Story and photos by Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling GourmetTM
The resourceful Travelling Gourmet tells you about one of Vienna’s best hotels and its super restaurant…
MAKING my way into the Ritz Carlton Vienna after a simply “splendide” Degustation Dinner in the spanking new Kempinski Hotel Palais Hansen on No. 24 Schottenring…ueber coool jazz music greeted me. It was a 3 piece band with a tall, attractive, black haired lady Bass player, a Guitarist and a Clarinet player. I asked them to play “Harlem Nocturne” by Earle Hagen. They played it…very beautifully. It is the theme of one of my favourite TV shows, namely Mike Hammer PI, so well played by Stacy Keach. That is the Ritz Carlton for you, everything works and only the best will do…and the staff here are very professional and helpful.
Delightful, Delectable…
“Distrikt” which features traditional Austrian Spezialitaten with a 21st Century twist. I loved my Wiener Schnitzel for lunch! A 2mm thin breaded crust, so crunchy and crisp like a Carr’s Table Water biscuit, it enveloped 3 to 5 mm thin escalope of tasty Kalbfleisch or veal. Pounded to perfection before frying to tenderize the meat, authenitc Wiener Schnitzel is made ONLY with veal or Kalbfleisch by law! Perfect with a glass of Austrian white wine like Gruner Veltliner from my good friend, Fritz Wieninger’s Winery. They also have the Chef”s Grandma’s recipes. This is comfort food par excellence served family style in smart casual 5 star surroundings! I also adore the lovely and witty mottos on the walls,some are adapted from English mottos. It reminded me of one of my favourite restaurants in sunny Singapore, namely, Prego Italian Ristorante in Swissotel.
The pool 18 m long and 1.37m deep is fabulous. I love it! It has a jacuzzi and jet shower too!It is made of steel, one of my favourite metals. The gym is high tech and very good for Cal;orie burning after all that gourmet food and wines! I was up every morning at 06:00 for a jog, then a work0ut in the Gym followed by a swim and a Sauna. They also have a Steam Room. Ah, this is the life! Live every moment as if it is your last. In this crazy world, one never knows…
The Club Lounge on level 7 is so good and comfy…you do not want to go out out for shopping… Laura from Spain is as helpful as she is pretty. The panoramic view from the Rooftop Bar is wunderschoen! The markings showing the distance to Ritz Carltons around the world like Moscow and Dubai is an excellent touch. Breakfast is very good. I ordered a Spanish Omelette to test the Chef. It arrived promptly with very good colour contrast scattered with brunoise of red, green and gold capsicum, ham and cheese. The centre too was not over-done. My compliments to the Chef!
In your suite, they have a Nespresso Coffee maker, beloved of George Clooney. It is nice after shopping and sightseeing to make your own Espresso…and relax over reading the latest news in Die Welt. The bed is titanic and so ueber-comfy, once your head touches down…you fall into a happy snooze like a baby…
To be continued…
The Travelling Gourmet 