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| Aschau im
Chiemgau - Germany |
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Extraordinary
October - 2008 |
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5 Stars
& 5 Stripes
Overall - 'Hotel & Service' |
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The
Ultimate Award:
Seven Stars and
Stripes® |
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| We boarded the ICE high-speed luxury train in Bremen,
Northern Germany, on the way south to experience some of the latest innovations
at the Heinz Winkler Residenz and once again taste the legendary cuisine of
world-acclaimed master chef,
Heinz
Winkler. It was a pleasant and very relaxing blue-sky five and half hour
ride though Germany's most scenic valleys, which we highly recommend to
travelers who are discovering this historically significant country for the
first time. Munich welcomed us new arrivals appropriately with huge jugs of
cool authentic 'Weissbier' - white beer in the ICE lounge until it was time to
board the local train to Prien am Chiemsee. The Heinz Winkler Residenz and his
celebrated restaurant are located an hour south of Munich in the precious town
of Aschau am Chiemsee. If we had thought that we had experienced so far a
scenic ride, we were now in for some of the real breathtaking views of
Germany's Alpine heartland. At the small train station we were welcomed by the
driver of a Porsche Cayenne, proudly displaying the Winkler Residenz logo on
the polished doors of the five-seat, mid-sized sports utility vehicle that was
granting us ample space. |
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| Check inn was casual-friendly, warm smiles and no
formality at all after which we were guided to our two level suites, furnished
and decorated in modern-traditional style with warm gold tones and
extraordinary art. The Winklers had purchased this historic inn almost twenty
years ago, a late medieval building which had had been called the 'Hotel Post'
for centuries. Today, this hotel features thirty-two rooms and suites, all with
a balcony, terrace or garden access and is supported by the Venetian Restaurant
and the Garden Salon. Special events are celebrated at the Mozart Vaults and
not to forget the Winkler Residenz' own VitalResort spa, a small but
distinctive place of wellness and beauty where guests may enjoy invigorating or
relaxing treatments and anti-aging facials. Winkler introduced his very own
creation of spa food 'Cuisine Vitale', in the 80's well ahead of the curve,
combining well-being with gastronomy, a concept found in most great spas all
over the world today. |
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| And then there is the latest creation of the
Winkler's, the Davidoff Cigar bar allowing aficionados of fine cigars to
“celebrate the pleasure of smoking in an adequate environment”. This
is definitely the place for after dinner drinks and a couple of puffs, besides
it is a fabulous edition to the unique wine cellar, storing 25,000 bottles of
Southern Europe's finest and then some. The Winkler Residenz, located in close
proximity to a fairytale castle of Ludwig II of Bavaria, with the Alps as fairy
tale backdrop is the perfect location for hiking, biking and walking. With
'Indian-summer-like' fall temperatures and the walking path right around the
corner, a great idea. When we came back after an hour with rosy cheeks and
noses and lungs full or fresh country air we were more then ready to meet one
of the world's most talented and celebrated chefs. Winkler was the youngest
chef ever to be awarded three Michelin stars, a distinction he has received 20
times until today and we invite you to dine with us … |
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by
Thorsten Buehrmann & Edmund Buehrmann
Editor: Ingrid
Lemme
Editor-in-Chief: John Lomitola |
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| © 2008 ~ Seven Stars and Stripes, Inc. |
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