The journey to the Michelin stars
Michelin-starred chef Markus Philippi | Romantik Hotel Residenz am See, Meersburg, Germany
We do not need to gaze into the cosmos to enjoy stars. Instead, all we need to do is visit Romantik Hotels. For chefs, Michelin stars are the highest recognition of their quality and creativity. We present four chefs and their journey to achieving a Michelin star.
Constantly reinventing oneself yet still treating ingredients with the respect they deserve – head chef Markus Philippi constantly aims to present his regular guests with new dishes while also remaining in harmony with nature. As head chef of the Casala Restaurant he divulges how difficult it is to retain a Michelin star for almost 15 out of a total of 20 years.
My personal culinary philosophy is also my philosophy for life: People who consider themselves to be somebody, stop becoming somebody.
Markus Philippi, Michelin-starred chef
Your way to your first Michelin star was paved by patron and grand chef Manfred Lang; however, you have been maintaining the standard for nearly 15 years. What does this take?
Retaining such an award takes a lot of discipline and teamwork. Over such a long period, it requires that you at least maintain the same quality standard, which you build on whilst also continuously striving to evolve.
What do you think makes for Michelin-starred cuisine?
Michelin-starred cuisine is all about getting the very best out of the ingredients available to you in terms of flavour, texture and visual appeal, and we use regional, unusual and luxury products to do so.
In addition to running the Casala Restaurant and the Residenz Restaurant, you also head up the cookery school and teach participants everyday tips and tricks. What do adults and children enjoy the most?
Our recipes are easy for all to follow, and we keep them simple. What’s really important to me is using readily accessible ingredients available from supermarkets. The point is for people to be able to reproduce the recipes at home and make treasured memories. Guaranteed results and flavour are the key to success – for children and adults alike.
Find an exclusive recipe from the haed chef here.
Michelin-starred chef Gerd Windhösel | Romantik Hotel | Restaurant Hirsch, Sonnenbühl-Erpfingen, Swabian Jura, Germany
Gerd Windhösel, top chef and patron of the Romantik Hotel | Restaurant Hirsch, also holds a much-coveted Michelin star and stands out thanks not only to his high-quality, typical regional ingredients but also his somewhat unusual take on Michelin-starred cuisine.
“Fine dining has nothing to do with show and glamour – it has to wow people with its quality and flavours.”
Gerd Windhösel, Michelin-starred chef
The Restaurant Hirsch has won a Michelin star without a break since 1994. What did it feel like at the time to receive your very first accolade from the “Guide Michelin”?
My wife Silke and I took over the Restaurant Hirsch in 1989 and have since painstakingly raised the restaurant’s quality. In 1993, we added a small hotel area and several new buildings – we received the Michelin star in the middle of the construction work. Until then, we had not even entertained the idea of creating a Michelin-starred restaurant and associated “Michelin” more with our car tyres than with culinary awards. We were of course proud suddenly to be listed amongst the great chefs we had always looked up to with awe. But at the same time, we could not and did not want to appear to be an elitist establishment: straightforward, honest cooking with the best local ingredients – that is how it was then, and that is what it still is today.
Michelin-starred chef Alexandra Müller | Romantik Hotel L’Etoile, Charmey, Switzerland
Join Romantik on a voyage for the senses, from the Michelin-starred Nova restaurant to night-time Gruyères in Switzerland.
Gentle relaxation, wide open countryside and outstanding, Michelin-starred cuisine: that is what head chef and patron Alexandra Müller promises guests at the charming Romantik Hotel L’Etoile. A special offer for foodies and amateur astrologists: after the exquisite six-course tasting menu in the Nova fine-dining restaurant, the head chef will take her guests on a journey of discovery through the cosmos with the aid of her very own telescope.
More informations on an evening with the stars.
The unique star package can be booked directly via the hotel.