petit, chic café in Petite France, Strasbourg, France

Last month, I have spent a few good hours in Petite France and of course I would not miss the opportunity shopping in Strasbourg town centre.

It had been raining for days so I was extremely content with the hot and sunny weather, even though, most Chinese including me do not really like to get too tanned. But what could I do, I could not miss such a nice weather, I put on a stronger sunscreen which did not help much but better than nothing. I could not care less anymore.

My main objective that day was to take many nice photos of Petite France. I have visited this place more than 10 years ago but the weather was cold and rainy on that day.

Petite France quarter - ”the district on the waters”, is the most picturesque district of old Strasbourg. Fishermen, millers and tanners once lived and worked in this part of town where the streets have been built level with the waterways. The magnificent half-timbered houses date from the 16th and 17th centuries. Their sloping roofs open out onto lofts where hides were once dried.

 

 

Initially I did not intend to eat in a restaurant that day as I did not feel like spending a long lunch hour in a touristic restaurant. However after a while, I stopped walking and was attracted by the cappuccino ordered by the two customers sitting outside. I was curious and looked inside and immediately I knew I have to stop here for a quick lunch or drink, the interior decoration of this café is just so stylish and artistic, simply irresistible! 

La Tinta Café: Outside it is not so noticeable, but inside I felt as if I have found a hidden gem.

 

Bar or spa? (this is one of my favorite pictures edited by myself)

 

The lunch menu is priced very reasonable, cost €10.50 with main course and dessert. I have chosen to have risotto with scrimps and strawberry chantilly.

Risotto with Scrimps, Dill, Red Peppercorns & Blanched Almonds

 

C'est très delicieux!!!

Everything is so detailed in this little cafe from furniture to tableware, you can tell the owner has put her whole heart to this place. The owner was kind enough to let me taking pictures and I promise to let her know after I have posted in my blog. She was very friendly and I was so happy that I could engage a short conversation with her with my limited French.

Look more closely to the ceiling...

The furniture matches so well!

I finished with a scrumptious cappuccino.

 

La Tinta Cafe

36 Rue du Bain aux Plantes

67000 Strasbourg

Looking from inside...

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restaurant Säge, basel, switzerland

 

 

 * zur Säge means next to the saw-factory; wirtshaus means inn                      —>i.e. the inn next to the saw-factory

 

 

On my actual birthday this year, my hubby took me to a haute cuisine restaurant as a treat. I had been there once for a christmas party from work but this time was a private occasion, it indeed felt more special.

This restaurant is not located in the city centre (13 km outside centre of Basel) but can be reached by tram easily from town in 15 mins. It is well-known in the neighbourhood and I later found out that it is awarded with one Michelin star but the owners which are a young couple are pretty low profile about it as I did not see anything when I entered the restaurant.

You will not expect to have any menus hand out to you. Sandra Marugg Suter, the co-owner had detailed their menu of that day carefully to us. For the main course, there were two different meat to choose from. In case, you don’t like anything, you can just let them know to change to something else.

So this is what we had that day:

 Greeting Starter: White asparagus soup & salad with white aspagus & local ham from Flüh.

 

2nd Starter: Herb mousse with herb brioche, small salad & grilled perch & scampi. The scampi cooked just right!

 

1st Main Course: Grilled Lamp Chop from Scotland. The lamb was great, the meat was rosé.

 

Accompanies: Rosemary new potatoes & broccoli mousse. I am fond of potatoes normally but with new potatoes, it’s a different story. Whatsmore: Rosemary & potatoes are just perfect match. How can I resist!

 

2nd Main Course: Lasagna with garlic and chicken. I was surprised of how the chicken came out as they have been able to cook it just right. It was so tender and looked a little pink but not undercooked. If you don’t like garlic, you can ask them to leave out but I love garlics.

 

1st Dessert: Fresh Strawberries in Rosé Champagne with Peppermint ice-cream. Because it was my b’day, I had a special treat & had taken an extra dessert from their list.

 

2nd Dessert: This was the dessert that originally went with the menu: Quark with fresh apricots, on the side was flaky pastry. What was written on the plate—Gute Geburgtstag means happy birthday.

 

Final round: Cappuccino; the swan-shaped aluminium foil was a special patisserie to take away. Too full to eat more …. 

 

This is what’s inside the swan-shaped aluminium foil: Rhubarb Kugelhopf. We had it for breakfast, making us recalling the lovely dinner. 

 

Wow, 6 courses dinner: 2 starters, 2 main courses and 2 desserts. And of course, good food cannot go without wine, we had a bottle of wine from Gaja, Toscana. This restaurant is certainly recommended for special occasions. I am very pleased that you could find restaurants in Switzerland that served contemporary dishes.

 

Wirtshaus aur Säge

Steinrain 5, 4112 Flüh SO

Tel: +41 61 731 1577

http://www.saege-flueh.ch

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