Sehr geehrter Herr Sperandio – was isch eigentlich los??

I had Ruedi’s wonderful weblog on my link list for over 1 year now, and visited quite frequently. I dont know him but I love the wealth of recipes and stories about traditional Swiss (and other) food. Nice. The look and feel of the blog is just so Swiss, I love it. Now my little story and what gave me the inspiration… Ruedi’s blog was updated last year before Christmas with some festive kitsch, he didn’t remove that for at least 6 months. A few days back I checked the link out because I was searching for a recipe and just wondering what’s cooking in his pots and pans, and what I get is…404 Not Found!

404 of Ruedi's blog

…404 was followed by a mild shock. It’s all gone! He is disappeared, all the wealth of information….buff and gone in the universe of fiber glass cables? The link doesn’t exist anymore? What the hell.

I thought to myself – this Ruedi, not having removed the festive touch to the website for months, and now the the web link also doesn’t exist anymore, this Ruedi must have gone missing in action…

How sad, worst case scenarios shot through my mind. All the wealth of information and knowledge gone missing? How to recover? Where is he? Expatriated to a lonely Caribbean island?

Well, today I tried again and found his full name in the expired link,  http://home.balcab.ch/r.l.sperandio/index.html and then googled and googled and guess what, he changed to his own web domain! Fantastic, only half as dramatic as I thought. What the hell!

Check it out, from Fondue to Hoernli Auflauf, you get it all. -

Great job Ruedi, well done, the name is perfect:

Gesalzen Gepfeffert!

sandstorm

sandstorm reaching dubai marina skyline

seems that I am having some difficulties to kep this blog updated…

since I arrived in Dubai many things happend. We went through a very hot summer. Here every summer is very hot with temperatures up to 50 celsius, but for me the first time. Quite interesting, the city is nearly empty, no traffic jams, no problem on the roads. Come September and the school season starts again the city seems to awaken. Temperatures start dropping (September is still hot and humid but middle Ocotober it gets realy nice) – the streets are jamed, the parking spaces even in our Labor Camp City called Discovery Gardens are packed and its buzzing here. The hotel has opened in the meantime after lots of hard work. I am lucky that I am working in a and with a great team of professionals. But more about the work another time. Today I was checking some room amenities and one of my managers calls informing me there is a sandstorm! – the first one of the season. Luckily I was on the 19th floor, with my camera, like by concidence. Amazing, the sky turns black, winds pick up to 50 miles and hour and all the dry dirt and sand flies around. A few rain drop even came down. The first time since I am here…Good to feal that the 4 seasons also reach Dubai. Weather is otherwise kind of monotome, always nice and sunny. Today was exciting!

first impressions of Dubai – the good, the bad, the unexplored…

Strange thing happend since I am in Dubai. The initial purpose why I setup this blog was to keep friends and family updated, so they can follow what where when why. Since I am in Dubai, where it would acutaly make sense, I have kind of lost enthusiasm to udpate this site. Why? Too busy, too lazy or is Dubai so boring that it gives to little inspiration to write about? There are actualy millions of things to write about, but who cares about the tallest tower, the biggest man made island, the stinkiest fart, the uggliest person, the i-dont-know what record braking bullshit they next come up with????

We are now exactly two month. (for the historic record keeping book: arrived April 2, 2008 at approx. 8 AM

things I like…

• Having dinner and drinks, smoking cigars with some of the other expat friends.
• My job and the people I work with is very interesting and worth being here for.
• My new car – funny, I was never a car enthusiast, but I am very happy with it. (bought it from my boss!)
• The Madinat Jumeirah hotel, with its bars, terraces, restaurants, views. A great place to hang out for a drink.
• When people from elsewhere visit, i.e. Kevin and Manuel last month. – Thanks, was fun.
• My flat is quite decent, the curiosity shelf we installed is superb…
• Swimming in the ocean.
• The dessert seem to be a quite interseting place and I will explore more of it!

