cmling

Another titan has left us.

The man is evidently a genius. Thanks for the links.

I am sure using the suggested chocolates will make a difference, but it will probably be subtle.

Some nice wines at entirely absurd prices.

A professional cook who is a good acquaintance of mine told me Bamix is the Rolls-Royce (well, this term no longer means what it used to, but you get my drift) of similar products.

Sorry for my ignorance, but what is café gourmand?

Don't worry one bit. I have been living in Vienna for decades and dine alone about 80 % of the time. All the restaurants I know (quite a lot!) will make you feel welcome.

I think Bierhalle Kropf just might fit the bill. It is a 10 - 15 minute walk from the main station, it is as budget-friendly as Zürich gets (i.e. not really, but what can you do?), and I like it. I hasten to add that I haven't been there for a couple of years, but I think it's the kind of place that doesn't change very much! A bit of information (the restaurant does not seem to have a website of its own - not necessarily a bad thing): http://www.frommers.com/destinations/zurich/D36069.html

Sounds and looks completely delicious! (Do click the "Full meal here" link, friends. It's worth it.)

Actually, "bleu" and "saignant" seem self-explanatory to me. "Blue" (which implies a cool, uncooked centre) and "bloody", respectively.

I did the same (Leiden) in a similar situation , but only because I am already fairly familiar with Amsterdam and wanted to see a town I thought would be (and was) rewarding.

Very sad news. I have fond memories of the Auberge, too.

Thank you, Pille, for the wonderful photos. It is now more clear to me than ever that I must eat at El Bulli.

The first four of these are new to me! Very interesting indeed. It's "Meinl am Graben", by the way (and also "Österreicher im MAK", but I know umlauts are difficult!). Edited by John Talbott to correct spelling.

Am I wrong in thinking that Paul Haeberlin is also an ancien élève of Point's? (I know that his son is now the chef at the Auberge de l'Ill, but I think, and hope, that Paul H. is still alive and involved in some way or other.)

I can heartily recommend Österreicher im MAK. Do not expect huge portions, though.

Just a few further comments concerning what pennylane wrote. The outdoor market next to a church (around the church, I would say) is right in the centre of town, and the church is not what I would call "a" church, but Freiburg's minster with one of the most beautiful Gothic spires to be found anywhere. The indoor market is called "Markthalle" (also in the centre of town). The Black Forest is "Schwarzwald" in German. "Schwarzewald" might confuse search engines if you are looking things up. And I fear pennylane was not directed to its most beautiful parts - they are impressive indeed.

Not crazy at all. The South-West corner of Germany is the most rewarding of all. Freiburg is in the South of the Black Forest. I can wholeheartedly recommend the restaurant of the Hotel Colombi. Absolutely reliable. Hirschen (Breisgauer Str. 47) in Freiburg also merits praise. Less pomp and circumstance than Colombi, but excellent value for money. But as you are talking about the North of the Black Forest, then you are talking about Baiersbronn. Which brings us to what is often called the best restaurant in Germany, the Schwarzwaldstube at the Hotel Traube-Tonbach, where I have had many surpassingly superb meals, and "Bareiss", which has just now acquired its third Michelin star. Not easy to get reservations in either place at such short notice! But if you say it's your wedding anniversary, you might have a decent chance! (Needless to say, there is much, much more. But I just wanted to mention the pinnacle and offer a comment on Freiburg, a town I know very well.)

Just curious: Why is it called "Instant"?

I think it was in 1979 that I encountered a "mousse de persil" at the Auberge de l'Ill. It accompanied "rognons de veau". Worked very well.

I have had nothing but pleasant and often very rewarding experiences with French sommeliers (all of them male, admittedly, but I see no reason why this might not change), many of which were in countries other than France. They all seemed happy in their work; I might even write more pompously "devoted to their cause".

Juan Amador might be mentioned. His restaurant (in Germany) just received the 3rd Michelin star.

Many years ago (the last time I ate there was in 1980), back in the days when Germany had zero 3-star restaurants, Berlin had the 2-star "Maître", which was very fine indeed.

Thanks for your very interesting comments! I am afraid the link to the pictures doesn't work for me, however.

I certainly sympathise with Terrasanct, and I think docsconz's suggestion is very good. But, and please pardon my curiosity, I have never heard of the combination claustrophobia and agoraphobia? It must make life doubly hard.