Story and photos by Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gourmet TM

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The dashing and debonair Travelling Gourmet TM goes to the mountains 525 meters high ASL (Above Sea Level) to experience…

MARVELLOUS hospitality, service of the highest standards, and most excellent gourmet delights of food and wine in Relais and Chateaux’s Parkhotel Sonnenhof...high up in the mountains of the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Friday 16 April 2015

47.51 degrees North  8.84 degrees East

Far from the madding crowd…

I arrived here in the evening to find a secluded hilltop hotel resort shrouded by mysterious clouds and swirling mist. It was raining heavily and a trifle chilly. Brought to my suite…I found a most comfortable and well appointed residence…right out of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Tastefully furnished in a combination of Beaux Arts and Art Deco styles with black and white highlights. I checked my Swiss personal Altimeter..I was 525 meters above sea level.

Yes, it cannot be denied that this is but one of their many hideaways of the rich, powerful and famous…where they can enjoy the fruits of their hard work, away from the pestilential prying papparazzi…You even have your own private patio where you can lounge, relax and just admire the view of the Swiss Alps while having a glass of wine….I could not resist an Espresso when I spied my personal Nespresso machine in the well stocked Pantry…but when I sank my head into the big, soft, fluffy and cuddly pillows, not even Caffeine could prevent me from going into a  peaceful and most happy snooze…

Soothing Salon

In the cosy and tranquil Salon that is also a Library, You can relax and enjoy a glass of Leichtenstein Brauhaus beer which has a resemblance to Singapore’s Tiger beer. The smooth beer is light and refreshing on a warm Spring day. Brauhaus beer is the light and refreshing beer of this tiny but fascinating country that is Leichtenstein. I checked with my personal Altimeter which read 525 meters ASL. From the hotel you can enjoy a superb and inspiring view of mystical Schloss VADUZ which is the home of the Prince of Leichenstein. Every time I see das Schloss Vaduz (Vaduz Castle) I am reminded of that Comedy Action Thriller movie called “The Grand Budapest Hotel”.

Das Schloss Vaduz photo copyright by Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gormet TM

Leichenstein is a Principality like Monaco and is land-locked, being surrounded by Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The border between Leichenstein and Switzerland is an open border. Interestingly, peaceful Leichtenstein has no standing Army! The Swiss on the other hand are armed to the teeth and all their bridges are mined with explosives that can be detonated at the drop of a hat if they are attacked. How do I know this you ask?? Well, im Hoch-Deutsch: Wir haben unsere Art und Weise…:-)

Near the Reception is a Wall of Fame with photos of many VIPs who have stayed here including Ban Ki Moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Queen of Belgium.

The Travelling Gourmet sharing a joke with charming Jutta Real the Besitzerin (owner) of Parkhotel Sonnenhof

Fabulous Fruehstueck!

Fruehstueck or Breakfast is a gourmet’s delight here. From freshly squeezed Orange, Grapefruit and Tomato juices to a lovely selection of assorted Cheeses including Swiss and Leichtenstein varieties, Proscuitto, Salame, Ham and more…Cereals & Muesli  with Pumpkin Seeds, Figs, Fresh Strawberries, Apricots, Dried Mango, Prunes, Pear, Pineapple…you are spoilt for choice.

J’adore the Salmon Omelette with Onions Brunoise and its soft moist center served a la minute to your order.

The Spanish Omelette is also super yummie!

The Spanish Omelette is absolutely delicious with a soft, just slightly raw center…as it should be

Most satisfying….Other tempting Breakfast treats include lovely wholemeal Croissants, Butter Croissants, Danish Pastries, the uniquitous Pain au Chocolat, Roggenbrot (Rye), Farmer’s Loaf and more…My favourite table is in the far corner by the colourful stained glass window…where I have a panoramic view of the majestic snow capped Swiss Alps basking in the bright morning sun framed by powder blue skies!

My favourite table…

Moroccan Pool

The tranquil heated indoor Moroccan style swimming pool is really excellent.  Moroccan decorations like copper coffee pots provide a unique ambience. After all the food and wine tasting as The Travelling Gourmet TM, I make it a point to exercise daily. I really enjoyed swimming here tremendously every day of my stay. The pool is about 18 m long and 1.3 m deep.

You can put in some serious laps here, as well as practice Krav Maga in the water. There is also a 90C Pinewood Sauna and a Steam Room. In between swimming you can snack on healthy dried fruits like raisins, banana chips, prunes and guava plus imbibe premium Peppermint or Spiced Chai Tea by Ronnefeldt of Germany..

