Bâlehoo

I am a cheese-aholic. Like any addict, I am always looking for a good, local source. So, imagine my delight when I discovered that I live just 30 minutes away from France’s most venerable affineur (cheese ager).

Located in the Alsatian town of Vieux-Ferrette, Bernard Antony ages and supplies fromage to several of France’s most renowned restaurants - and has even provided cheese to the President of France!

But you don’t have to be royalty to meet this “King of Cheeses.” Take a trip into the rolling hills of the Alsace and you can have the cherubic Antony or his son personally guide you through an experience unlike any other – a multi-course cheese extravaganza, complete with wine pairings (make sure to designate a driver or arrange transport so you can enjoy it fully).

From the first course of chèvre chaud through the seven heavenly cheese courses (Cost: approx 80 Euros, excluding wine) that follow, you can enjoy a festive Alsatian evening spent knee-deep in some of the best cheese you’ve ever had. (Don’t forget, you can buy some more at the retail counter to take home!) For the faint-of-heart – or simply heart-conscious – Antony also offers a three-course tasting for approximately 11 euros that is perfect for lunch.

Bernard Antony

Eleveur de fromages

5 Rue de la Montagne

68480 vieux Ferrette

Tel: +33 (0)3 89 40 42 22

(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/

With restaurant name like Cantina Don Camillo, you might think you’re headed out for Spanish tapas. However, the menu at this simple-but-chic restaurant is actually modern-Swiss-meets-Asian. While it might sound odd, it is also surprisingly refreshing.

In fact, surprise is the key word for this Klein Basel eatery - starting with finding it. Hidden away in a side street and reached by what I am graciously going to call a freight elevator, by the time you’ve sussed out its location Don Camillo’s feels like a Prohibition-era speakeasy.

Fighting back the urge to knock three times and whisper the phrase “dDie Hunde bellen den Mond an,” I entered the high-ceilinged minimalist loft space. Simple, but warm decor makes for a surprisingly friendly feel, but Don Camillo’s real hidden treasure in its outdoor deck. Sitting in the sun at clean-lined wooden table and chairs, overlooking the vaguely industrial view, it has a very relaxed, unstudied “Carrie Bradshaw does lunch” feel.

When you’re done soaking in the atmosphere, the great news is that the food is good, too. With seasonal menu items such as yellow chicken curry, pasta arrabbiatta, and a fish and spinach involtini with caper sauce, you are sure to find something to whet your appetite.

Special Basel Bonus: The food not only tastes good, it looks good too. Dishes are presented with casual sophistication and even a simple mixed green salad is plated with an eye to please.

Cantina Don Camillo
Burgweg 7, 4058 Basel
+41 61 693 05 07
www.cantina-doncamillo.ch

(Closed Sunday and Monday)

Acqua. As I entered this popular bar, it occurred to me that I was probably the last person in Basel to go there. In fact, my first visit was just this past week - and at 12 noon no less. No, I wasn’t on a mid-day bender. I was there for lunch: some of the best – and most reasonable - Italian food in Basel.

Well-known as one of the coolest bars around town, this hipster hangout also rates high with some local foodies. As I learned, it’s great for weekday lunch, where the quick and tasty menu (appetizer plate w/salad, bruschetta, hard-boiled egg and ham, followed by your choice of pasta with meat or vegetarian sauce) is served up quick and prompt. You can be in and out in less than an hour, giving you time to linger over their excellent espresso at the end of the meal. And the price won’t hurt: CHF 20 prix fix! The coffee isn’t included, but a carafe of house wine and sparkling water are (and for those of you with hearty appetites, the price also includes free refills on pasta). All this, plus Acqua’s romantically industrial (”ro-dustrial”? “in-mantic”?) atmosphere? Hard to beat.

If lunch isn’t your scene, swing by Acqua for dinner. Whether you are a devoted carnivore or prefer fishier fare, Acqua has something for you. With their four-course menu (appetizer, pasta, main course, dessert), you can select from the daily Mare (sea) or Terra (land) menu - and just ask if you’d like to mix and match. Highlights included a fresh and delicious grilled fish platter, a rarity in our little land-locked nation, and steak that was nicely cooked and not-too-huge, allowing room for their tasty desserts. Salad and potatoes are served up family style as part of your meal. Again, the price is right (approximately CHF 60 per person for food), and at dinner the already warm ambience is downright hot; low lighting and wads of candles make you want to linger at that table for hours.

Finally, wine buffs take note: the small, but quality, wine selection provides some great deals. When I was there, I spotted a few (super) Super Tuscans that could be had at unbeatable – eg, lower than Basel retailer - prices.

So, whether you’ve been for drinks or never been at all, it is time to give Acqua’s food a try. And make sure to make a reservation – because Acqua’s menu might be new to me, but the secret is clearly already out and tables are hard to come by.

Acqua Osteria
Binningerstrasse 14
4051 Basel
Phone +41 61 271 63 00
Fax +41 61 283 00 71
www.acquabasilea.ch