A Sissi Dinner, 29 January 2010

Overall, I don't think we can be described as sissies when it comes with experimenting with our dining. And this month won't be an exception because we will be having dinner with wines made from rather unusual grapes, like Blauer Zweigelt, a variety developed only in 1922 by Dr Zweigelt, and which I have never tasted before. The other wine would be an especially Austrian grape, Grüner Veltliner (which is sort of a quirky thing which grows on you, like some women).

Anyway, here is the deal. We have organised a special menu at a place called Sissi at Motzstrasse 34, 10777 Berlin. The dinner is a 5-course event, complete with wine and water for 49 Euro per person, plus tip on the night. And as Ros has been doing, we are still on the subject of culling ducks with the starter for this event as well! :o)

So the menu we have organised is as follows:

Aperitif Schilcher-Frizzante

Entenconfit mit karamellisierten Äpfeln und winterlichen Blattsalaten

Stantzertaler Erdäpfel-Lauchsuppe

Hirschragout mit Pilzen Erdäpfelpüree und dreierlei Gemüse

Carpaccio und Sorbet von der Thai-Mango

Variation von französischen Rohmilchkäsen mit Tiroler Vinschgerl

Inklusive Grüner Veltliner, Blauer Zweigelt und Wasser soviel das Herz begehrt
 

If you are interested in coming along for a non-sissy start to 2011's dining events, please drop me an email as soon as possible. Entries close by Thu 20 Jan as we have to confirm places with the restaurant in advance. Please kindly note that everyone who makes it on the list will also have to remit the cost of the dinner beforehand via uberweisung as this is a special booking.

The restaurant's website is on http://sissi-berlin.de/ if you want to check it out. It looks typically Austrian and perhaps a little spartan but apparently it is a cosy place with even a funky wood burning stove in the front room to keep the cold out - I hope I don't get to sit next to it! Oh, in case you are wondering, I will definitely turn up for this dinner!See you soon!

Chris

How it went on the night...

It sort of started hazily at the cocktail bar from which we managed to stumble to the restaurant (see pictures below). As promised by Sissi, the wines were plentiful and rather tolerable so I think a few of us may have revised (a little) our opinions about Austrian wines. The food was generally quite alright, although it is rather some way from achieving Michelin star standards but for the money, it was really a pretty good generous evening where some of us (who shall remain forever nameless) drank perhaps a glass or two more than they should.

The next day was spent mostly at the Grune Woche which was a HUGE event that turned out to be more interesting that I had hoped. It was remarkable the variety and volume of items and events (including mini farms, zoos, aquariums, flower gardens, etc) on view here in a series of halls which must be the size of 20 or more soccer fields.The only problem is that pretty much all the food I sampled was really pretty schlecht apart from a Bavarian stall selling a decent fischsuppe! The best bargain I got was a couple of tubs of beluga which I will serve with my own blinis one day. Now I just need the vodka to match... :o)