Vivacious VADUZ 

In the morning I trolled down to the town center and I did a tour of Vaduz. It took 20 minutes to walk down to the city center along narrow winding roads. Vaduz is not big. You see, Leichtenstein has a population of just 37,000.  The land area of 160 km2 is about one quarter that of Singapore! Not many places in the world are smaller than Singapore! I took their City Train City Tour. It is not really a train but a motorised train-like vehicle with carraiges.

The commentary on the important sights is in Mandarin and German! I found out that Vaduz is a hot spot for tourists from China who descend on its branded watch shops in droves! Their loud and oftentimes rude antics and behaviour do rile the affluent natives of Vaduz. My friend, enterprising and jovial Adrian Dill, who owns two Souvenir and Watch shops in Vaduz, plus two restaurants too, told me with a wry chuckle, “Frankly, the local people do not like the Chinese tourists much…but they are good for business…and they buy a lot of branded watches!” Well, that’s life…or as the French say: C’est la vie! In another article I shall tell you about Adrian’s restaurants…

Gulasch in Lett…

After a satisfying lunch of Hungarian Gulaschsuppe at Lett Restaurant and Bar in Vaduz, I made my my way back to the hotel. I felt good to have a good walk back to the charming Parkhotel Sonnenhof and burn some Calories enroute. It was a beautiful day with powder blue skies and fluffy white clouds floating effortlessly without a care in the world.

A Winemaker who is also a…

Near the Grafschaftsbrunnen which is a drinking water fountain, I was lucky and pleased to meet a Winemaker who also happens to be a Banker.

His small but nicely groomed vineyard is very near the Parkhotel Sonnenhof. Friendly and helpful Wilfried explained, ‘Making wine is my hobby and it is relaxing…sometimes I need to destress from the Bank…’ I tasted his approachable and palate friendly Pinot Noir, better known as Blauburgunder here. We sat in his cosy Pine Hut at one end of his vineyard, tasted his wine together…and admired the views of the mountains and Schloss Vaduz, home of the Princes of Leichtenstein. It was truly as the French say: un grand moment…

Monday 20 April. 2015

Remarkable Ristorante Maree

Tonight I had the most delicious and fabulous 8 course dinner specially prepared by Chef Hubertus Real. Creative Chef Hubertus is the son of Emil and jolly Jutta Real who own Parkhotel Sonnenhof. To dine well while watching the sun slowly set over the Swiss Alps and majestic Schloss Vaduz is bathed in shades of rose is something to always remember. Here, well presented outstanding food like flavoursome Sous Vide Wild Salmon on a Ragout of Mango from South America is impeccably served! A trio of most appetizing soups…Spargel or White Asparagus, Carrot and Wild Garlic! The moist and tender Veal Filet was also marvellous…surrounded by a clear Consomme of fresh Spring Vegetables like Tomatoes, Mushrooms and Leeks…With each superbe course, wines from Leichtenstein selected by the Italian Sommelier Jacopo from Milan. It was a dinner to rob a bank for! Somehow, despite all that delicious food…I did not feel overly full or bloated at all. A testimony to a great Chef whose cusine is extremely flavoursome, yet light and not stodgy. Restaurant Maree has one Michelin Star! I must return soon…I hope Chef Hubertus gets a second Michelin Star next year. It will be well deserved! Always be good to yourself because life is short.

Bon appetit and Enjoy!

The Relais and Chateaux chain follows the doctrine of the five Cs. They stand for Charme, Comfort, Calm, Cuisine and Character. VERY unlike the mercernary and materialistic ideals of some Spiessbuerger Mentalitaet Singaporeans who are deluded into thinking that the 5 Cs mean Cash, Car, Credit Card, Country Club membership and Condominium! When I was pampered in the Parkhotel Sonnenhof, that hit song “I’m feeling good…” sung beautifully by Michael Buble and Nina Simone kept echoing in my mind…especially when I awoke every morning…

Michael Buble sings ‘I’m feeling good’ in the style of a James Bond movie…. 🙂

To be brutally frank, which is not my usual style…You need ONLY one word to describe this Relais and Chateaux resort hotel in the mountains of Leichtenstein called Parkhotel Sonnenhof…The word is EXCELLENT or in Hoch-Deutsch…ausgezeichnet! Need I say more… 🙂

Parkhotel Sonnenhof Mareestrasse, 29

FL-9490 Vaduz,

Leichtenstein

Tel: +42 3239 0202