At the risk of repeating myself (and I’m ok with it), I can’t say enough how excited and grateful I am to be able to live from my passions. In my wildest dreams did I ever imagine partaking in experiences that so few can even envision. All my aspirations have been bundled in one beautifully and elegantly wrapped package – I get to travel the world, meet the most interesting and unique personalities, eat like a queen, all that while basking in total bliss. What else can a girl ask for?
Have you ever been into a particular brand, place or food which you wish you could find again while traveling? I’m not referring to chains but rather experiences.
Have you ever had times when you just needed a break from your routine but didn’t feel like making a production out of it? Like treating yourself to a weekend but as close as possible to home?
I got to this just a week ago and it felt so good. Last time I went on a staycation was years ago. Staying at a hotel in your home town doesn’t seem like a vacation, but trust me, once you’ve had a taste of it, you’ll want to repeat the experience as often as possible!
My weekend away from home took place at Atlantis by Giardino, literally 20 minutes away from the center of Zürich. I have to confess that the experience was so nice that we took it up a notch and decided not to go home right after and instead check out their sister hotel in St. Moritz! Not so shabby!
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Atlantis by Giardino sits at the bottom of the Uetliberg mountain. I only knew the area because of our hikes in the summer and sledging in the winter. Other than that I never quite had the excuses or reasons to venture more.
Things changed when a few months ago I got invited for a meeting at Atlantis. It was one of those gorgeous summer afternoons. The sun was beaming down between the trees, reflecting in the pool where the guests were hanging out, taking all the breeze they could. I don’t know what I had expected but I was certainly pleasantly surprised. Atlantis is not a typical business hotel, it’s rather an “Urban retreat” where professionals and holiday seekers alike find their joy.
I DIDN’T KNOW THAT…
- When the Atlantis was conceived, it was intended to only have three floors and be more like a “country house” in the city.
- Design influenced by Scandinavian style and revisited in 2015
- New twist on the 70’s charm and character
- Bespoke furniture and fabrics from the very best in the industry (Molteni, Pierre Frey, Altfield & Zimmer + Rohde and Patricia Urquiola)
- Steve McQueen and boxing legend Muhammad Ali spent time there.
- Freedie Mercury gave a private performance on the bar’s grand piano!
- There is a hidden gem only a very few get to experience or even see!
OUR ROOM
I loved loved our room! Spacious, modern and bright. One could tell that a great deal of attention was put in the design but also the quality. The fabrics and furniture are carefully crafted, ideal for those of us in love with understated, artsy luxury. The type of luxury that doesn’t need to be loud and over the top to make an impression, but is comfortable enough to make a clear statement.
But my all time favorite, once I took off my shoes and started paying close attention to details was my welcome gift, especially made for me! Not the greatest for the waist line but a delight for the soul …
…My own shoe made of chocolate!
This is a treat special guests get to indulge in. The kitchen gets a summarized description of the guests then creates a chocolate treat best representing them. How sweet and thoughtful?
Needless to say, I was beyond joyful.
THE SPA
Thirty minutes into my arrival, I had to rush to the Spa to get my Ayurvedic massage! Nothing in the world beats a good massage. I was so excited and eager.
Let me tell you that I was not disappointed. Perfect touch with the right amount of pressure and love!
The rest of the Spa was beautiful and offered everything one can look for. It was a bit too crowded so I didn’t spend too much there but enough to get a feeling.
But…
… and what a surprise! Nicola, the hairdresser working at the hotel’s Aveda salon, knowing that I had a big event to go to in Geneva, treated me to a blow dry, at the last minute, before his 2 hour-drive home. How thoughtful and generous!
DINING
HIDE & SEEK – AYURVEDA INFLUENCED CUISINE
I was really curious to see how Ayurveda cuisine was integrated into the menu. I’m not an expert but have had enough experience to understand the basics of it. Curious and a little skeptical if I may be totally honest. But totally open and ready.
