indulgence in zurich? markthalle!

have you ever wanted to have rustic but nonetheless stylish place in zurich, but were lacking options? some weeks ago we were celebrating a few friends' graduation (it was about time, lol), and planned on getting started with a big, lavish dinner, first. since we were around twenty people the options were even more narrowed. we then decided upon the new 'restaurant markthalle' which is part of the hot spot viadukt in zurich.

markthalle is not only a restaurant, but first and foremost, as the name suggests, a 'market hall', where you can get fresh and regional delicacies. i love the concept of picking food and at the same time being able to taste it, too. markthalle, true to its name, offers honest, seasonal, uncomplicated food served on big plates. best to just trust the very charming service and chef and be surprised by the daily specials. i can only ensure you: you won't be disappointed.

in case you are looking for something rustic, honest and uncomplicated but nonetheless lavish and indulgent, then markthalle is just the place for you.

mom's 'easy lunches' and cuddling with felix

when my mom cooks, it's usually great. no matter how hard she tries to convince us that this was, for her benchmark just 'a quick thing', 'only something very simple' or even 'nothing at all' - it's still always rather impressive. so to prove my point, here's an example for one of my mom's many 'quick and easy lunches'.

as antipasti, we had: roast pumpkin slices with bread crumbs, a colorful salad, bresaola with pecorino and grilled cargiofi and tomatoes with mozzarella di bufala. as a main dish, my mum prepared gnocchetti sardi in a risotto style, with taleggio and ragù di porcini on top (it's obvious by now that we all have a fondness for porcini).

the dessert was a wheat-free and instead really sweet chestnut gateau, very mellow and rich.

after that, it was time for a little cuddling with my nephew felix - right between the dancing sessions, that is. he's got so much energy! i must confess: i find it rather exhausting. just look at how dishevelled my hair is... i look utterly worn out.

my week in objects: nights & lights

although i've been rather sick this week (nothing serious just very annoying...), i managed to go out at least once this week. we had a lovely italian dinner at cantinetta antinori. i love cantinetta, and always feel rather decadent and a bit guilty, even, when eating there. because it's so over the top splendid and delicious, i feel like they only cook for me there. we had 'verdura mista alla griglia' (a plate of mixed, grilled vegetables) as a starter. then, i had 'spaghettini al tartufo d'alba' (with white truffle). now you probably know why i thought it was a little decadent.

then we walked just a few paces across the city. did you know the new (or rather old) christmas illumination in bahnhofstrasse is already up? however not illuminated yet. such a pity they won't continue the other, modern one. after all, it was the biggest time piece in the world, and very avantgarde. i really loved it from the beginning (though it seems i was the only one...). scandalous, that they finally really took it off just because it was too modern for the average swiss. well, let's just give the other illumination a chance, after all it's christmas and you're supposed to be generous during that time of the year...

1 dinner at the cantinetta antinori in zurich

2 the berkel at cantinetta antinori, such a beauty! i will have one of these when i'm 'grown-up' (i.e. got my own big kitchen). just imagine all the things i could create in my kitchen with this beauty. i'd plan all my meals around it: carpacci, vitello tonnati, antipasti, salumi... ah, i really like to dream...

3 christmas illumination 2010 at bahnhofstrasse. can't wait to see it in action!

4 some other pretty places in zurich, that look both, ravishing and mysterious in the night. 

5 and then, as a contrast programme (because you can't spend your life eating at cantinetta, sadly. deep sigh...) a simple dinner just for myself, and made of old bread, too. french toast (i admit: at least prepared with a deluxe vanilla bean)!

6 this doodle book. courtesy to my lovely friend sasa, who brought it all the way from london. it's a doodle book! perfect, since she knows i love to doodle my time away (note: i hope my boss doesn't read this... lol).

7 this heather grey zara xl knit pullover; perfect for a sickish day out in the wintery cold. i think i'll take it to next weekend's hunting hut esape, too, it will be perfect with a pair of leather leggings.

