Zermatt is known far and wide as a gourmet destination. Visitors really face the agony of choice with over 100 restaurants and counting. Should you go for something “simple and down to earth”? Or make it something on the refined haute cuisine side? In our case, we tasted our way through a total of 41 Gault Millau points in the chalet village of Findeln…
This review first appeared in German on reisememo.ch
Findeln Chalet Hamlet
Findeln perches at an altitude of 2,020 meters above sea level. This petite hamlet above Zermatt is not only known for its picturesque little chalets and the most perfect perspective on the Matterhorn but also for top flight gastronomy!
On the invitation by Zermatt Tourism, we follow the “Gourmet Round” through the following three restaurants. The plan: have the first course in the “Paradise” restaurant, feast on the main dish at “Chez Vrony”, and delight in the dessert in the “Findlerhof”.
Paradies Restaurant, 13 Gault Millau points
Native Gaston Zeiter, our host in Paradies Restaurant, is ready for us with the appetizer. As is often the case with star chefs, Gaston, too, comes across as a bit reticent and shy. But, when he dishes up the starter (together with plenty Heida wine) and sees how beside ourselves with enthusiasm we react, his face beams. The ice is quickly broken between him and the bloggers and Instagrammers oohing and aahing over the dish and taking pictures of it from every angle!
He proudly presents the first course he created especially for us — or so he pretends — , a barley soup with chives, a raclette with Heida cheese and a boiled beef salad. What a special combination! Gaston also lets us in on a secret: for him, butter is the be-all and end-all and so it often plays a supporting but important role in his menus. When it finally quiets down around the table after the initial excitement, we settle down to enjoying the first course, reduced to nodding appreciatively to each other now. Just sporadically picking up the camera and shooting…
Address:
Restaurant Paradies
Findeln
CH-3920 Zermatt
Phone +41 27 967 3451
Paradies Website
Chez Vrony, 14 Gault Millau points
The moveable feast moves on to Vrony, known everywhere around here. Her husband Max is our man this time, and he is already waiting for us, beaming at us as if we travel bloggers were emirs from Qatar. Things are moving a bit faster at Vrony than earlier in the day at Paradies. Here, the terrace is already very well occupied. No wonder — with this view!
Having briefly perused the menu, the consensus at the table is clear: the Original Vrony Burger times seven if you please!
While the women can’t get enough of looking at the Matterhorn and taking pictures of the majestic mountain as if there were no tomorrow, Walter is stalking the inside of the building, camera at the ready. After all, there are beautiful subjects to be photographed here, too, starting with the design luminaires and furniture by famous designer Heinz Julen – Vrony’s brother.
As a side note, Vrony took over the restaurant in 1995 from her father and since then has been the hostess with the mostest, in body and soul! Evidently so!
Address:
Chez Vrony Restaurant
Findeln
CH-3920 Zermatt
Phone +41 27 967 25 52
Website Chez Vrony
The Findlerhof, 14 Gault Millau points
At long last, dessert awaits us at the Findlerhof. Heidi serves us a warm chocolate cake with fruit. With it comes an “evil coffee,” it goes without saying. The cake’s inside is still slightly viscous and simply melts on the tongue… what a crowning finale to this gourmet trifecta in Findeln!
Address:
Findlerhof Restaurant
Findeln
CH-3920 Zermatt
Phone +41 27 967 25 88
Findlerhof Website
Our thanks go to…
… the three hosts that made this Gourmet Round possible! Many thanks also to Corinne of Zermatt Tourism for seeing to it that we showed up at the right time in the right place every time so that nothing was burned on the stove or got cold ;-)
