Confiserie Sprüngli - (Zurich, Switzerland)

 Confiserie Sprüngli is a higher end Chocolatier shop if not the most famous in Swiss and is quite classy,  it does share the same roots as Lindt Chocolate, which also has sprouted off a different Sprungli line for marketing purposes,  but both qualities aren’t the same at all.   This Confiserie is markedly different as it has splitted off from that commercial production line.    The quality was astonishingly good here, anything from pastries to breads and chocolates and the famous macaron look-alikes Luxemburgerli were just so precise.  The latter was great when eating on the spot but it didn’t quite lasted the journey back to HK as souvernirs,  that small sized meringue really did became hardened up too quickly despite storing it in the fridge as soon as I was back.  That was probably the only glitch encountered. 

 

 

The Gift Packs look neat,  with an Autumn Chestnut theme

The Main Store of Sprungli -
I actually went to 3 of them on separate occasions as I really loved this shop,  but this is the one to be at if you must visit.








Open Sandwiches and Cakes -  Looking Great
*Excuse the photo quality as usually these Pastry shops don’t allow photos,  so all of these were sneaky pics from my iPhone without focus.









Neat Looking Tarts,  one even looked like a Portuguese Tart -
Bread-wise,  a lot of Lye water based Laugen Rolls here.  They actually are German inspired but what was rather strange was that the ones in Germany don’t have as dark a surface nor as smooth a glaze…  The ones here definitely looked very consistently reproducible.  










Croissant with Egg Salad -
This was simply too amazingly good.  I have had enough stale or overly proved and airy croissants.  This one was just right and was very buttery and flaky on the outside.  The egg filling was also spot on.   You take it for granted,  but not many shops can do it to this standard.  ~  10/10









Chocolate Truffle Cake -
Smooth, not too dense.  Dark chocolate with a fruity berries flavour.  It doesn’t seem too complex at all but it was quite spot-on expected.  ~  9/10








Raspberry Luxemburgerli -
This is one of their signature desserts,  resembling a Parisian Macaron,  only a bit more smaller.  This was very good actually and came with both raspberry cream and raspberry compote. Pity the quality dropped a bit when I carried them back to HK…  ~  9/10







Hot Chocolate -  with Shaved Dark Chocolate and a side Chocolate Piece
This was very good,  it had a slight powdery note but also some fruitiness within.  I like the La Maison du Chocolat one and also Paris’s La Maison Angelina version.  The one here was up there but probably more milky,  it was less thicker than the other 2,  which might suit other people.  ~  8/10







Gentle Blue Tea -
An Earl Grey like tea.  A little subtle but fragrant enough for a tea bag..







Flutes -
3 different flavours.  With Paprika, Plain Cheese and Herb Seeded version.
These were so addictive,  after trying some we bought a whole box of them.  ~  12/10







Various Luxemburgerli I bought for my friends in HK -
The signature is the Champagne version.  Actually I didn’t eat that version,  but I heard the Champagne taste was too subtle.  I ate 2 of these and the texture became a little too hard after a few days and after flying,  and it seems they became sweeter somehow.  Conditions do matter  ~  6.5/10







Mom bought these for herself -
She didn’t want to share with me or other friends.  I ate 2 behind her back anyway and took a pic.   Pretty good and softish.  I have a soft spot on Valrhona pralines usually and think they are the best around,  these Sprungli ones were nearly up there..  ~  9/10






More Chocolate Tablets -
I still haven’t opened this pack but I got a preview of this drinking with my above Hot Chocolate.  Let me know if you want to try







Venezuela Criollo Pralines -
Another souvernir I bought for my friends,  these expire pretty quickly and are chocolate truffles like.  I ate a few from different batches and found that they vary.  Some are sweeter than others,  some were more fruitier as a Criollo should be.  I have 3 packs left but they expire today.  Haven’t had time to hand them out to friends.  They are quite pricey though… I liked these ~ 8/10

Price:   SHF 15 ~ 70.  Quite pricey.
Ease of Access:  5/5  (The main store at Bahnhofstrasse is opposite the tram station.  Also found at the Airport.)
Food:  ♕♕♕♕♕ 1/2 - ♕♕♕♕♕♕

Opening Hours -
Mon-Fri: 07.30 am - 06.30pm
Sat: 08.00 am - 06.00 pm

Address: Bahnhofstrasse 21  8001 Zürich, Switzerland.
Ph: +41 44 224 46 46

Laduree - (Zurich, Switzerland)

  A lot of people think that Laduree of Parisian fame is sensationalized and touristy,  and often not really worthy of the praise bestowed upon it.   Well, within 2012,   I have visited different stores of Paris’s Ladurees 3 separate times,  a side visit to 1 of London’s Laduree outlets and also to the Switzerland’s sole Zurich Laduree store altogether counting up to 5 times – not including the imported Laduree souvenirs from friends and the other few visits over the recent years to this Mecca.  The clearer picture is becoming to emerge…    Laduree in Paris is just superb,  but only limited to it’s macarons.   The London ones were worse.  The Switzerland ones meanwhile still can beat down most of the 10 or more Patisserie shops I visited in France this year in 2012 alone with ease.   I honestly think Laduree is onto a secret formula and despite some other shops in Paris having similar shells and probably better fillings in a few of them,  the whole global chain of Laduree are really onto something with the consistency of their Parisian Macaron Gerbet sandwiches.   Pity that their other pastries aren’t also up to the same standards,  but the Ispahan Macaron also bested the Pierre Herme version.   Talk about a two trick pony.  

