlady, who evidently thinks I’m 12 and need instructions on everything… including how to use the toilet. (I’m serious– she really did this, though it happened a few years ago.  Right now, I’m apparently responsible for acts of God.).

I do love Germany and mostly enjoy Germans, but they do have a different culture here.  Sometimes I need to be reminded why it’s good to live here.  Today, Mr. Bill and I decided to go to Tübingen, a favorite haunt when we lived here the first time, from 07-09.  I had given serious thought to going to Calw and checking out the Fischmarkt, but we were out of wine.  It had been a long time since our last visit to Vinum, our favorite place to buy wine and other delectables.  I was thinking we’d pick up some vino and have lunch.  Since we arrived at just after one o’clock, we thought it would be better to eat first.

The sign outside Stern.

Right next to Vinum, there is an Italian restaurant called Gaststätte Stern.  We had never eaten there before and, as we noticed most of the city’s eateries were full of patrons, we decided to stop in for lunch.  The outdoor tables at the front of Stern were full, so we opted to eat inside, were there were a few open tables.  Stern also has an outdoor courtyard that you have to access through the dining room.  It, too, was full of people.

We sat down and after a few minutes, a waitress brought us a menu highlighting today’s specials, as well as a wine list.  A couple of items were sold out, which was no big deal.  Service was a bit slow, mainly because the restaurant was very busy.  However, though the service was slow, the wait staff was friendly and professional.  I wasn’t hangry, so it was okay to chill with wine and fizzy water.  Here are a few photos from today’s lunch adventure.

Bill checks out the cool looking art on the wall…

Like this… it had a price tag of 28 euros.  I liked it.

 

I saw a few things on the menu I liked.  One was the avocado salad pictured below.  I asked the waitress if it was large and she said it was “vorspeisen”.  She brought out two plates so we could share it.  I was glad she did that…

This was a beautiful salad, but it was good that we shared it.  It was a special today, running a little over eight euros.  This salad was avocados, tomatoes, onions, basil, capers, and a little olive oil.  I don’t usually like raw tomatoes that much, but these were very flavorful and went well with the avocados.  The capers really set off the dish with their mild mustard flavor.

 

There was a rather lengthy wait for our main courses.  For that reason, it was good that we had a salad first, coupled with bread.  There were three or four women covering the whole restaurant and they were very busy.  While we were waiting, a middle aged lady scooted into the table next to ours.  At first, I thought she and her husband, who joined her later, were Italians.  Indeed, it looked like a few Italians were dining at Stern today.  But then she started talking and it became clear that they were Spanish.  And they had arrived at the end of the lunch rush, so several of the specials were sold out.

Bill scored one of the dishes that sold out… it had rigatoni, tomatoes, basil, and eggplant, as well as a generous sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.

I went with spaghetti with fruits of the sea.  My dish had octopus, calamari (squid), shrimp, mussels, and tomatoes.  It was drizzled with a little olive oil.  I could not finish this dish, but it was delicious.  I especially enjoyed it washed down with a little reserve Chianti.

A look at the bar area and courtyard during a lull in service.

All told, our lunch ran us about 60 euros before the tip.  That was for two entrees, a salad, three glasses of nice wine, sparkling water, and bread.  After lunch, we went next door to Vinum, which we knew would be closing at four o’clock.  After tasting a few of the wines being featured, we picked out a couple of featured bottles…

Vinum also has wines on tap.  Buy or bring a bottle and you can score a bargain.  I was also told yesterday that Vinum will accept VAT forms.  We don’t use them that often ourselves, but some American readers with SOFA status may be interested in saving the tax.

 

I found a nice reserve Lemberger wine from here in BW.  Then I found Bill, who was very excited…

Vinum had a couple of bottles of Georgian wine!  I used to live in Armenia, which is just south of Georgia and also has good wines.  Bill went TDY to Georgia and learned just how excellent Georgian wines are.  It was exciting to find them here in Germany!

 

I had to tell the Asian saleslady about why we were excited to find Georgian wine.  I also told her about Armenian brandy and that if Vinum carried it, we’d be buying it.  Right now, I order it from Master of Malt out of England.  We bought 110 euros worth of vino… then headed out of the shop, where a guy was preaching to the masses in English.

He was right by the church.

Lots of people were up in the tower, looking out over the city.

I have never seen anyone preaching in English here before.

 

We headed to the main square and I realized I heard a bagpiper.  Sure enough, there was a guy there playing the pipes.  I was rather tickled, since we just left Scotland ten days ago.

