An essential part of the festive season is coming together with friends and family to catch up and enjoy each others company. Did you ever notice that at the heart of these activities is always food? That's why we made our way up to the iconic Bürgenstock Resort, situated high above Lake Lucerne, to do a Festive Season Tasting in four of their restaurants. From classic French cuisine to oriental flavors, there is something for every taste!
The Oak Grill
Our Festive Season Tasting starts at The Oak Grill Restaurant. Awarded with 14 Gault & Millau points, this restaurant celebrates Farm-to-Table from Nose-to-Tail. It is famous for its fine wood-fired grill that imparts exclusive flavors to Swiss gourmet meats. The atmosphere here is warm, cozy and yet classy thanks to a centered fireplace that sets a unique atmosphere. A great place to spend a night celebrating during the holidays.
The feast starts with a foie gras parfait, artfully shaped into a duckling. It continues with a delicious monkfish before an "Entrecôte Double" from a local farm is served. What a delight! For dessert, we get surprised by a beautiful Christmas tree covered in chocolate. Inside, it is filled with Griottes cherries, cinnamon and Centenario Concha 70%. A thing of beauty that looks almost too wonderful to eat!
Ritzcoffier
Contemporary French cuisine takes center stage at Ritzcoffier. Here, creatively composed menus focus on the finest ingredients mainly sourced from local producers. Seasonal dishes are paired with regional flavors, all combined with luxurious attention to detail.
Our evening begins with a deliciously tender Balik salmon, served with three free-range eggs and caviar. A wonderful start to an unforgettable evening. The salmon is followed by a "foie gras au torchon" with figs, port wine and local Bürgenstock honey. This is accompanied by a delicious brioche. We continue with a Breton lobster before the traditional "Beef Wellington" is served. This is a fillet of Hereford beef in a coating of truffle and puff pastry. Simply divine!
For dessert we are treated to a "Snow White Dome". This dome of white chocolate surrounds a cleverly composed dessert of citrus, basil and yogurt. The evening doesn't end here, however. A Christmas themed Friandise Trolley is wheeled up to the table. Artfully decorated, a variety of delicious chocolates are offered. The perfect ending to a wonderful evening!
Spices Kitchen Terrace
The Restaurant Spices Kitchen & Terrace with its oriental cuisine brings authentic flavors from Japan, China, India and Thailand to the heart of Switzerland. Awarded 16 Gault & Millau points, this restaurant offers not only gastronomy on a high level, but also magnificent views over Lake Lucerne.
Our feast here begins with a selection of delicious appetizers. Among them the delicious "Sushi Meshi Age No Avocado". It is crispy rice with avocado and a fresh mango salsa. With it, "Pla Hoy Shell Gub Kamin Kaow" is served. It is a salad with scallops in a homemade roasted chili paste and white turmeric. Extremely delicious! The third dish is called "Chai Shao Su". These Chinese-style baked Char Siu pork patties are a delightful taste experience.
The next course is a Seafood Paitan Soup. This classic Japanese seafood cream soup is enriched with shimeji mushrooms. Delicious! After the soup, three dishes are served again. All are shared among us at the table. One of them is "Khao Soi Gea", a noodle curry prepared in the northern Thai style with lamb. It is accompanied by an Indian "Awadhi Murg", a low-cooked chicken with cashews, shredded coconut & yogurt sauce. The third dish is a Sichuan "Zhang Dou Xia". These wok-fried giant shrimp are enriched with Sichuan pepper, crispy garlic and snake beans.
For dessert we get treated with a divine creation called “Spices Christmas Surprise”. A wonderful creation with bananas, pistachios, and litchi.
Lakeview Bar & Cigar Lounge
The Bürgenstock Signature high tea offers a mid-afternoon break to indulge in conversation and culinary delights. It is offered at the Lakeview Bar & Cigar Lounge which is characterized by its floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows overlooking Lake Lucerne. For the festive season, guests can now look forward to an Afternoon Tea of a special kind. Of course, scones must not be missing. These are enjoyed with various garnishes such as passion fruit cream, jam and clotted cream.
Furthermore, the Classic Afternoon Tea Sandwiches are served. These are accompanied by truffled arancini balls with Taleggio cheese. We found these particularly delicious. They go great with a glass of champagne! For the meat lovers, there is beef tartare and a delicious foie gras quiche with veal. If you prefer something lighter, you will love the salmon sandwich with lake trout caviar!
Of course, sweet pastries are a must for an Afternoon Tea. Especially during the Christmas season! We enjoy a hazelnut choux, a Santa hat made with linzer tart and cranberry, and other treats like gingerbread or an apple Christmas treat. As a special highlight there is also a Gugelhupf from chestnut and with spices. Simply delicious!
Do you want to learn more about the Bürgenstock Resort? Then read this article about our last stay there.
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