 

 

Zurich is a beautiful place in Switzerland -
But it is quite expensive.

Upon Chance -
I found the only Zurich store of Laduree just via sheer luck. 
The staff explained how the Macarons were once made in Monaco,
but recently they are now made locally in Zurich since 6 months ago.   Good to be so honest!








2 of the 5 Parisian Macarons bought today  – Basil Lime,  Rose Petal Cream
The macaron shells were spot on with a correct ratio of fillings inside the gerbets.  The uniformity of the range was astonishing but just slightly amiss Paris shops’ standard.  *These are now made locally in Switzerland,  but used to be imported from Monaco. They were better than the London batch I tried actually…     9/10








Salted Caramel,  Green Apple, Orange & Ginger -
The Green Apple was sourly refreshing. The Orange & Ginger is slightly perfumed like spicy,  but the French are famous for these perfumes.  Even El Celler de Can Roca serves similar desserts if one thinks about it.   It is acceptable in Europe in general.

 

Price:   SHF 2.40 Each,  similar to Paris enough
Ease of Access:  4/5  (Hard to see but found just off Bahnhofstrasse)
Food:  ♕♕♕♕♕ 1/2

Opening Hours -
Doesn’t open on Sunday.  Beware.

Address: Kuttelgasse 17 8001, Zürich, Switzerland
Ph: 044 211 88 84

Zeughaus Keller - (Zurich, Switzerland)

 This restaurant is famously found alongside the famous shopping strip at Zurich’s bahnhofstrasse,  it’s definitely not for the budget minded.  The food was generally good but it was actually the worst meal that we ate on this trip.  Let’s just say this is probably why I am doubly upset lately as it is all relative?   Despite being the most lowly rated meal we ate on this trip - this was still quite decent and as I say again execution really is the key and it was spot on here.  I would still come back to this ‘worst’ restaurant of all the meals again but it was expensive in comparison!  It’s just that the other places performed so immaculately and were taken for granted.   If this was the worst meal we had in the one week,  you can imagine how good the rest of the meals were.   I can’t even begin to tell you but I honestly can’t fault most foods.. 

 

Touristy yet menu was diversified, with so many regional local dishes..
Zurich-Swiss food has a slightly German and Austrian accent,
but also had many Switzerland regional dishes.   One can’t explore them all at once.

 

Live Artillery -
Good sense of humour!

 

 

Baked Bread -
This very Zurich Bread style is found everywhere.   Swiss Airline used the same butter on the way back too. No surprises.   ~ 7/10

 

 

Air Dried Mountain Ham,  Beef and Sbrinz Cheese – CHF 23.50
Kind of big on portions.  Not cheap but it was substantially portioned for a small eater like me.. ~  8/10

 

Sausage Vaudois,  from Canton of Vaud – CHF 27,80
This regional sausage was amazing with cabbage inside and quite thick in girth.  I didn’t know to order this until the staff suggested it as a regional specialty from French-Swiss border side, but there are so many more different sausages available indeed.   Absolutely adored it for the garlicky note with sauerkraut.   Still a novice when it comes to Swiss sausage offerings   ~  10/10

 

Jugged Venison Hirschpfeffer – CHF 30,50
Venison deer meat is garnished with Croutons,  Bacon Bits,  Pearl onions, Egg and Button Mushrooms.   With Red Cabbage,  Glazed Chestnuts and a grilled home made Spaetzle pasta.  This is just so rich and gamey yet carrying components so representative of Switzerland,  but is also kind of a German dish as well.  It was expensive but you wouldn’t regret ordering it it was addictive.  ~  9/10

 

 

Roesti.  Or is it Rosti -
It’s kind of like a fried hashed potato.  Do u remember the ones from Denny’s during breakfast?  I used to eat that a lot in HK and Japan and also in Australia but now there is none in HK and Aust left!    This is a Swiss side dish also recently found throughout cafes in Australia.   Seems trendy.   But eating without one in Swiss is treated as weird,  it is a must order item here.  This is good rather than great as it was Just a little too wet ~  6.5/10

 

 

A couple of Beers and Wines -
As is the norm

 

 

 

It was Cozy but Touristy -
Service was Cocky rather than Patchy.   You need to learn how to talk and manipulate your way through here.  One particular server was exceptionally rude at the beginning but got better later on when I gave her back the attitude..

 

 

The whole mustard thing seemed a bit German.  I guess they eat a lot of Sausages…
Subtle differences that you need a microscopic view to see the details to tell them apart?