and hate…

• Coming from London and in general from western Europe, the city completely lacks a center with cafes, small corner shops, ambiance, street life and buzz, where you just go for a walk. – The pendant to that would be a shopping mall.
• Shopping food is a big fucking disaster. (and shopping food and cooking is one of my biggest passions, so basicaly I am screwed…) Again, compare it to London, New York, Zurich, any decent, civiliced and 21st century city where you can choose from a multitued of speciality shops, from the Fromagerie, the small butchers, the bakeries and delies, the vegetable stalls etc. – here you can choose between a handfull of massive supermarkets. (Carefour, Geant, Spinneys and a few third world supermarkets)
• You have to drive everywhere. No public transport. Some should not be allowed driving on the streets… (you know who I mean..)
• Everywhere you look there is massive construction going on.
• The prospect of having to move into company accomodation which is currently being built in Jumeirah Village South, wherever that is…but I let’s cross that bridge once we are there!

and what we havent explored yet….

• The old part of Dubai. (we live close to Marina, basically the all new Dubai which was built in the last 10 years)
• Places, cities and countries around the Dubai and the UAE.
• that’s it??!!

It will be interesting to compare today’s thoughts of Dubai against the ones I will try to write up in 6 – 9 month time. By then, we will love it and end up another 7 years here, like many many other expat I know… there must be something magic about Dubai which greenhorns like us still have to discover. Ahh, and it seems that money can be made here quite well.

Cheerio.

JUST MARRIED – Believe it or not!

JUST MARRIED – Clifford and Steffi

Thanks to all for joining us at relative short notice. We had an amazing day on April 1, 2008 beginning with getting married, followed by an amazing lunch at Locanda Locatelli’s, some pints of ale and cigars in the afternoon and bang, off we went to Dubai where we arrived the next morning. The just so perfect last day before leaving the city we lived in for over 3 years. We will certainly come back…Thanks to to the circle of family & friends for making your way at short notice to London and for attending, the Weiner Sils Maria family and Fiedler family from Nievenheim, best friends (and best man) Marco and Daniela from NYC! Thanks a million. The wedding ceremony will take place next year, invitations etc. to be sent out early 2009.

Moving to Dubai

from the desk of Clifford Weiner – cliffwaterford

London, 25 February 2008

“After 3 years and a few month in London (since 2 January 2005) I am moving on for a new challenge, this time in the hotter climates of Dubai. London was a unique experience, and the best part was meeting and working with so many wonderful and truly inspiring people! My last day at InterContinental London was 29 February and I will be starting in Dubai on 6 April. During the last 3 years in London I went from closing down the InterContinental, followed by an £80 Mio. refurbishment to reopening a new flagship hotel for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in November 2006, the new InterContinental London Park Lane.

Since one opening is not enough, I joined Kerzner International (Atlantis, One & Only Resorts, Sun City) where I will be part of an amazing pre opening team of passionate, entrepreneurial and experienced people. I was appointed as Director, Food & Beverage for the opening of the Atlantis, The Palm – Dubai hotel and will be in charge of the Royal Towers section of the resort. Opening is scheduled for September 2008.

The property is rising in Dubai from the coastline of the largest man-made island in the world, the Palm Jumeirah. Positioned as the flagship property it is, situated at the apex of the Palm Jumeirah’s Crescent, Atlantis, The Palm. The resort will offer more than 1,500 guest accommodations at the Royal Towers, and over 39 Food & Beverage outlets. Here are 2 interesting links to follow; www.atlantisthepalm.com and www.thepalm.ae

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who was part of the hugely successful opening of InterContinental London and supported me as great guest, friends, colleagues and business partners. To get updated on new contat details, I am on facebook as cliffwaterford.

Best wishes.”

guess where…!?

Hello. This blog nearly died. I just managed to give some first aid, exciting news, new inspration…24 hours in another city and see whats happening!! Check back soon…

The perfect BBQ Party checklist, in anticipation of July 5

On July 5 is Dad and Steffi’s birthday, yes, both on the same day. Me and Steffi are going to fly home for a few days. In anticipation of the party I put a checklist together, and a possible run down…

2 days before

Print the attached checklist. BBQ party checklist Dad and Kevin go shopping, get all equipment and food & beverage ready and delivered.

