Edouard de Castro
Bars and restaurants & Food topics/news
Notes TOC
- Moulin de Valaurie (Valaurie, France)
- Bao Soho (London, UK)
- Alma (Geneve, Switzerland)
- Bao Canteen (Geneva, Switzerland)
- Cafe Zinette (Geneve, Switzerland)
- Ka Chon (Geneva, Switzerland)
- domaine de Chateauvieux (Geneve, Switzerland)
- Denise's art of burger (Geneva, Switzerland)
- Luigia (Geneva, Switzerland)
- LaSalle (Zurich, Switzerland)
- Schwellenmaetteli (Bern, Switzerland)
- Kornhauskeller (Bern, Switzerland)
- Cafee1001 (London, UK)
- La Huchette (Geneve, Switzerland)
- Italian food in Geneva (Switzerland)
- Le Comptoir (Geneva, Switzerland)
- Cool bars in Carouge (Geneva, Switzerland)
- Restaurant Parc des Bastions (Geneva, Switzerland)
- Le Socrate (Geneva, Switzerland)
- Curiositas (Geneva, Switzerland)
- Alhambar (Geneva, Switzerland)
- Le Quai (Fribourg, Switzerland)
- Zolo (Boulder, Colorado, USA)
- Do Hwa (New York, USA)
- Blowfish Sushi (San Francisco, CA, USA)
- L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon (New York, USA)
- Le Calamar (Geneva, Switzerland)
- La SIP (Geneva, Switerland)
- Drinks and Tapas in Barcelona (Spain)
- Swiss cliche food (in Geneva, Switzerland)
- Road Runner (Geneva, Switzerland)
- Giger [Alien] Bar (Gruyere, Switzerland)
- To taste ? : Molecular gastronomy
- To Test ?
- Le The (Geneva, Switzerland)
- Nice food blogs
- What Time is Dinner?
- To Test in New-York?
closed Liquidation judiciaire le 25-01-2021
4-star hotel restaurant in the heart of the Drome Provençale (Rhone-Alps region).
Great French & regional Provencal gourmet cuisine (at night) in an original / contemporary form, supplied from its own garden (producing a tonne of fresh produce each year, supplying 80% of the restaurant's needs)!
'Went there end of May 2019
Chef's Perspective: Chef Riccardo Berto at Le Moulin de Valaurie
March 2020: "Un nouveau chef pour le Moulin de Valaurie" : Julien Martin ... until Feb 2021
Chemin du Moulin - Le Foulon
26230 Valaurie,
France
Cool and delicious Taiwanese "street food" restaurant in central London (Soho). Modern takes on traditional Taiwanese dishes; bao (confit pork, lamb shoulder ...), xiao chi ("small eats" including e.g. trotter nuggets, pig blood cake!) and others...
53 Lexington Street,
Soho, London
Caution: tiny space + no reservations = long queue
As of 2021, by the same owners:
Cafe BAO (the bigest one, 4 Pancras Square, Kings Cross, N1C 4AG)
Bao Bar ("Where it all began: The Original BAO BAR serving the Classic Pork BAO and Taiwanese Fried Chicken since 2013"; Netil Market, 13-23 Westgate St)
BAO Soho (the one we went to; 53 Lexington)
Bao Noodle Shop (1 Redchurch Street Shoreditch)
See also:
Bao Soho theinfatuation.com review
Bao Soho chopstickpanorama.com review
Bao Soho citylane.com review
p.s. 'also went to ~ next door - 55 Broadwick Street - Japanese cool restaurant Inko Nito "casual Japanese restaurant serves unconventional robatayaki Japanese fare and sushi, combining a laid-back setting with innovative flavours."
Gourmet Peruvian/Latino fusion food. Trendy and modern place. Great cheviche, pulpo and deserts.