Then I spotted a Vom Fass!

 

I was pretty excited to find Vom Fass in Tübingen.  Although we’ve been to the city a few times this year, for some reason, I never noticed it before today.  I asked the saleslady how long they’d been there and she said one year and four months.  We bought three liqueurs for the next time I have PMS.  And we promised the saleslady we’ll be back!

You can buy one of these bottles or bring your own and fill up for a bargain.  Or you can buy pre-bottled stuff, like we did.  They have oils, vinegars, wines, and spirits.

After we left Vom Fass, we ran into a guy blowing big bubbles…

But not before we walked down a quaint alley.

Bubbly!

 

Probably the best bubble pic I got.

Here he was, playing for the folks eating Italian and/or doner kebab.

We passed this vegetable stand on the way to Die Kelter, where we stopped for one last pee break and a round.  

Here’s a sign reminding people not to cross the street unless they see the green man.  Remember, children are watching!

We managed to get all the way home before the rain started coming down.  I am now sitting here thinking we’ll have to enjoy some of that vino we picked up today.  I love visiting Tübingen.  It always reminds me why I like living in Germany.

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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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Tübingen

A lovely lunch at the Alte Kunst in Tübingen

After a morning spent fretting over the immediate future, Bill enticed me to get dressed and come into the light… the light of Tübingen, that is.  He wanted to go out for lunch in Tübingen, one of our favorite local cities.  I was game, so I got dressed, sprayed on some sunscreen, and got in the car.  It was a good thing I put on the sunscreen.  More on that later.

We parked the car at our favorite garage, walked into town, and passed a rather paunchy guy wearing a funny tank top that read “Train harder than I do.”  We wound up stopping at the Alte Kunst restaurant.  To be honest, I had been wanting to stop there for years.  Last time we ate at the Alte Kunst in Tübingen was in 2009, right after Michael Jackson died.  I knew we were going to be moving soon and remember sitting outside eating dorade as I listened to Michael Jackson’s biggest hits on the radio.  I was kind of in a foul mood that day because I didn’t want to move and was really pissed off that we had to go a year early.  But I do remember the dorade was good.

Today, the outdoor seating at Alte Kunst was mostly full, save for one table in the sun.  We took that table, although we could have sat inside.  I was really glad I had applied sunscreen, because for the first half hour or so of our visit, I was getting a bit grilled.  I am a very white person and the sun doesn’t agree with me for too long.

Fortunately, the folks behind us left, so we were able to claim their more desirable table under an umbrella.  Not only was I no longer grilling in the sun; I was also spared from having to see my reflection in the store window across the street.  This was a good thing, since I ordered dorade again.  Dorade is pretty healthy as entrees go, but it usually comes out on a big platter and who wants to watch themselves eating from that?

Bill enjoys the sun while he decides on lunch.

A pretty table!

And today’s special!

I went with dorade, which was perfectly grilled with potatoes with just enough salt.  The fish was stuffed with a bay leaf and fresh lemon.  I have had dorade at a number of places and Alte Kunst consistently does it right… although I will admit that it had been awhile since our last visit.  This was priced at 18,80.

Bill had shrimp with pasta and vegetables.  He said the pasta was very simply prepared, with lots of garlic, a little butter, and very fresh shrimp.

 

I paid a few visits to the restroom.  One of the stalls lacked toilet paper, but the other one was well stocked.  And I was tickled to see that they had thoughtfully provided a range of products intended to comfort female guests.

A picture of the facade, after the sun had moved a bit.

 

There was a book fair going on… 

They had a lot of activities for kids, to include balloons, which we saw more than a few kids chasing down the hill past us as we ate.

I wish I could read German.

And it was good to see the Rathaus looking so nice.

Food trucks… and books…

And people who climbed the tower of the church to look over the city.  We have been there and done that!

But I never get tired of the city.  I can see why we almost never visited Stuttgart when we lived in Germany the first time.

For my yarn loving friends.  

Dueling Eis cafes.  These two ice cream parlors have been in these locations for years and they never hurt for business when the weather is good.  There is always a line for both and they are directly across the street from each other.

And there is Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for those who want it.

After lunch, we visited the Neckarmueller, since it had been awhile since our last visit.  Our favorite stand by biergarten was in full swing and we had no problem finding a table right by the river.

Mr. Bill enjoys a beer while gazing at the river.

Everybody was enjoying the river today.