Day before

We marinate meats, prep salads, chill drinks, go shopping again, setup the tent and seating area.

On the day

09:04 Get out of bed, drink a cup of coffee, have some breakfast with the family

11:28 Open a can of beer, relax, get an overview, check the check list (whilst mum starts to panic big time and dad goes to practice some golf swings (nur schnell) on the driving range because he anyway has to deliver something to the Margna, Kevin makes Luca run and setup the tent because they didn’t manage the day before, Nona is quite confused. Steffi also starts to stress.

12:07 We start setting up the area, sound check, play very loud music, open another can of beer, I am getting realy hungry, maybe I should fire the BBQ and test some Bratwurst with Senf. Mom goes crazy but everyone joins and has a bite to eat anway.

16:48 Fire up the BBQ for the second time, food ready and all laid out, drinks chilled, glasses ready, Francesca makes the first Mojito, we enjoy, play more very cool and loud music.

18:01 First guests start to arrive. We make some more drinks. The first steaks hit the BBQ. Do we have enough Ice Cubes???

19:18 Party starts to seriously move, people get relaxed and chilled, the DJ needs some help, I sort him out and plug in my laptop, he grabs some food and stays cool.

20:01 The party is now in full swing. BBQ is burning. Great food with juicy steaks, finger sucking spare ribs, crispy roasted sausages, fresh salads and delicious drinks. Everyone is happy.

22:29 Get a Wodka Tonic. Get an overview of what’s happening. The first neighbours complain about the music and noise. Police arrives. Give them a drink and some food. Thanks. Good night. The party continues without interruption. Nona needs to go to bed. Time to light some Cuban Cigars.

23:60 We sing happy birthday and a swinging party continues until early morning.

next week in Spain

Next weekend we are going to Spain for a long 3 day weekend. Today will be packing up a few things day because next week is hectic and I will have little time to do that.

But which cookbooks should I bring with me? Every time I’m in Spain there is lots of time for cooking, bbq, shopping on markets and I miss my cookbook library from home.

I think I will pack up the 2 books of Elizabeth David, Mediterranean Cooking and French provincial cuisine. That’s it. It’s a lazy rainy cold Sunday here in London and the 2 boring thoughts above are about all I can get on this blog today.

At least I found an inspiring photo which I took last year, looking down the village of Palamos.

QYPE

this is great…what a story, compliments Mr. Uhrenbacher! (QYPE developer blog)

I added my first few “reviews” or thoughts to QYPE and it took a while to write it, so I thought I’ll post it here too.

“here anyone can recommend, review or describe their favorite places and secret tips in their city e.g. shops, restaurants, museums, doctors or simply the best place for a first kiss under a beautiful sunset. All in all, everything that makes a city worth living in! If you want to know what I like best about my city just click on the link http://en.qype.com“

my QYPE contributions, click here

and here are some thoughts on other places like Trader Vics, China Tang, Jasmine, that’s it.

Curry Wurst, Kölsch Beer, Cologne and Düsseldorf

Curry Wurst is the first thing I always go for when in Germany…it’s a national speciality and translates as Curry Sausage. The one who does not know about this delicacy would assume it’s a sausage made with Curry. It is not, it’s much simpler…a grilled sausage, topped with Ketchup and Curry Powder, served with French fries. Apparently Curry Wurst was invented in Berlin 1949 by Herta Heuwer, there is also a patent trademark certificate.

The secret of a perfect Curry Wurst lies in different and complex components.

1. The sausage: Sausage making is an art. In the UK there are lots of sausages and people are proud of these, but to compare them with German sausages is only for fools. For Curry wurst the sausage is grilled or roasted.

2. The Curry Wurst: The art of making sausage is a phylosophie for itself.

3. The sauce: real good curry wurst sauce is not Ketchup but a sauce made of tomato extract and spices, chili, curry, etc…

4. Curry wurst is a Imbiss (Snack) and the best ones are found on roadside grill shaks.

5. My favorite place so far is in Düsseldorf (im Hafen) and is called Curry. It’s a stylish young and hip place, the Düsselfdorf fashionistas also don’t shy back of having a bottle of bubbly Prosecco with the Imbiss. The fries are delicious and home made. Various additional sauces are offered.