(opened July 2016)
©genevafamilydiaries.net
p.s. in the (same) Peruvian more or less fusion style:
to try in Geneva: Pachacama (28 quai Gustave-Ador & 11 rue Voltaire)
to try Yakumanka (Mandarin oriental hotel, 1 quai Turrettini)
to try Izumi (Fours seasons hotel, Quai des Bergues 33)
tried: Kampai (Rue de Monthoux 25): great Ceviche ("de atun al wasabi" & "nippo")
c.f. Nikkei: The Japanese-Peruvian Culinary Sensation
p.s. in the "Pacific" / Hawaiian food style: Poke (Bowl)
To try in Geneva: Elua poke (Rue des Eaux-Vives 8)
... 'La poke road Genevoise' article ... Le Lodge (d'ete) La Reserve Geneva
Upscale fast-food / streetfood. Taiwanese / East Asian street cuisine (ramen, baos, egg waffles) with fresh ingredients. Best fast baos in town (even gua bao buns are home made).
(image from baocanteen.com)
I like a duck or beef bao with thai ~spicy potage [no more potage since summer 2019!] and a Taiwan beer followed by a sweet sugared apple bao (= "Tiger menu" + beer)
Rue du Conseil-Général 11
1205 Genève
Le bon bao arrive en Suisse Romande c.f. crazy-4-food
as of 2021: there is now a second one: @ Cours de Rive 11, 1204 Genève
p.s.
To try in Geneva ?: another ramen shop: Umamido Boulevard Carl-Vogt 63
To try in London: BAO Soho (53 Lexington St, Soho, London) BaoLondon
Restaurant & fine grocery. Great French / European creative food (French based with a fusion twist) in a small and old (19th century "auberge des communes reeunie") inn/cafe house. The (backside) terrace in the summer is especially nice.
Since 1999 by Matthieu Mayor & Olivier Froux
5 appetizers, 5 dishes, 5 desert (~seasonal menu): Playful (~fusion) or classical.
Route du Grand-Lancy 45,
1212 Grand-Lancy (Geneve),
Switzerland
phone: +41 22 743 1200
Cool Asian fusion noodle and soup bar / restaurant. More refined and original than "usual" Asian restaurants in Geneva. I love their "grilled beef" (Vietnamese) noodles (with nuts and lime) and their exotic salad starters (e.g. Japanese seaweed or Fresh mango salad with grilled shrimps!)
Rue Bovy-Lysberg 1
1204 Geneve
Phone: +41 22 310 5715
Switzerland
map
The gastronomic high end restaurant in Geneva (2 Michelin stars, 19 out of 20 points on Gault & Millaud), by Philippe Chevrier. Perfect, creatif and intense French European fusion food. Impressive wine cellar. Real "classical" food (with a very light "molecular" touch / influence for the sides/sauces).
(from bstatic.com, viamichelin.com)
(the terrasse is great, whereas the inside is really classical / bland ... hopefully it will be redesigned in a more contemporary manner this summer 2018 by Marina Wenger c.f. Qui veut s’offrir un bout de Châteauvieux article )
Chemin de Châteauvieux, 16
Peney-Dessus
1242 Satigny, Geneve
Switzerland
phone: +41 22 753 1511
Delicious gastronomical burgers!
Concept by Philippe Chevrier, Chef: Benjamin Garin
(Launched: Feb 27 2014)
(from pinimg.com)
My favorites: the classical bacon & cheese, and the Lobster roll (squid ink buns!, grilled lobster!, lime remoulade dressing, shallots, mashed avocados)
Philippe Chevrier en heraut du beau burger (Le Temps article)
Denise's (art of) burger
(Grand Magasin Globus Food Hall, Entree Place du Molard)
Rue du Rhone, 48
1204 Geneva,
Switzerland
Tel +41 58 578 5247
Nice Italien food. Almost "trendy" but family (child) friendly at the same time! A unique mix. Very efficent service. No reservation! just go / wait / eat then pay (and tip) at the counter concept.