Not long before I took this picture, we ran into a young couple and I asked them if they wanted me to take a photo of them.  I don’t know if they liked the picture…  Usually, Bill is the one who gets asked to take pictures.  He doesn’t have a resting bitch face like I do sometimes.

Looks like a good idea.  Bring your food and booze and enjoy the river.

 

As we were walking to the tunnel that would take us to our car, we ran into a young woman with two little kids who were shrieking with delight as they passed through the tunnel.  I heard her chastising them, so I gave her a big smile.  She smiled back.  I remember being a kid and enchanted by tunnels.

 

These guys were going tubing.  I hadn’t seen this since Texas.  

We finally ended up at Die Kelter, because I needed to whiz.  We sat in their biergarten and Bill had coffee.  I had beer.

Check out the ladybug!

The local brew is good.  This beer is made not too far from where we live.

 

It amazes me that my husband’s contract will end in 55 days…  We could be in Italy in that time or we could still be here… or back in the USA.  No matter what happens, I was reminded today of just how much I love living in Germany.  It may turn out I will love Italy just as much, or I may get to stay here… or I may go back to the States and plot to come back.  😉  All I can say is that I am very pleased to have the privilege of getting to live in Europe.  And this part of Germany is a real treat to get to know.

 
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Looky Lous… our adventures at Lustnauer Mühle in Tübingen

The weather this weekend has so far been cold and cloudy.  This is in stark contrast to last weekend’s glorious sunshine and warm temperatures.  Consequently, I wasn’t really feeling like doing much exploring today.  Nevertheless, by the time 3:00pm rolled around, I realized that I wanted to go out to eat.  I asked Bill if he’d like me to find a restaurant on our favorite restaurant app, OpenTable.  I’m always curious to see what’s on OpenTable in these parts.  When we lived here the first time, there was one restaurant in the entire Stuttgart area in the system.  Now there are several hundred.

I saw a place in Tübingen that looked interesting.  Lustnauer Mühle got good reviews on OpenTable, TripAdvisor, and Google.  I figured it was worth a try.  Off we went for a 6:30pm reservation.

The restaurant is in a part of town that, prior to this evening, we had not been to before.  We ended up parking in a university lot.  It was good that we did that, because once we found the restaurant in its very picturesque neighborhood, we noticed there wasn’t a whole lot of street parking.  It appears that the buildings next to the restaurant were recently torn down.  I’m not sure what will be built in the newly vacated space.

The outside of the restaurant.  You can’t tell, but there’s quite a construction site next to it.

We were warmly greeted by the very Italian proprietor, who invited us to sit at one of the two tops near the door.  I initially chose a small table by the wall, since I don’t like to look at other people when I’m eating.  Likewise, I don’t like it when people stare at me.  Unfortunately, the first table we chose was quite small.  We ordered wine, water, and antipasti to share, along with entrees.  There wasn’t enough room to accommodate all of the plates on the table without risking a disaster.  The friendly proprietor then invited us to move to a slightly larger table in the corner, which situated me with my back against the wall overlooking the dining area.  Bill sat perpendicular to me.

At our original table, Bill checks out the menu.

Bill decided to get a bottle of primitivo.  It was expertly presented by the friendly proprietor, who did something I have never seen before.  He pulled out a thermometer and put it in the bottle, in a show of making sure it was served at the right temperature.  I’m not sure if this was just a means of impressing us or he was actually concerned with the temperature.  Bill was intrigued, though.  I bet he gets himself one of those thermometers.

 

Whether or not the wine was at the optimal temperature, it was good.

 

The proprietor did not speak English, so our communication was in a smattering of Italian, German, and a few words of English here and there.  He had several nice looking people working with him, all of whom appeared to be Italians.  The ladies who were helping him serve were pleasant and attentive.

A little bruschetta to start things off.  It was at this point that we changed tables.

We split the antipasti, which included prosciutto, melon, mozzarella, tomatoes, tuna with cream and capers, and a mushroom garnish, which Bill removed before I took this photo.  This got dinner off to a good start.  I especially loved the tuna.  We also enjoyed the bread, which appeared to be pizza crust from the wood oven.

Things started to get weird as we were finishing our starter.  Another couple sat down at the table next to ours.  Due to the way our chairs were arranged, I was sitting perpendicular to their table.  If I looked ahead, they were directly in my line of vision, although I tried hard to avoid gazing at them.