6. Beer: Beer is another great asset Germany has, again, the Brits think the ales and bitters they have are the best…forgett about it, try a Kölsch (blonde beer from Cologne) or an Alt Beer (old beer) in Düsseldorf and you will instantly know the difference, it’s enough reason to cancel your flight ticket back to the UK, and if the beer is not enough, then its the beer and curry wurst…

7. Here are some fabulous links and places to explore:

Curry in Düsseldorf

Curry Wurst from Berlin, the whole story

Wiki on Curry Wurst

Peters Brauhaus in Cologne for fabulous local food and Kölsch

Kölsch beer on Wiki

Kölsch bier on Wiki

Go and check it out for yourself, Cologne a nice old city with lots of charm whilst I personally prefer the more sophisticated small fashion town of Düsseldorf.

Here we are self pictured over an Alster Bier, at the Düesseldorf Neumark, a lovely vegetable, fruit and meat market in the middle of the city!

The Year of the Dragon – Kum Hay Fat Choy!

Kum Hey Fat Choy – or happy new year in Chinese!

Tomorrow the new Chinese Year of the Pig starts and the year of the Dog ends. Each year in the Chinese calendar is represented by one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, the Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, Rat, Ox, Tiger and Rabbit. London’s China town and Oxford street are colorful decorated with red lanterns, dances, dragons, firecrackers and fireworks take place. The year of the pig is supposed to bring good luck and prosperity. Now this time it is a golden pig year, which happens once in six decades. London (and all other) Chinatown’s are colorfully decorated, there is a parade, the restaurants are full and everybody goes for great lunches and dinners. There is even some sort of a baby boom in China…it’s the lucky year to make children that will become rich and successful. On the day before New Years day people clean their houses, pay the loans, get new clothes etc. My friends are going for Hot Pot to China Town tomorrow, I have never had it the real way and perhaps we will join!

I was born in January 1977 which was also a Dragon year, besides the Dragon year I was born in the period of Fire, so I am a Fire Dragon!! In China, the Dragon is the sign of the Emperor of China or the male element Yang. The Dragon is the symbol of power and wealth and many other great things… In Chinese tradition fire is one of the five elements. It is associated with the planet Mars, summer and the south, and the colour red. It is believed to govern the heart. Fire is associated with the qualities of dynamism, strength and persistence, and with restlessness and a sense of adventure.

Ok, now take a break, here is a video I found on youtube, it is cracking funny and has nothing to do with Chinese New Year or Dragons, Pigs and other animals, listen to it carefully from the beginning to the end…it is some guys that order in a Chinese take away shop and then call up another one, the first one repeats the order to the second one, then chaos, it’s hilarious.

And here is one of my favorites when I cook Chinese at home…

NYC 2007: Marco Burlimann, 30st Birthday, Pink Elephant and other stories…

It all began with one of the first posts…and here we go, last weekend we flew to NYC to visit my dear friend Marco Burlimann for his thirstiest thirtiest birthday, the program was well planned and executed, a tough one, awesome and freaking expensive.

 

We started on day 1 with bagels cream cheese smoked salmon, then some culture at MoMa where I saw my favorite painting for the four seasons, also displayed at Tate Modern in London. This was followed by immense hunger sorted out in Chinatown for lunch, via Pastis for a few Bourbons on lots of rocks and watching beautiful people, then to Gin Lane which Robbie recommended for guess what, – not a GT but a bottle of Champagne.

For dinner we went to Tao, a huge buzzing and loud Asia Japan meets West food temple resembling a night club with the large Buddha statue and loud music. A power scene. Claudio passed out.