8 my mom and i went to the flower whole sale again this week. we got up really early in the morning, when it was still dark. we even had to scratch the ice off the car! a first this winter. can you believe it's that cold already? i stopped to quickly take a few shots of the romantic mc donalds scenery, too (sorry to bore you with that bloody mc do sign, again... i don't know what it is. maybe i've got some kind of psychosis? note to self: observe).

have a happy weekend everyone! 

love (sent out from my couch)

s

oh deer! hunting season

i'm going to spend the next weekend in a hunting hut, somewhere in the german forests (don't ask me where, i'm a complete zero when it comes to geography...). i'm totally excited about it! we're planning to do not much else than hang out, wearing knit socks, reading books, eating s'mores (i just decided that) and maybe once or twice going for a walk in the lonely forest (so yes, i'll need a good pair of shoes, obviously).

since it's hunting season anyway, i decided to post my favorite hunting outfits while we're at it. i'm a bit of a deer fanatic, i love anything with deer print or deer motives. plus, i really love greens and browns in this season, and slim pants combined with slouchy knits and big boots. it's time for me to get both, a classic barbour waxed jacket and some timberland's, which i last wore in my childhood. and i think a classic burberry or aquascutum scarf is unbeaten when it comes to casual everyday leisure time adventures.

1 marc by marc jacobs elliot wool gloves
2 polo ralph lauren moss heather shawl cardigan
3 joseph waxed skinny leather pants
4 elizabeth & james rabbit trimmed blazer
5 aquascutum original club checked scarf (i've got one of these from my dad)
6 burberry dark brown large leather hobo bag
7 hunter's dark green rubber boots

1 closed heather grey cable stitch pullover
2 derek lam black stretch riding pants
3 zadiq et voltaire checked shirt
4 barbour black quilted jacket
5 hunter's black studded rubber boots
6 doc marten's patent leather boots

1 topshop leather pocket shoulder bag
2 topshop olive biker skinny trousers
3 random gold deer ring
4 american vintage heather grey top
5 burberry giant cashmere check scarf
6 timberland hiking inspired boots
7 barbour classic bedale wax cotton jacket

1 topshop knitted faux fur vest
2 see by chloe grey wool deer poncho
3 s'mores: grilled marshmallows sandwiches with graham crackers and chocolate
4 doodle books: doodling is my my favorite pastime
5 monster sudoku book: addictive
6 random knit socks
7 random checked boxers

i'll post the actual outfits after the next weekend, so be sure to come back if you want to see me in 'high hunting fashion'.

porcini dinner reloaded: lush!

another weekend spent fussing and fiddling about the kitchen. i admit that after such a weekend, a day of relaxation would be rather welcome. but, enfin, it's so rewarding to serve a few plates of lovely food. i ordered two kilos of porcini (the cleaning - with a tooth brush - easily took around one hour), again, and wanted to integrate them into the dinner and give them an adequate slot without making them the dominant part of the meal.

so here's what i cooked (be prepared for a long list): first, a hot and refreshing (thanks to cumin, cilantro - seeds and leaves) soup made of roast melanzane and tomatoes, topped with goat cheese and cilantro. then insalata tiepida di porcini with an orange and mint vinaigrette. as a main dish roast lamb racks on fennel (which is very digestive; a good counterpoint to the mushrooms) and figues. to finish off we had a tiny syrup apple tarte with a wintery pear salad together with a tower full of rish chestnut cupcakes with buttercream frosting. lush!

you're probably not interested in all the details and recipes, so i'll reduce the instructions to a minimum.

the roast melanzane and tomato soup (adapted from smitten kitchen):

insalata tiepida di porcini with chopped mint and orange vinaigrette (own recipe).

roast lamb racks on glazed fennel and figues (adapted from donna hay)

syrup apple tarte with wintery pear and dates salad (adapted from donna hay), accompanied by chestnut cupcakes with buttercream frosting (own recipe)

interesting how carb-free (apart from the dessert, that is) this dinner came out. so it wasn't all too heavy for a sunday night, after all.