The couple appeared to be an older German man and, perhaps, his somewhat younger wife… and if she was his wife, I felt kind of sorry for him.  She did not seem to be a very pleasant person.  In fact, because of the way my chair was arranged, I was in a position to watch his body language throughout the meal.  I’ve heard it said that about 80% of communication is non-verbal.  His non-verbal communication was screaming for help as she ran her mouth.

As we were waiting for our main courses, I noticed the woman sitting at the table near ours kept glancing over at us.  She’d say something to her companion, then crane her eyes my way.  She was not being discreet about it.  Her eyes would swivel to the left as she stared at me with what appeared to be a harsh scowl.

I ignored it the first couple of times it happened, but it became more and more obvious and distinctly rude.  I was reminded of another memorable and unpleasant experience Bill and I had at a restaurant the first time we lived here.  Fortunately, that time, the rude people were outed by the restaurant proprietor, who later explained to us the very embarrassing reason why they were in town.  We shared a laugh and I got a good story out of it.

Just as I started to realize the woman’s very overt staring, sneering, and glaring were not going to stop, our entrees arrived and we were mercifully, yet temporarily, distracted by food.

Bill had an Angus steak with white asparagus.  This was a rather tender filet cooked in red wine, but it was served well done.  The proprietor had not asked Bill what temperature he wanted the beef.  Nevertheless, Bill enjoyed the beef, even if it was more done than he would have cooked it.

 

I had a dorade filet.  I could have had a whole fish, but I find eating a whole dorade overwhelming and kind of weird (those eyes staring).  If I had known I was going to be stared at by another guest, maybe I would have gotten the whole fish so I could stare in its eyes.  The dorade was cooked in lemon juice and served with a medley of vegetables.  Thankfully, there were no mushrooms.  The filet was pretty good, although I did find some bones and scales.

 

As we ate dinner, the woman at the table near us kept looking at us, then speaking very animatedly to her companion, who sat mostly silently with his arms crossed and eyes cast downward.  Watching them, I was reminded of when I was in high school and took a speech class.  Every Friday, we had an exercise called “observations”.  We had to observe two people speaking and take note of their facial expressions, tone of voice, hand and body gestures, and other cues.  We were not allowed to “interpret” what we observed.  For instance, we weren’t supposed to say “I observed an angry man talking to his wife at the supermarket.”  Instead, we would say, “I observed a man at the supermarket talking to a woman.  He spoke loudly, used profanity, and made violent gestures with his hands.”

Just as I did for the “observations” activity in high school, I found myself covertly observing these two, even as I tried to avert my eyes and not stare.  It would have been easy not to stare if the woman at the table hadn’t been so obviously gawking at us and appearing to be unfriendly.  Had her companion not looked so uncomfortable and embarrassed, maybe I would not have made any assumptions.  In fact, maybe I wouldn’t have even noticed the woman at all, although she really gave off hostile vibes.

After our plates were cleared, the proprietor came over to chat with us some more.  He talked us into dessert, then asked us where we were from.  Bill explained that he’s from Texas and I am from Virginia, but we live here in Germany (for now, anyway).  He told us he lives in Entringen, which also happens to be the town where the restaurant our first “ugly German” dining experience occurred about eight years ago.  We used to live about two kilometers from Entringen.  Anyway, although the lady might have heard us speaking English, when we told the proprietor where we came from, the guy repeated it loudly enough for her to hear.  I could be wrong, but that’s when her glances seemed even more obvious and malicious.  I got the sense that she was pissed off that we were there.  In fact, I also wondered if maybe they were regulars and we were sitting at the table where she likes to sit.  I really have no idea.

I ordered a chocolate souffle, which turned out to be pretty much a glorified lava cake with Hershey’s syrup drizzled on it.

Bill had better luck with the tiramisu.

When the desserts arrived, the woman at the table next to ours took conspicuous note of our selections, then turned to her companion and started speaking animatedly again.  His arms remained folded and he was quiet and stern looking as she jabbered on, using her hands for emphasis and stealing more glances at me.  I found myself glaring back at her more than once.

After dessert, I told Bill that I needed to use the ladies room.  I said, “I bet that woman will watch me the whole time.”  Sure enough, she did.  And she watched Bill when he got up to pee, too, very obviously staring at him as he walked to the bathroom and came back to sit down.

The funny thing is, as we were driving to the restaurant, I was talking to Bill about why I like living in Germany and I mentioned that most Germans tend to be polite, reserved, and reasonable about a lot of things.  With very rare exceptions, I have found this to be true many times over the four and a half total years I’ve spent here.  And then tonight, we ran into someone who behaved… well… a bit like a lunatic.  While I don’t know why this woman was so fascinated by and inquisitive about our dining habits, her behavior struck me as extremely and egregiously rude– like maybe there was something wrong with her psychologically.  I am at a loss as to what her issue was and why she seemed to seethe with hostility toward us.