Rue Adrien-Lachenal 24a
1207 Genève,
Switzerland
phone: 👍41 22 840 15 15
(also at Chemin de la Tourelle 2, 1209 Genève)
also in Nyon and Lausanne (Switzerland) and soon in Dubai!
In "SchiffBau" beautiful old factory building (in ZĂĽri-West district). Modern clean space, Italian and French food in a classy ambience.
Schiffbaustrasse 4,
CH-8005 Zurich,
Switzerland
map|lang_en&view=map&cid=11155055571961580071&iwloc=A&ved=0CIkBEKUG&sa=X&ei=qNOETOO4JpL9Ocb5iNgM
phone: +41 44 258 7071
A hip bar and Italian-inspired restaurant on a breakwater (on the Aare river) beneath Old Bern. Partly outdoor ("summer lounge") with a nice minimalist architecture.
(also has simple "snacks", including a tasty burger).
Dalmaziquai 11
3000 Bern 13
Switzerland
phone: +41 31 350 5001
http://www.schwellenmaetteli.ch
map
Entering the Kornhauskeller is like entering a cathedral, except that the stunning vaulted ceilings and frescoes are all underground. At various times a granary, a post office, and a beer hall, this historic building is now a classy gathering spot with an emphasis on Mediterranean cuisine (not that great). In the beautifull gallery overlooking the restaurant you'll find a bar (65 varieties of whiskey), casual seating, and a humidor.
Great for rainy Sunday coffee sessions!
Kornhausplaze 18
3000 Bern,
Switzerland
Phone: +41 31 327 7272
map
Cool alternative "hip" coffee shop and DJ bar off Brick Lane. They serve fresh food and drink from dawn until dusk, 7 days a week.
1 Dray walk, 91 Brick Lane,
London.
Phone: +44 20 7247 9679
http://www.cafe1001.co.uk/
map
Note:
Bars I have to see in London:
 | Absolut IceBar London [31-33 Heddon Street, Mayfair] First permanent icebar in the UK. The walls, bar, tables, and even your own personal glass with a vodka cocktail are made out of the purest ice. Every six months the complete bar is reconstructed with a completely new design. |
Dry Aged (5 weeks) Beef (e.g. CĂ´te de boeuf), barbecued in their chimney grill! and more (French cuisine) ... To me: best meat in Geneva (but 'haven't tested/tasted Chez philipe nor Trilby nor BEEF yet).
Rue Jacques-Dalphin 35
1227 Carouge (Geneve)
Switzerland
phone: +41 22 342 2228
Luigia
c.f. my Luigia note/entry
Auberge du Cheval Blanc
First class traditional Italian cuisine in Geneva country side ("rive gauche")
Nice terrasse + great side-yard under plane trees.
Route de Meinier 1, 1253 Vandoeuvres
Switzerland
Via Roma
© viaroma-ristorante.com
Classic and excellent italian food (no giant pizza here!). Nice sober & clean space.
20 Place du Marche (Carouge)
Switzerland
phone: +41 22 301 94 51
map
Nologo restaurant
closed (now "Chez Sami", Lebanese restaurant!)
Hip & trendy Italian restaurant in a nice industrial/sober space with an "open kitchen". Food is quite nice (e.g. crawfish - home made pasta).
Senso
closed (now "Le Baroque"...)
Modern space, good Italian food. Divided into a courtyard (bar) and a patio (18th century!). Dishes are supposedly inspired by ancient recipes from the 15th to the 18th centuries.
Expensive and pretencious, but represents a refreshing change from the common Geneva bland Italian "pizzeria"!
closed >2016 replaced by a El CatrĂn restaurant
Trendy and minimalist Asian-fusion restaurant and bar sporting cool furniture, the occasional local DJ, and great food with nice wines by the glass.
