Shore leave Lisbon: Breakfast in Belem

A special way to get to know foreign cities and countries is a visit to a bakery or pastry shop. The variety of different types of bread and the selection of the most diverse pastries regularly lure my captain on a discovery tour to the most beautiful pastry shops in the world. One of them he found in Lisbon, namely the Pastéis de Belém. The good: from the cruise ship, it is very easy to reach by bike or on foot. Here is the captain’s shore leave recommendation: “Breakfast in Lisbon”

Ceviche at Cantina Popular

“Oh my god”, the captain said during the last shore leave in Hamburg, honoring the first bite of the Ceviche de Lubina… The CANTINA POPULAR is loud at first glance, it’s tight, it’s busy, lively and colourful. The waiters in all that hustle and bustle are cheerful and attentive. One has arrived – in the middle of South America. And Chef de cuisine Cristián Orellanus says “Bienvenidos”!

Macaronesian Gin – summer in a glass

Most people like to bring some holiday souvenir back home. Our case is usually full with sausage and cheese from local markets and sometimes we bring also a bottle of wine. On Tenerife, we spontaneously packed a bottle of gin and two glasses as souvenirs. Macaronesian Gin. To be honest, I didn’t even know exactly then, what is meant by ‘Macaronesian’.

Billy the Butcher – the name says it all

A restaurant guide of a special kind led us to Billy the Butcher. “Best Cuts in Town” presents 15 different restaurants and bars in Hamburg. The title leaves no doubt, nothing for vegans… The publisher is the German men‘s(cooking)magazine BEEF!. Passionate meat lovers may appreciate the invitation to a main course in each restaurant. To kick off our „Best Cuts“ tour of Hamburg we had a burger at the butcher shop in Altona.

Shore Leave in Barcelona

I’m sometimes asked whether a captain has time for a shore leave now and then. Yes. He does. In consultation with his deputy, the staff captain, he sometimes can enjoy a short break. However, he never moves far from the ship. Safe is safe. But a lunch at a restaurant – preferably recommended by the local pilots – is a welcome interruption of board routine or a small tour through the respective port city. Barcelona in Spain is one of his absolute favorite cities. Here you can read the captain’s shore leave recommendation: “7 hours in Barcelona”

Gourmet cuisine and brand clothing?

Fine dining at a concept store, that doesn’t match, never, ever – I thought. Until Tom Wickboldt and his team in his The O’ROOM on the German island Usedom convinced me of the opposite. And how! With this new restaurant, Wickboldt sets a culinary exclamation point, which makes the island from the gourmet point of view a lot more attractive.

Women’s power and the color lilac

I would describe myself as a wine lover, but definitely not as wine connoisseurs. I know if I like the taste of a wine or not. And, Yes, I confess that the label of a bottle for me is not quite irrelevant. Therefore, maybe my favorite color lilac was somewhat of a guide when I placed my first wine order in Nierstein [also known as Riesling city at the banks of river Rhine]. Because Lisa likes lilac. Now, the shooting star of the young German wine makers has promised to give her personal wine recommendations for selected Captain’s Dinner menus. And this is the way it happened.

Show-Cooking – and I did not shed any tears

„In the show kitchen of Frankfurt book fair it smelled like garlic and vanilla at the same time. It was mouthwatering for the people sitting in front of the cooking area.“ These are the opening words of an article of the December issue of health food magazine „Schrot & Korn“ about my performance in the Gourmet Gallery at Frankfurt book fair. The issue will be published on November 28th, it is available gratis in all German organic markets. And I did not shed any tears at all.

Auberge de Temple – arrive and never want to leave again

You have ever arrived at a hotel and have said to your loved ones: “Okay, change of plans: we just stay for three days at the hotel, enjoy the beautiful rooms, sauna and in the evening we indulge ourselves in this magnificent restaurant.” That happened to us, as we have some detours on the way to the Frankfurt book fair, where I should cook in the gourmet Gallery, at the Auberge de Temple. This hotel is a dream!