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Heinz Winkler - Venetian
Restaurant - DE |
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The Oberoi
Mauritius |
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davidburke & donatella, NY -
USA |
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Residenz Heinz Winkler,
DE |
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Air Mauritius - First Class
A340 |
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TOKU Restaurant, NY - USA
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NEXT: Emirates Palace &
Djibouti Palace |
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Venetian Restaurant
Aschau im
Chiemgau - Germany
Chef de Cuisine:
Heinz Winkler |
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| 7 Stars and 7 Stripes |
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| As if in a storybook setting nestled between the stately Alps on the
border of Austria and the old-world setting of Chiemsee, a grandiose Bavarian
lake, is the Residenz Heinz Winkler. The location has all the earmarks of a
gourmet 'Heidi-land' featuring the likes of award winning
Chef Heinz Winkler, a sort of culinary Mad King Ludwig. His gastronomic creations have earned him numerous awards including 19 1/2 points from Gault Millau out of a possible 20 and a phenomenal 3 Michelin Stars a total of twenty times since opening. I have even seen it listed in Patricia Schultz's bestseller "1,000
Places to See Before You Die". Winkler has arrived it seems, although all those
accolades and awards require hard work and preparation to develop the kind of
consistency necessary to maintain such a legacy. |
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| We were invited to the
Venetian
Restaurant at Residenz Heinz Winkler to see for ourselves and we were not
to be disappointed. You could feel the pride, the nurturing and honor of
working in a unique setting like this one. All this happiness and expertise is
the work of inspired leadership and military-style good training. It was Head
Maitre D Fabrice Kieffer who was responsible for my well being during our
lengthy review and he too looked content. What could be better than living and
working under the tutelage of certifiably the Best Chef in Europe and in the
midst of 25,000 bottles of wine with everything from Latour to Lafite, I
confessed to Fabrice. He answered Nothing!. After 18 years of ownership,
Winkler has established himself at the culinary epicenter of Europe.
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| Congratulations to all, from your Guests and from Seven Stars and
Stripes: |
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- For your visible commitment to excellence.
- For your willingness to be recognized for your latest
innovations.
- For your devotion to your staff and company.
- For your ability to receive.
- For your decision to raise the bar.
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New York City - New
York
Chef de Cuisine:
David
Burke |
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| 6 Stars and 5
Stripes |
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| David Burke is an acknowledged culinary genius, with a flare for
drama, and the unconventional all on display at the fabulous "davidburke &
donatella" Restaurant on 61st Street and the Upper East Side. David partnered
with Dona Arpaia, a lawyer turned restaurateur, and opened "davidburke &
donatella" to rave reviews in January 2003. Their partnership works beautifully
because Dona uses her people and managerial skills to keep the dining room
happy, while David creates never before seen culinary fantasies in the kitchen.
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| Arriving at the restaurant, we walked down a set of stairs to what
once was an Upper East Side town house. The all white front room features a
full length bar where power diners from the worlds of entertainment and finance
can dine solo from the gourmet menu, or savor a fine wine, or liquor. The front
and back dining rooms at both lunch and dinner are filled with the type of
people you read about on Page Six, or Boulevard as well as regular businessmen
and tourists
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| Our Seven Stars and Stripes™ book - 2003 to 2006 world-edition,
is
still available. Over 300 pages - featuring only the finest
establishments and fascinating cuisine art images from around the world. All
beautifully compiled in this full-color collector's edition.
ISBN# 1-4259-4267-9 |
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| Aschau im Chiemgau -
Germany |
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| 5 Stars and 6
Stripes |
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| At the airport we were welcomed by two charming ladies. As true
gentleman we insisted on lifting our luggage into the already waiting limo.
Within less then an hour we arrived at Winkler's Residenz, in close proximity
to a fairytale castle of Ludwig II of Bavaria, with the Alps breathtaking
backdrop. Check in was a hart warming experience; traditional south German
charm accelerating that home spun feeling. We were already adoring the stunning
terrace as we explored our room in this one-of-a-kind resort setting. The
Winkler Residenz offers an exceptionally maintained and designed health, beauty
wellness spa. The VitalResort spa offers a Finnish rock sauna, a Roman sauna, a
Kneipp roundel, ice showers, tepidarium, and pool with adjustable counter
current. |
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| Winkler focuses on what nature has to offer in its simplest
form… not only as ingredients for his dazzling cuisine, but also for their
powerful anti-aging properties and as a foundation for physical and spiritual
well being. The keepers of the inn and their staff seem to be happy and healthy
people. This wonderful small inn that features 32 deluxe accommodations of
which two thirds are elegant apartments created in 'maisonette' style. The
service at the inn may be considered as traditional and charming and by any
means a wonderful place not only for a connoisseur's palate. The breakfast at
the inn is the kind that will blow your mind, without mattering from what part
of the world you have come here to relax. Take a week.