9 rue Richemont
1202 Genève,
Switzerland
phone: +41 22 731 32 37
map
Fall 2006: the same owner, opened a new cool ~sushi bar just next door:
Lola (9, rue Richemont)
(2021: now named "Lola's Food Garage" ... they have Bao too now)
2009: she took over la brasserie des halles de l'ile
Note: most other Asian restaurants (either high or low end) in Geneva are all quite bland or kitch!
"Qu’importe (le flacon, pourvu qu’on ait l’ivresse)"
Wine bar & snacks/tapas
1, rue Ancienne, Carouge
+41 22 342 15 25
map
l'Imprévu
37-39, rue Vautier, Carouge
Btw; other nice wine bars in Geneva: Soleil Rouge, boulevard du vin, Lavinia [ex la cite des vins]
In the kiosque of parc des Bastions. Romantic and magic. Great terrace in summer, great veranda in winter (now open year-round). Nice "plat du jour" at lunch. Brunch on week-ends.
1 Promenade des Bastions (Place Neuve)
1204 Gen?ve,
Switzerland
phone: +41 22 310 8666
map
Great Brasserie style restaurant (with a retro look). I love their Souris d?agneau confite - pommes puree! 🙂
© resto-rang.ch
www.lesocrate.ch
Rue Micheli du Crest 6
1205 Geneva
Switerland
map
phone: +41 22 320 1677
Les meilleures adresses du GaultMillau 2011: Gen?ve: Le bouillonnement gourmand d'une capitale - article de l'Hebdo
s. Other nice french food place:
produit du terroir
60bd St-Georges
1205 Geneva
Switzerland
map
phone: +41 22 328 5598
Cool restaurant + Cabinet of curiosities in an old physics instruments factory!...
CLOSED (2016)
www.curiositas.ch
Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers 8/10 (rez SIP)
1205 Geneva,
Switerland
map
phone: +41 22 321 30 37
A swanky cocktail bar above the old Alhambra Theater. Too many people in a beautiful high ceiling room, usually with a DJ. A small tapas menu early in the evening and a nice brunch on weekends until 2pm.
rue de la Rôtisserie 10,
1204 Genève,
Switzerland
phone: +41 22 312 1313
map
Closed during Alhambra theatre/house renovation: 2012-2015, reopened Sept. 2015
(re) closed Feb. 2018! Will the room be re-affected !?
p.s. other enjoyable bars in Geneva: le Calamar, Cirkus bar, Heaven, Ole Ole, Le Scandale + see Cool bars in Carouge note;
Nightclub: Javaclub
Cafe&IceCream: Remor (Since 1921! Good hot chocolates and home made ice creams, burgers, "kiches". Old fashion but somehow "hip". 3, place du Cirque)
@copy http://www.itaste.com
CLOSED
New Fribourg's trendy bar/restaurant (+ occasional live music). Set in a former chocolate factory (from outside looks like an old train station!) in an old industrial "district"; Large and beautiful volume. Minimalist, elegant but warm.
Fonderie 6
1700 Fribourg,
Switzerland
phone: +41 26 424 2223
http://www.lequai.ch
map
Good contemporary southwestern restaurant. Nice wines by the glass and 100 varieties of tequila...
To me: their crusted ahi tuna is the best tuna preparation ever! (argh I don't see it on the menu anymore!? ... found: it has "moved" to the "brother" bigredf group restaurant Jax (fishhouse))
2525 Arapahoe Ave. Boulder, CO
phone: +1 303 449 0444
map
Great Bigredf restaurants (and bars) in Boulder:
(Big Red F was created in 1994 by local Chef Dave Query)
Centro fine Mexican cuisine (@ Pearl street hotspot)
Jax fine seafood (@ Pearl street hotspot)
Korean restaurant, sober and trendy space! "nouveau-Korean trend" / downtown hip (owned & designed by Jenny Kwak... with Quentin Tarantino as co-owner / investor? ;-)
from pinimg.com
Korean Food: Just Waiting to Be Discovered
2019: CLOSED !?
