STIR THE POTS

Glacé (El Bertin)

 

 

So one of our last rode trips was to Schaffhausen, an idyllic and historically filled village, with a huge hill to climb up to a castle. Let it be known, my family like to climb, hike and visit castles.... But they also like ice cream and can be convinced to take a scoop before schlepping up the hill for a view. We found two shops and the one we picked looked quite interesting with a huge list of flavors and a view of the laboratory where they make fresh gelato style goodies.This one was called El Bertin and I got a remarkable sweet potato pecan and one other flavor. I was so taken by it's texture and flavor that I wrote them to inquire about specific style, and method of there glacé. Visit when in Schaffhausen, and jah the view from above was schoen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ballenberg

Visiting Switzerland this past summer, one of our day trips led us through the alps to an open-air museum in the town of Ballenberg. Celebrating the local region, it included a terrific exhibit on the milling of local flour and the baking of local breads. 

 

Läckerli

As usual my sister is filled with a busy schedule, and that includes making läckerli, my brother in-laws favorite go to cookie for office parties; and it's no wonder for the taste of  the Baselland delicacy, of a nut and spiced baked cookie lingers if they last long enough to enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

Upon arriving to her home, we were volunteered to fill bags for gifts for an a cappella  singing ensemble, the Harvard Krokodiloes. And of all places to come sing! Here's some sights and sounds of the labor we toiled over for an Ivey league boy band!

Restaurant Ramloc in Colmar (Alsace)

Visiting Colmar on a day trip from Basel on my annual trip to Switzerland, luck led me  to Restaurant Ramloc. The chef's wife told us they were newly opened but had 20 years in the food business. It showed in terrific, honest family fare. We took two hours for a savory lunch, overlooking the square and a wonderful rainstorm to chill out from the summer heat. 

 

 

Panzerotti from Sabino Spadaccino

Eccoli qua! Sabino Spadaccino in action, making a glorious feast on my visit to Ticino. Here he does a panzerotti, an Apulian savory turnover often compared to a calzone. They can be baked but are more commonly fried. Sabino made the classic tomato cheese filling and another with ricotta and salami, according to him the Neapolitan version. Both were delicious and surprisingly light! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Xocolatl

Sitting on the Rhine river in Basel Switzerland, Xocolatl is a cafe that specializes in fair-trade coffee and chocolate. Known as "bean-to-bar, it's a lovely place to sit and just inhale the rich aromas as you enjoy coffee, chocolate, and tarts. Here are some photos of what we enjoyed on a visit to their incredibly crafted chocolate and coffee shop.

Ticino

Visiting Basel while in Switzerland to see my sister, we met up with Sabino Spadaccino and his beautiful wife, Suzanne Schmollgruber. Together, we took a train down the alpine spine to Ticino, the Italian speaking Swiss canton. There we had a great afternoon hanging out at Il Grotto da Peo, a rustic family kitchen overlooking Lago Maggiore. Besides delicious appetizers and drink, we also got a kick from the regional custom of using coins sitting on the table to deter local wasps from threatening to bite - somehow they get entranced and stay away. It works. Later that evening, Suzanne and Sabino prepared a delicious meal and party. A day and night to remember. Grazie. 

 

 

Harem Coffee

My sister, who lives in Basel, finally got a small Delonghi espresso maker. Visiting her, it struck me that the coffee she uses wasn't doing much in that machine. Initially, we attributed the problem to the local water, a solution rich in calcium. Despite my sister and her husband blaming the water for the less-than-stellar coffee, I was sure that the issue was the coffee they used. Every sip made me nostalgic for the brew I use back in Sunnyside, Queens, namely Harem. Then on a trip to Freiburg, across the border in Germany, we spotted a store selling my favorite beans. Just in the nick of time, as the store was about to close. But they sold us a bag and we brought it home and after reconfiguring her espresso machine, delivered terrific Harem coffee.  

 

 

 

Brot Bäcker Michael Schulze (Freiburg)

Visiting Switzerland to see my sister for a few weeks, one day we drove to Freiburg, Germany. The purpose was to visit Michael Schulze, the terrific head baker at Bäckerei Pfeilfe, which is actually a collection of 10 local bakeries. Check him out on Instagram. Here are some shots of our visit. 

 

 

 

An Iced Cheese Plate

As the summer heat  winds down , I have to save fruits from rotting and cheeses from peaking. My latest gelato and sorbet flavors are unctuous cheese (mascarpone) and fruit, almost like a cheese course.