Relais & Châteaux is an exclusive collection of 500 of the finest charming hotels and gourmet restaurants in 60 countries. From the vineyards in Napa valley to the beaches in Bali, from the olive trees in Provence to the lodges in South Africa, Relais & Châteaux offers all the stops on the finest route for discovering each special place and country.
In all our properties, each maître de maison draws upon his unique experience and passion to share the authentic culture and tastes of his region with every guest.
Magical places and memories of a lifetime: whether it be a romantic weekend or to celebrate the important moments of life such as birthdays, anniversaries, honeymoon or family reunions.
Established in France more than 50 years ago, Relais & Châteaux has become a renowned reference of excellence in the hotel and restaurant world. The Association's mission is to spread its unique art de vivre across the globe by selecting outstanding properties with a truly unique character.
Weekly closing: Gourmet restaurant: Monday and Tuesday. “Dorfstuben”: open every day Annual closing: Gourmet restaurant: from January 9th to February 4th and from July 31rst to August 26th. “Dorfstuben”: open all year.
My grandmother was a wonderful cook. It wasn’t so easy to put one over on her when it came to cooking. And even if I wasn’t really aware of this as a child, I am sure that she was the person who influenced me in my formative years.
I did my training and apprenticeship in hotels with excellent cuisine and great chefs: at the Hotel Bareiss, at the Victorian in Düsseldorf, with Alain Ducasse at the Hotel de Paris, at the Rheinhotel Fischerzunft with André Jaeger and at the Le Val d´Or with Johann Lafer – to mention just a few. The mosaic stones of all these experiences put their stamp on me: all these chefs shared a high degree of professionalism, perfect mastery of their art and the uniqueness of their own style.
In 1992 I became executive chef at my old training venue, the Hotel Bareiss. As someone who had gone through the “Bareiss mill”, it was a great challenge for me to take over the then 2-star gourmet restaurant at the hotel. The best and most wonderful day of my time here was – and I can remember the exact minute – noon on 13 November 2007, a Tuesday. That was when we received the news that the restaurant had been awarded its third Michelin star.
What was your most moving culinary experience? It always moves me when I have the privilege of eating and enjoying a good product that has been well prepared: a juicy apple straight from the tree or the freshly baked bacon pancakes in an inn or a langouste in a gourmet restaurant.
The most amusing kitchen incident you ever witnessed? At the Restaurant Bareiss we have a really harmonious atmosphere both front of house and back stage. No-one goes down to the cellar to laugh. However, even a hearty laugh cannot compensate for the by no means insignificant pressure imposed on us by our own demands and the expectations of our guests. Last but not least, we take great pleasure in delighting our guests. But in the final instance that doesn’t have an awful lot to do with fun.
Your best piece of advice for amateur chefs? Not to try and turn your passion everywhere into a quasi-profession.
Germany