55 Carmine St.,
New York, NY 10014
phone: +1 212 414-1224
map
Good Sushi restaurant with Japanime on the walls.
A refreshing change from the boring "usual" Japanese restaurant!
from hoodline.com
2170 Bryant St
San Francisco, CA 94110
phone: +1 415 285 3848
map
Blowfish Sushi to make comeback in new Mission location (2019)
closed June 30 2012 ... but Robuchon might return to New-York ...
French (and asian) influenced cuisine with high(est) quality ingredients. Cool and elegant space, attentive service, ~excellent food (nice Sea Bass served with "the" perfect mashed potatoes in a mini-Le Creuset dish! Gasp! ;-)
ulterior epicure?s flickr photo set
For the new form of casual haute cuisine today means substituting woven Chilewich placemats for white tablecloths; less formality, cream, and butter; and sourcing of ever-more exotic ingredients.
website
(4 Seasons Hotel)
57 East 57th Street
2021: I see it's back in New-York: L'atelier de Joel Robuchon / New-York (85 10th Ave)
+ there is a new one here in Geneva: L'atelier de Joel Robuchon / Geneva (HĂ´tel Woodward, 37 quai Wilson)
Cool bar & restaurant. Semi alternative / hip style. Themed nights (DJs), nice terasse in summer (if you don't mind breathing car exhaust!), nice burgers!
92 Carl Vogt,
Geneve,
Switzerland
phone: +41 22 321 6277
map
Cool bar and dance club in a beautifull industrial building (former scientific, optical and measurement instrument factory), next to the contemporary art museum. Several floors, bars (in the dance club the "discobar", on 1st floor: le grand bar (opens at 10pm), le petit bar, on ground floor, terasse: le barlow).
CLOSED 2013
Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers 8-10
1205 Geneve,
Switzerland
map
Straicase view (in the SIP building not the club) © Evdokia
For tourists, but fun! 3 places I used to like in Barcelona barrio Gotico & Gracia :
El Tropezon tapas bar
Carrer del Regomir 26
The place where I tasted Pulpo a la gallega for the first time.
map
El Aguelo tapas bar
Carrer d'Avinyo 37
Like a medieval tavern
map
Cafe del sol
Place del sol 16 (Gracia)
Nice and cool bar with terrace on Gracia’s Plaza del Sol.
map
Cafe du Soleil
Best (cheese) fondue in the galaxy.
place du Petit-Saconnex 6,
1209 Geneve, Switzerland
+41 22 733 34 17
map
Good fondue too :
"Au vieux Carouge"
Rue Jacques-Dalphin 27, Carouge
+41 22 342 64 98
map
Original place for a fondue (winter only) - "on" the lake:
Buvette des Bains des Paquis
Best Roesti :
Cafe du Bourg de Four
Nice mix: Roesti with their yugoslavian meatballs.
Old Town, 13 Place du Bourg de Four
+41 22 311 90 76
map
To me: best simple/'classic' burgers in the galaxy.
Good fast food. Tiny and simple "perfect" hamburgers with non sweet/sugary buns.
With your burger you can get a Californian Merlot or Cabernet by the glass...
Caution: no default dressing = not soaked in mayo and ketchup = could appear dry or bland to boorish people. "Dress it yourself" from the "stuffing bar". Caution: tiny portions. Just simple perfect & tasty meat and bun.
p.s. no Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus burgers nor Wile (The Coyote) and Road Runner (Beep Beep) cartoon decoration/theme!
