Very true, but it was an excellent meal and was, two years ago, 70€ for the tasting menu. Plus the head chef was there, and came out to ask us how it was (I let my German speaking friend handle the conversation!).

Unless its Rick Stein - but then, he probably doesn't regard himself as a celebrity.

He's a good chef despite being on the telly.

Anyone got any idea why my OP deserved a groan?

I'm quite puzzled!

General Manager??!!

Because we don't do bloody text speak here!

surely that is just an abbreviation?

I thought the clue was that the Midfield General thanked the next post which said the place was pretentious.

But hey, I wasn't overly effusive in my praise of the meal . . . So hence I'm puzzled. Actually I was pretty ambivalent going on underwhelmed.

We do not do abbreviations on the English Forum either. Please capitalise.

I think you might have possibly answered your own question.

because you obviously have far too much money to burn

Groaning is petty though. We all make choices. For the price of GastroGnome's meal - I'd choose to buy a week's ski pass for a top resort, or a flight to Morrocoo, or to see my grand-children.
Many of course would have no choice but to use it to feed my family and keep them safe .. but that of course is another story (like many, been there, done that).

Gastro have you ever been here:
http://www.traube-tonbach.de/en/rest...zwaldstube.php

I just wondered how it compared to the Dolder experience ?

Gastro Gnome, did you have the uni roe/sea urchin? There was some pretty strong, pungent flavours in there. Mango, chorizo and saffron...wow!

Was it nice?

p.s. Your flickr pic collection is fab!

Yes dad.

I believe the groaner may have groaned out of envy, purely and simply.

I didn't burn it. I ate it.

I haven't yet. Actually my fine dining in Switzerland's been fairly limited since I arrived here. Thanks though . . . I'll look into Traube Tonbach.

The next places on my (reasonably local) list are Schloss Schauenstein, Hexen and (a bit further away) and L'Arnbourg.

I can't take credit for the photos, they're from my friend, Ulterior Epicure.

The sea urchin dish was one of the less successful ones. Urchin should have a strong flavour, but this was lost under the chorizo sauce. Overall it tasted a bit like a Mexican breakfast, though that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

I can see why some might see the food as pretentious, but simply posting about it in a not uncritical way?

The potato Espuma looks interesting - did you try it? What was in it?

Love the photos..