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| In Next Gazette: |
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| * Emirates Palace - Abu Dhabi,
UAE |
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| * Djibouti Palace - Djibout,
Africa |
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| In The Press: |
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| * Arrival at The Oberoi
Mauritius |
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| Dear Friends |
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| Dear Friends, it's hard to believe that it's already
November, once again. Unlike the natural seasons we experience each year, the
seasons in our lives are not governed by time but by what we have been going
through. There are plenty of people who live year-round in a mild climate and
are desperate to see falling leaves or feel snowflakes on their faces. For
those people, we discovered the charming, historic Residenz Winkler, south of
Munich, Germany. Be prepared to taste one of the world’s finest cuisines,
Heinz Winkler was awarded all 7 ‘Seven Stars and Stripes’ for his
cuisine and service, a first in Europe. Or is it that you are craving for a
suntan, perhaps over the holidays? We experienced the wondrous, colorful and
turquoise water world of the Oberoi Mauritius and their luxurious pristine
dream beach resort with the elite Oberoi Spa by Banyan Tree! On this trip, we
flew Mauritius Air and little did we know that we would dine divine above the
clouds. Or is anyone shopping yet for the holidays? How about New York City? We
tasted the superb cuisine of fabulous, chic ‘davidburke & donatella
restaurant on 61st between Park and Lexington Avenues. Last but not least TOKU,
the modern Asian restaurant that was opened last summer at Americana Manhasset
on Long Islands Gold Coast. Whatever your plans are, be well, until next month
from the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, UAE, |
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| I am yours truly |
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Thorsten Buehrmann |
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| Watch the Seven Stars and
Stripes |
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| Award TV Show on |
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| Hamptons Televisions WVVH
World-Wide |
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| The Oberoi Mauritius |
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| 6 Stars and 7 Stripes |
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| The Oberoi Maritius is found along the Baie aux Tortues (or
Turtle Bay), along the meandering northwest coast, set in over twenty acres of
enchanting, subtropical gardens with two thousand feet of white, wide, sandy
Indian Ocean beach. It is still within easy access to the capital city of Port
Louis (less then 10 miles away) and relatively close to the small by growing
town of Grand Baie. We passed the Oberoi Mauritius welcome building, capturing
the feeling of the island and we were kindly acknowledged with honest and open
smiles and here again, cool towels were dispensed once again. |
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| Within minutes we arrived at our accommodations, a luxurious villa
with a natural palm-thatched-roof, a private swimming pool and a private
pavilion, granting unobtrusive panoramic views of the unspoiled dreamy beach
and these hard to describe, azure-blue warm waters of the calm tropical ocean.
Our private, romantic villa was the perfect honeymoon accommodation, or
“for couples who just need to get away and recharge or rekindle the spark
that brought them together” - we agree here with the Oberoi Mauritius'
hotel brochure one hundred percent. Relaxing neutral wood tones for
furnishings, ceilings, and fabrics contribute to enhance the experience of
wellbeing and convey the feeling of closeness to nature though these
accommodations are not lacking state of the art technology throughout
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| Seven Stars and Stripes Awards for: |
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| Air Mauritius - First Class -
A340 |
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| 5 Stars and 6
Stripes |
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| On board our flight attendant addresses us in perfect English, the
official language of Mauritian but supposedly almost everyone speaks and reads
French in the country of our destination. The on-board entertainment system was
simple but sufficient. The in-flight cuisine, presentation and service were
above and beyond. The menu was presented in a tasteful leather & fabric
bound book, carrying the embroidered mythological bird logo. Crossing the Alps
by car is too easy compared to this. If you want to get a big kick out of these
amazing mountains, you've got to seem them form above. Witnessing a picture so
prefect as the Alps from so high that day, kept my adrenaline pumping. An
unforgettable view. |
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| We were started with a choice of delicious canapés followed by
a choice of pre-plated hors d'oeuvres. The main courses were then freshly
assembled from an open buffet tray-cart and served on elegant, fine china - we
truly enjoyed the shelled lobster and the honey glazed duck breast - followed
by a selection of international cheeses, fruit basket and delicious desserts.
All meals were presented with the outmost attention to detail and superb
service while paired with inspiring aperitifs, a sparkling Cuvee and
international wines,(some vintage). An assortment of digestives were offered.
Very well done!
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| TOKU Restaurant |
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| New York - USA |
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| 5 Stars and 6
Stripes |
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| We next were served an assortment of Rock Shrimp Tempura, Pork Buns,
and Steamed Sea Bass Roll. These appetizers were followed by an assortment of
hot Foie Gras and Pineapple Skewers and a Peking duck Salad. Each course was
fully discussed and explained by a well trained waiter/waitress. Our main
courses were a mouthwatering “Miso Black Cod” along with cod shishito
pepper salad, pickled ginger, and bonito shaving, as well as “Braised
short Ribs” with Mushroom Chow Fun. Each dish was presented on fine china
and cooked to absolute perfection. |
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| No review of
Toku
would be complete without a description of the interior design and decorating
elements visible at the restaurant... The Polls worked with Designer Paul
Bentel, of Bentel & Bentel in Locust Valley, L.I., to help bring to life
their vision of converting a simple restaurant interior into modern elegance
and sophistication. However, even with its urban chic, Toku is warm and
inviting, featuring a spectacular wood and illuminated onyx bar, and
comfortable seating. The sleek wood paneled walls have a number of celebrated
works of art by Li Jin of China.
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