My favorite: "Texan burger" (cheese and bacon) with extra peper.
http://www.roadrunner-restaurant.ch
Route de Chene 63
1208 Geneve,
Switzerland
phone: +41 22 735 64 20
map
Some other good "fast" burger place:
Inglewood and very good: Denise's (art of) burger
other decent burgers in Geneva (not fast food):
at le Calamar, Remor and Faim?
interesting local burger site (although they didn't worship Road Runner!:
the burger blog
n.b. google: the other burger only place called "Road Runner", is the "Arctic Road Runner" in Anchorage, Alaska! ;-) 'have to see that.
p.s. speaking of good fast-food good Japanese takeaway places:
Mikado (my favorite ones are Terrassiere & Plainpalais)
Wasabisushi
Like a wart on the nose, in Switzerland's most touristic village - Gruyere - next to the HR Giger (designer of the monster in the Alien movie) museum, a bar decorated the "Alien" style! Great bad taste; 'heavy' but fun and ~unique!
The mad scientist cuisine that's taking the epicurean world by storm; 'Contemporary' 'abstract' cuisine.
A handful of kitchen counterculture chefs are playing with food in ways that probably make their mamas queasy.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4897584.stm
http://www.topix.net/food/molecular-gastronomy
Most famous molecular chef Adrià* with his El Bulli restaurant in Spain.
Has been voted world's best restaurant! (by Restaurant magazine, 2006)
Closed in 2011
El Bulli @ wikipedia
12 iconic El Bulli dishes
Ferran AdriĂ Feeds the Hungry Mind
In Switzerland: Denis Martin (18/20 Gault & Millau 2007)
... December 2006: tasted: great fun!
La gastronomie a Vevey
http://www.denismartin.ch
rue du Château 2, Vevey, Switzerland
phone: +41 21 921 1210
Vertigo (Zurich, Switzerland)
Dinner in bed!: Vertigo "extended dinning". Like being in 2001: A Space Odyssey movie!
Chef: Daniel Fischer
http://www.vertigozurich.com
(1.2011: website down!?)
NiederdorfStrasse 10,
8001 Zurich,
Switzerland
map
email: dinner@vertigozurich.com
phone: +41 43 888 44 88
Le Lexique (Geneve, Switzerland)
www.lelexique.ch
Filet de Cabillaud en croustade d?agrumes, sauce Sangria blanco !!...
Rue de la Faucille 14
1201 Gen?ve
phone: +41 22 733 31 31
Au Lavandou (Geneve, Switzerland)
www.restaurant-lavandou.ch
french south cuisine
map
rue Jacques-Dalphin 54, 1227 Carouge, Geneva, Switzerland
phone: +41 22 343 68 22
Cutest, coziest, tiniest chinese tearoom / ~restaurant (Dim Sum and steamed bread) in Geneva. Nice place for a date (definitely need to reserve in advance + note: from the outside this place has no sign/name!).
65 rue des Bains,
1205 Genève,
Switzerland
phone: +41 79 436 7718
map
Nice article:
highlights
In the 1790s the upper class was rising from bed around 10 am or noon, and then eating breakfast at an hour when their grandparents had eaten dinner.
They then went for "morning walks" in the afternoon and greeted each other with "Good morning" until they ate their dinner at perhaps 5 or 6 pm. Then it was "afternoon" until evening came with supper, sometime between 9 pm and 2 am! The rich, famous and fashionable did not go to bed until dawn.
In fact it was just 'snobism' for the rich to distinguish them from the poor and the peasant that were bound to follow sun natural light cycles...
Anyway I think it's a fun/nice 'tradition' that should still be followed!
At first, only those able to afford candles could indulge in late final meals. The poorer classes ate while there was still daylight, and went to bed not long after dusk.
Now that we all have artificial lights, why go to bed early? ...
Thai-inspired French fusion cuisine!
Created by French (Alsatian) chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Jean George
ulteriorepicure review
1 Central Park W
phone: +1 212 299 3900
gasp!
Red Snapper Crusted with Nuts and Seeds
Thai Pepper Creme Caramel
Rhubarb Soup
Thai pepper creme caramel, via flickr © ulterior epicure
ulterior epicure's flickr photo set
n.b. also by Vongerichten; ~japanese!? : Matsugen, 241 Church St.