 

 

Price:  CHF $35 Per Person
Ease of Access:  5/5  (Take Tram and stops Infront.  Opposite Confiserie Sprungli.)
Food:  ♕♕♕♕♕

Opening Hours -
Mon to Sun:  11.30am - 23.00pm

Address: Bahnhofstrasse 28a 8001 Zürich
Ph:: 044 211 26 90

Teuscher - (Zurich, Switzerland)

  Teuscher originated from Zurich of Switzerland.  For a short time they had an outlet in IFC centre in Hong Kong,  but the shop has been taken over by La Maison du Chocolat.   Just out of curiosity,  we wanted to try out this chocolate shop at it’s origin.  It was better than expected I think?

 

 

Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate coated,  Sugared Orange -
It was actually quite good.   ~  9/10

 

 

 

Fruit Pate -
Love my hand  

 

 

This is at the most famous Bahnhofstrasse store.
We didn’t eat much,  but it was recommendable.

 

 

 

Price:  Swiss Franc CHF 5 Per Person
Ease of Access:  3/5  (Take tram to Bahnhofstrasse,  from Central HB station.  Easy to miss but just look carefully from the tram if it’s speeding..)
Food:  ♕♕♕♕♕

Address: Bahnhofstrasse 46  8001 Zürich
Ph: 974 453 5000

Gnusserei - (Zurich, Switzerland)

  Zurich West saw a transformation from being a default industrial warehouse depot to a hipsters area,  where youngsters or locals yearning for a change in the Zurich scene ride to here to get some relief from it all.    Gnusserei’s chef also works along this concept with his modernized Swiss food,  retaining an emphasis on eating mostly local Swiss sourced ingredients but adding just enough of a twist to make it less cliched than the norm.  He is certainly helping to redefine the next generation of Swiss cuisine.    

Zurich West Warehouse-like set up -
In the background,  you see young skaters practising inside the mall.. !

 

Gnusserei inside -
I am loving the visionary space!   The amalgamation between the Zurich industrial scene and modern Swiss food is going to be interesting as a pairing.

Heavy Iron Menu -
Coherently sticking to the theme of Zurich warehouses and real people’s food,  the menu is kind of heavy tonight.  It makes one feel like you’re working in a factory.

 

Mineral Water -
Swiss local based..

 

Baked Bread -
Butter was of the pre-packaged type.  Bread roll was baked quite decent and had a nice crust outside which made up for the butter~  7.5/10

 

2008 Schiterberger Chardonnay Barrique AOC,  Zurich, Switzerland -
A local Swiss Chardonnay wine. I followed the restaurant’s concept, 
and decided to drink only local Swiss wines.








Red Cabbage Pudding,  Pumpkin salad and Peanuts & Sauce -
Seems set in a canele/cannele mould.  Not bad as an appetizer ~  6.5/10

 

Rocket and Chanterelles Soup -
Nicely done.  Not many places do a chanterelle based soup.  ~  7.5/10

 

 

Boiled local Water Buffalo Carpaccio,
with Blueberry and Horseradish Chutney, with Peppers Salad – CHF 19.50
Despite being boiled to well-done,  the buffalo meat was surprisingly marbled and tender ~  9/10

 

Cayas Syrah du Valais,  AOC Jean-Rene Germanier, Vetroz 2010 -
AOC Swiss Syrah red wine.  

 

Roast Venison Saddle with Venison Crème Sauce -
Course #1  (CHF 64.50)
Cooked rare plus,  with Red Cabbage, Rosemary,  Apple filled with Cranberries,  hand made Flour Dumplings ‘Spatzli’ and forest mushrooms.   The local Swiss sourced Venison is not larded but cooked as is but plentiful gamey yet tender.  Also loved the side of bitey Spatzli dumpling pasta ~  8/10

 

Roast Venison Saddle Truffle Sauce  -  Course #2
With Brussels sprouts, glazed Chestnuts,  Pear with Cranberries, sliced Black truffles,  Cashew nuts and Thyme herbs.   It was a new novelty to have 1 Main Course splitted up and served as 2 separate courses and which both were quite similar.  But if it is decent enough I don’t mind having 2 portions I guess ~  7/10

 

Geschnetzeltes Kalbfleisch -  CHF 36.50
A very typical Zurich-Swiss dish, with Sliced veal meat and Rosti potato hash with baby carrot.  Quite creamy, the potato rosti was crispy and floury,  the latter exceptionally fried  ~  7.5/10

Other local and imported Items for Purchasing take out -
It is good to take a break from the usual Zurich-Swiss food,  which is slightly German biased on average in my opinion.  Evolving philosophies about food are undertaking culinary developments as we speak all over the world.  This modernized take on Swiss food was thriving within it’s own comfort zone. 

 

 

 

Price:  Swiss Franc CHF 60 Per Person
Ease of Access:  3/5  (3 minutes walk from Tram Station, albeit slightly hidden)
Food:  ♕♕♕♕1/2

Address: Giessereistrasse 18, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland
Ph: 044 440 00 01