Dinner was followed by Pink Elephant Club for clubbing where Marco “in the know” organized a hard to get table (in the video below you see the two girls which passed out on our sofa and where just sleeping for an hour or so until security removed them…) Dom Perignon, a bottle of Belvedere Wodka, another bottle of Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque and lots of dancing! A gorgeous waitress and the quickest “private” waiter at the table for ice refills, fresh fruit, lighters, cigarettes, red bulls, you name it. The bill was quite steep to. (Thanks Marco-man, next time in London its on me, poor guy spent 1700$…)

That day and night it was so damn cold with polar wind gales hitting the pavement that our noses nearly froze. The weather channel was talking of snow! – which arrived on Sunday night only…

Next day, Chicken Noodle soup and bagels in Carnegie Deli, then Greek Salad and Lamb Chops in Queens Astoria at Taverna Cyclades on Ditmars Boulvard and a visit to Marco’s flat, a local Greek Tavern, Schwarzwäldertorte in some neighbourhood cake shop and off we went for some shopping on 5th Avenue. Followed by drinks at Stone Rose bar at Time Warner building, Sushi in Wholefoods, then dinner at Gramercy Tavern followed by I don’t know anymore.

Sunday, the greatest 4 hour brunch I had in my life, (bagels before…) at Artisanal. Start with Bloody Marie, Cheese Platter with 4 different Swiss Cheese an amazing selection of Swiss Cheese in this place from Appenzeller, Stanser Fladen, Gruyere and Vacherin you name it, then Cheese Fondue and Snails in Garlic sauce to end before desserts, wine and lots of water to rehydrate the body from the nights before. Walk in Soho to Noho, back to the Columbus Circle, more drinks in Stone Rose followed by Sushi in Wholefoods (again) and run to the airport with a nearly heart attack. SNOW flakes in the sky!

Marco & Daniela, Peter, Claudio: Thanks to all of you for an AWESOME weekend and Marco especially for the whole organisation. See you shortly in St. Moritz for the last of 3 birthdays in a series!!!

Late Sunday lunch, La Fromagerie, Moxon Street

Last Sunday we just wanted to buy some cheese for dinner. The best place to do so in London is the amazing little foodie haven on Moxon Street, just of Marylebone High Street. The shops has a cheese room, like a walk in fridge or “humidor” with the most amazing cheeses one can find. My dream would be to have a dinner in the room, a few people, lots of very good wine, and cheese.

We ended up eating there, on the back of the room there is a large wooden communal table in the middle and some individual smaller wooden tables with stools. We chose a cheese plate and a selection of charcuterie, together with an Organic Ale from Kent, a perfect afteronoon. Staff is friendly altough not very switched on, but the lovely atmosphere makes up for it. Actualy the people working in the cheese room are extremly knowledgable.

The shops sells various other great sourced products such as organic honeys from Valtellina, (north Italy, close to my hometown), vegetables and fruits, salumi, terrines, olive oils, breads, cakes and everything a foodies hart desires. All extremly well sourced. They also serve brunch. The menu is super exciting, somehow English with items such as Eggs and Soldiers (made of Poilaine bread) and then again some Continental items. A real treat. Next door is the most amazing butcher, the Ginger Pig. Go there for well matured and hung meat, home made pies and other delicacies. On Sundays there is a little but superb farmers market on the parking area behind the street.

SOOOO YUMMYYYYY….

interview with foodie Steffi, my love

Name? Steffi – Stefanie Fiedler

From? Nievenheim, Germany, close to Cologne

Currently living in? Notting Hill, London

What did you eat yesterday? Microwave reheated Spaghetti Bolognaise, then Mixed nuts coated with chocolate, Pint of beer then dinner at Via Condotti on Conduit Street, Tuscan Ham with Figs, Buffalo Mozzarella, Cherri tomatoes, Olive oil followed by Tortiglioni stuffed with Goat Cheese, Hazelnuts and Pesto, then Roasted Sea-bass with green peppers, a bottle of Barbaresco, 1 Bellini, a ½ bottle sweet wine passito cant remember the name, then passed out.

What do you never eat? Cuttlefish, bowels

Tell me what your favorite food is? Shredded spinach with boiled potatoes, tossed together, with boiled or fired egg. De Cecco Penne with hot tomato sauce made by Clifford and my special spaghetti made with Tomato concentrate flower and water…and a cube of soup stock.

