Turnip stew – just delicious!

After all that festive roasts and gourmet buffets we feel like cooking something pretty simple. Outside it’s cold and dark and new year still seems to be a bit unreal and strange. Could there be anything better than a fine warming stew with an almost forgotten vegetable, the turnip?

“Last-minute“ pea soup

Outside I hear the first firecrackers, 2017’s grand finale approaches. If you want to conjure up a quick midnight soup, here comes another idea for a rapid recipe. No, actually not a recipe, but rather a “free-style” instructions with ingredients you certainly have at hands.

Cavatelli alle Vongole – pasta with clams

Recently my dearest Captain was on shore leave in Molfetta/Italy together with Leonardo. They had pasta with clams and he raved about this dish in our evening phone call. There, I decided to make my try and prepare it at home one day. Luckily, Leonardo gave him a packet of original south Italian Cavatelli pasta to take home – they are said to be the best pasta ever with clams.

Don’t be afraid of game!

Time and again I hear: “I have never prepared game, I don’t know whether I can do that.” This concern is nowadays absolutely unfounded. The days of strong smell and taste are long gone. So-called “Haut goût” (French for „high taste“) referred to the very intense, slightly unpleasant smell that arose when the meat was stored too long without proper cooling. Today, in the age of cold stores and freezers, it does not exist any longer. So, get to the wild feast.

Le Lion Bar in Hamburg and the original Gin Basil Smash

The Le Lion Bar in Hamburg is considered one of the 50 best bars in the world (!) And justifiably so! The cradle of the cult drink “Gin Basil Smash” is therefore in Hamburg. We looked at this famous and highly recommended bar and brought the original recipe for the Gin Basil Smash.

Captain’s Christmas menu and Lisa’s wines

Seven days till Christmas and you have still no idea for your festive meal? On Christmas Eve, there is a very traditional food in most families. If there are family and friends visiting you at the holidays, the menu should be something very special, quite clear. I’ve put together a festive menu for you which can be prepared very well. And the best thing is: the menu is coming along with the suitable wine recommendations from the estate of Lisa Bunn. Now, “rescue” is at hand, here you’ll find your perfect Christmas menu.

Veal cheeks – tender as butter

This dish is my absolute favourite for a festive multi-course meal. It is a bit time-consuming, but you can prepare it already days before your guests arrive and freeze it. As a side dish dumplings or Spätzle and a salad of lamb’s lettuce with roasted bacon and walnuts are a perfect match. The effort is rewarded by a super tender meat and incredible aromas!

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.

Scallops & champagne – as Christmas is coming soon again

I know some of you will think: “Now she goes mad, the wife of the captain – using champagne for cooking…” Let me say first of all: Yes, of course you can cook this wonderful dish also with Crémant or Cava. But for special occasions, even Champagne fits to perfect the scallops on Capellini with this velvety saffron sauce. The blood oranges make the icing on the cake not only optically. A dream of a starter!