Meeting with the Executive Chef Dennis Mazza prior to having our meal made it more fun and interesting. I got to see the Behind the Scenes and understand the approach better. So in fact, I understood that the menu is Ayurveda inspired rather than full on Ayurveda. I appreciated knowing this to set my expectations right.
“Each dish incorporates salty, sweet, bitter, sour, spicy and tart components in harmonious unison, tantalising your taste buds and nourishing your body. Local herbs and invigorating spices ensure that your meal is easily digested, while the different flavours and textures offer a rich sensual experience. Enjoy food that simply does you good – without having to look too hard.”
BRUNCH
My absolute favorite meal of the day!
HIDDEN GEM FOR THE ROYALTY
So this was the biggest surprise and discovery I’ve had in a very long time! When general manager Georg Steiner mentioned a surprise, I imagined a big suite with a juicy story attached to it. Not in a million years did I expect to be blown away the way I did.
The Atlantis by Giardino hides the biggest gem in Europe, the Royal Residence, Europe’s largest suite. Designed for those seeking the ultimate luxury, privacy and maximum security. The Royal Residence is home away from home for travellers from the GCC countries.
- 8 bedrooms / bathrooms
- 426m² Master Suite
- Fully equipped kitchen with staff
- Underground parking
- CHF50,000 / night!
See for yourself. Had I known I would have dressed up for the occasion 🙂
NOW MEET THE MAN BEHIND THE SCENES – DENNIS MAZZA
Tell me about you
I’m originally from Germany. I have also worked in Austria for a long time, always in the 5 star gastronomy and have been working at Atlantis by Giardino for the past 2.5 years and 6 months ago I became the chef of Hide and Seek. There we have a special cuisine, an Ayurvedic inspired cuisine. This is a very exciting topic which I like very much, because you can discover new things – very exciting.
I started working with the Ayurvedic cuisine when I joined the Atlantis. It has been a completely new topic for me. But very exciting. I am someone who is very knowledge-hungry and who always wants to grow. We develop the dishes in cooperation with our Ayurveda experts in the hotel. We develop the dishes in the kitchen or I develop a dish and then we give them to the Ayurveda experts who make sure they meet the Ayurvedic standards. The majority of our products come from the region. We work with suppliers who have very high quality standards. We have a special spice dealer here in Zürich who advises us in the Ayurvedic cuisine with spices. We get our Duca spice from him for example – you’ll get to enjoy tonight! This is a very special spice mixture made for us which comes from the Middle East.
If our guests are interested they can get an analysis done then we’ll create a program catered to their needs.
Do you also live according to this system?
Good question. 🙂 Before I became a chef here I did an Ayurveda cure myself in St. Moritz. This also opened my eyes to the fact that you can do other things for your health. I myself never practiced it before because I had no idea about Ayurveda. I knew about healthy cuisine but not about Ayurveda. Today I would say I already stick to it, privately, but with me there are always exceptions. I am a down-to-earth person and I catch myself cheating. But no matter what I have totally integrated meditation and yoga into my daily routine.
If you could only take one ingredient to a remote island, what would it be?
Salt.
What will we experience tonight?
We have developed a dish made with eggplant. An eggplant is usually a vegetable which can be very boring, very monotonous if you don’t prepare it properly. We give it a little Asian touch with miso, with a soya stock, which you will try afterwards. We also make a special Babaganoush with it, a middle-eastern aubergine puree.
How do you cook at home?
I like to eat fish fresh from the market. Nothing like a nice fresh fish fried with a little salad. That’s all I need.
How do you choose the dishes on your menu?
Basically, you live from what you have experienced in all the years in the restaurants, in the hotels in which you have worked. Of course, even if you go out to eat, you always pick up things. For me it is very important that I travel with my wife, that we have experiences where we get inspiration. Reading is very important for me. You have to educate yourself further, develop yourself further. You always learn something new but in the end I have my own style. We’re also known for experimenting with spices. I think that’s the difference to the other hotels.
See you soon! If you can’t stay at the hotel for now, at least treat yourself to their Sunday brunch! You won’t regret it.
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