And your favourite restaurants? 89 Moscow Road, (my home, cant tell about the chef, but it is Casa Weiner Fiedler. Chicken burger at Nandos, many restaurants are good but I don’t have a favourite one, to name a few: Guinea Grill on Bruton Street London, Schloss Friedestrom in Zons, (Germany), Walmer Castle Pub on Ledbury Road Thai Food.

You shouldn’t eat it, but you do anyway sometimes indulge in? Pizza from Dominos delivered home, Neds noodle bar Soba Noodles with green Thai Curry, Pret a Manger Sandwiches and a dessert after a 3 course menu.

What is always in your kitchen fridge and cupboard? Garlic, Beer, Milk (sometimes turned into yogurt or so), Tomato concentrate, Olive Oil, Aceto Balsamico, tinned tomato or pelatti, pack of Spaghetti, Pertwood Organic Muesli.

Where do you shop your food? Fresh & Wild, La Fromagerie, Selfridges, Tesco and Sainsburys.

Crucial kitchen items: Dishwasher (which I don’t have), Illy Espresso Machine.

Favourite drink? Ice cold Kölsch beer, Diet Coke, Red Bull and good red wine

Tomorrow is the last day of the world, the shop closes, what do you eat? Penne with spicy tomato sauce, Hühner Fricassee cooked by Mamma, Leberwurst Brötchen, Loup de Mer baked with Tomato, Capers, Olives. Lauwarmer Kartoffelsalat mit Sommertrüffel. Stachelbeer Sahne Torte from Oma Alice.

Thanks!

EDIT March 04, 2007: Casa Weiner Fiedler has moved from 89 Moscow Road W2 to Brook Green W14. So if you want to make a restaurant reservation, please drop us a line.

EDIT March 22, 2008: Steffi and I am getting married. She cant be without my cooking anymore

Kevin, Marco, Christmas 2004

new post. for my friend the schmuck face Marco “the director of food & beverage” Burlimann International. Now in New York. To important to call or mail. On Blackberry. Adios Amigos. We must think about what we will do for the 30th birthdays coming up next year. You, Claudio, me. 90 years of intelligence or something like that….

My thought were to celebrate (…) 3 times. We do London as I am the first one to turn to this critical age. The New York if MB is not to busy…and the St. Moritz for full recovery and Claudio’s Birthday. Lets plan and get our act together. Any input from the world highly appreciated!

Ciao

sunday morning and an organic breakfast

Sunday morning, warm weather sunshine (not normal in London although we have summer) so I decided to go and shop some bread for breakfast.

Shopping bread is not like you can go to any shop and get decent bread. You need to go to a specialist.I walk down Westbourne Grove to Fresh & Wild a very cool, great products organic food shop, if your really into it you can even get organic tooth brush…The Muesli with summer fruit:

1 Peach in slices
1 Apple in slices
1 passion fruit, halved, scooped out
2 bowls for the muesli (good crunchy muesli, I used Pertwoods, it contains also dried fruits, nuts, oats, rye, barley etc. just healthy.)
1 plain yogurt
honey or maple syrup
Rachel’s organic milk

top the muesli with some fruit, a few spoons of yogurt, fruit again on top, passion fruit over it, honey, milk.

pronto, healthy and it tastes delicious on a hot summer Sunday morning

Memories of October 1, 2005 at 3 am – Closing a hotel in central London

http://www.flickr.com/groups/iclondon/

October 1st, 2005 at 3 am. This photo was taken after the last event was cleared down at the Intercontinental London before closure. Wendy, the Director of Events is still in here Dinner Suite as Frithjof, Chief Steward at the time and myself, Director of Food & Beverage started to get it going. The boys from a company who provided labour and logistics support (real wild cowboys) had just finished ripping out the carpet so they could start rolling in containers. The Tables in the back were setup for all the equipment which we collected in the whole hotel, it was then sorted and packed.

Click the picture and you the browser will take you to flickr, the same folder and there are more amazing pictures of closing and emptying a hotel. Not an everyday thing…

Below an image of items being wrapped up for transport and storage.