The bill for tonight’s adventure came to 94 euros before the tip.  As we were leaving, the friendly and charming proprietor said goodbye, shook our hands, and said he hoped we’d be back.  I probably would go back to the restaurant because it looked like their pasta and pizza dishes had promise.  We also liked the ambiance of the place, even though another guest acted boorishly.  Most of the other diners seemed to be enjoying themselves as the food came and the wine flowed.  But… before we go back there, I think we’d like to try the equally intriguing German restaurant directly across the street, which has what appears to be a very nice biergarten.  Maybe if we visit there, we will be able to dine in peace without being gawked at by Looky Lous.

The sun was setting as we walked back to the car, which was not bothered during our dinner.

A sticker on a pole.  I like to read these sometimes because they can offer insight into a place.

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Baden-Württemberg, Tübingen

Love was in the air at Hotel La Casa in Tübingen

Ever since my traumatic adolescence, I’ve made a point of trying to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  When I was a young, frisky thing, I was almost always ignored on cupid’s big day.  At my high school in Gloucester, Virginia, every Valentine’s Day there was a dreaded list read at the end of the school day. It consisted of all the students– naturally all girls– who had received flowers and needed to pick them up in the office.  My name was NEVER on that list, although I do think one year a friend took pity on me and brought me carnations at home.

Anyway, for many reasons, I’m a lucky lady now.  I married a sweet guy who likes to spoil me and enjoys eating out in restaurants.  We decided to go out for Valentine’s Day this year.  Originally, we were going to try a new to us place in Pliezhausen, but then I started seeing ads for Hotel La Casa’s Valentine’s Day event on Facebook.  Bill and I dined at Hotel La Casa’s Refugio restaurant last year and we were very impressed with it.  So we cancelled our reservations at the first place and booked a table at Refugio.

This was the ad that attracted me…

Normally, reserving at the hotel’s restaurant is very easy to do.  Just use OpenTable.de!  But because the hotel was running a special dinner complete with a musical guest, we had to call directly for tickets, which were 69 euros a piece and included everything but beverages.  They mailed us the tickets, which arrived a day after we ordered them.

Last night’s program consisted of Swing and Jazz Romance hits from the “Golden Twenties”, which isn’t as old fashioned as it might sound.  Virtuoso pianist Duncan Galloway and a male singer whose name I didn’t catch were playing classic hits like “I’m Confessin'”, “Witchcraft”, and “The Girl from Ipanema”.  It was quite enjoyable if you like that sort of thing… and I do.

Our view of the festivities.  We were at Table 1.  I was glad to see they had a full house!

The dinner consisted of four courses.  They had a vegetarian/vegan option and a meat option.  Bill and I opted for the regular meat option.

Bill takes in the scene.

There were candles and flowers and hearts everywhere…

 

I started with champagne.  Bill wanted a bottle of wine with dinner, but they brought him a glass. 

Then they brought out the amuse…  a curried shrimp with red cabbage and pesto.

Next came cod with pureed Jerusalem artichoke and spinach, topped with champagne sauce.

Crustacean soup!  This was delicious, with its clear, briny broth and two shrimp filled raviolis.

Then came the meat course.  This was veal with a medley of Italian vegetables.  I don’t actually eat veal very often, but I will admit this course was very nice.  I gave some of my veal to Bill, who has fewer moral objections to eating it.

A well satisfied date!

Finally, we had dessert, which was white chocolate mousse with hibiscus.  I probably would have preferred chocolate, but this was a nice, light ending.  

 

Hotel La Casa is a beautiful place and I’m hoping someday we can spend a weekend there, sans dogs (because they aren’t allowed).  The spa alone is tempting, but the restaurant is also excellent.  The food has been beautifully presented and delicious on both of our visits and the service is friendly and very professional.  I definitely recommend it for a great date night, especially if you like design.  The dining room is very stylish.

Yours truly, whispering sweet nasties in Bill’s ear.

I asked my Facebook friends if I should go for pretty or cuddly.  They all said cuddly, but Bill wanted pretty… so I went with pretty.  

Anyway, this was another successful Valentine’s Day celebration.  We had a great time and those traumatic memories of my youth have been successfully buried for yet another year.  I hope your Valentine’s Day was just as enjoyable!

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