WAITER, IS THAT A WITCH ON MY SKEWER?
(Thanks to Matt Meehan for this great write-up!)
So, one night I had a hankering for a Latin American-style spicy chicken skewer served with grilled bananas and rice. Now, you might think I am out of luck when these kind of crazy cravings strike here in Basel. Ahh, but you would be wrong. You can scratch this itch (and many others) at a little out-of-the-way Witch-themed restaurant in a small patch of woods near a campground in Reinach.
Er. Yup. You read it right. Witch-themed.
Sound odd? Well, as any of you who have been there know, the Häxehüüsli is nothing if not a bit out of the ordinary. In a little building just off the beaten path in Reinach, you enter a world of witches, witches… and still more witches. Swinging from the ceiling, hanging from the rafters, lining the walls—and even occasionally (and disconcertingly) roaming around the tables. I’m not sure exactly how it all got started, or what it even means, but hey -why question it? They certainly give the Häxehüüsli a certain…atmosphere.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a cool pace - and not creepy at all. Actually, in its own witchy way it’s kind of romantic. The intimate dining room is a bit tight and cozily crowded–and it is all lit by a bevy of candles, whose flickering lights are conducive to quiet conversations and secretive looks. In summer, you can also sit outside and enjoy warm evenings in their outdoor garden. And don’t forget to plan a visit around Christmas time for the spellbinding sight of the 30,000 or so Christmas lights that surround the outside of the restaurant.
And then there’s the food. Let’s take a look at the menu - offered up in the format of a daily newspaper. Open it up and you see a fascinating array of skewered items. Whatever your taste, the Häxehüüsli has something on a stick for you. Asian? Try the Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. Want to live la vida loca? You can choose the Tamarindo or the Uxmal. Or just travel the world…New York, Paris, Perth, Sofia. The owners of the Häxehüüsli have collected recipes and flavors from their many travels, and pulled it all together into this eclectic mix of kebab-ed offerings.
With your skewer comes your choice of standard, starchy sides—noodles, rice, spaetzli, fries, croquettes, oven-roasted rosemary potatoes (we are still in Switzerland, after all). The meals are not for the faint of heart—the plates are big, the portions generous, the sauces poured on a bit thick. But each time I’ve been I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my food, and since the dining room has never been anything but full and buzzing, I guess the many Häxehüüsli fans feel much the same way.
Restaurant Häxehüüsli
Heideweg 2
CH-4153 Reinach
Tel. ++41 61 711 99 91
http://www.haex.ch/