Restaurant Session (in Düsseldorf): Nagaya

As Roger had a dentist appointment in Düsseldorf, we decided to combine it with dinner at restaurant Nagaya✨ from Japanese chef Yoshizumi Nagaya. A delicious choice!

The interior.

As aperitif...

...sake with yuzu. I liked a lot the combination!

 

 

As first course, the appetizer's variation. Great variation!

 

 

Crunchy shiso leaves with miso.

 

With the aperitif variation, I had a glass of 2020 Riesling vom Rotliegenden Trocken from Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz.

 

 

To pair with the foie gras praline...

...a glass of 2018 Erdener Praelat Riesling Spaetlese Alte Reben from Weingut Dr Hermann. Excellent combination!

As second course, scallops.

With the scallops, a glass of Isojiman Junmai Ginjo. Very nice!

 

Roger had a Japanese carrot juice.

 

Cutlery ready for the next dish.

 

A cute soy sauce dispenser and...

...fresh wasabi ready to be grater on the Oroshi.

 

 Tuna sashimi with fresh wasabi, and...

 

...an amazing wagyu roll topped with truffle.

 

New cutlery for the next dish.

 

 Wagyu beef from Japan. So tasty!

 

Pairing with the main dish...

 ...a glass of 2012 Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux from Chateau Montlandrie.

 

Dessert time!

 

Star Wars interruption?

 

Nop - only a hidden way for the Sweet Final - aka gourmandises :-)

 

Feb 8th, 2022.

Restaurant Session (in Düsseldorf): Berens am Kai

For dinner, we went walking from our hotel to restaurant Berens am Kai✨ from chef Holger Berens.

With the apperitif, the amuse bouche.

Bread and butter.

For the dinner, we asked a bottle of 2006 Chateau Haut-Marbuzet from Henri Duboscq.

My starter: spaghetti gragnano, lobster ragout, chilli and coriander.

[Spaghetti Gragnano | Hummerragout | Chili | Koriander] 

Roger had the creamy and crispy artichoke, creamy yolk, Faridehs herbs, and...

[Creme and Knusper von Artischocken | cremiges Eigelb Walnuss | Faridehs Kräuter | Toast mit Olivenpaste und Cecina]

... toast with olives and Cecina.

 

As main dish, Spanish Angus filet, sauce Bearnaise pepper with...

[Spanishes Angusfilet | Pfeffer béarnaise | gebackene Kartoffeln | Kräutersalat]

...herb salad and...

 

...backed potato - those were great!

As dessert, pistachio gateau, lemon cream and olive oil with fermented blueberries. For me, this was the best dish of our dinner: creative and full of taste.

 

To finish dinner, espresso macchiato and...

...madeleines.

We were a bit disappointed with dinner - as a one Michelin star restaurant, we expected more. It was a good dinner, but nothing exceptional. Also the restaurant had more a lounge atmosphere (including the music) than a restaurant per se. Researching the restaurant now, I just saw that the chef sold the restaurant in 2023 to his sous chef, and it is now named 'am Kai', following a brasserie concept. I think it fits much better to the kitchen style.

Dec 23rd, 2021.

Restaurant Session (Patisserie): PYC cheesecake and gallery Oberkassel

In the afternoon, trying a coffee cheesecake that we bought at PYC cheesecake and gallery Oberkassel. Delicious!

 

Dec 23rd, 2021.

Sleeping in Düsseldorf: Hyatt Regency Düsseldorf

As we didn't travel this year, we decided to go for dinner, on December 23rd, at restaurant Brut172. Unfortunately, 9 days before our dinner reservation, the Dutch government did a restaurant lock down again (for four weeks). So no dinner anymore... In a very short notice, I started to look for an alternative - and found one in Düsseldorf. So instead of just going for dinner, we decided to do a mini-break, with an overnight stay included.

 

As I booked a restaurant at the Medienhafen in Düsseldorf, we stayed in the same location - at the Hyatt Regency.

We chose a room without a view, and I wouldn't do it again: it faces a high building of offices, with full view to your room. I hate having the blinds closed, but there was no other way - unless you don't mind feel like in a vitrine :-)

 

The coffee corner.

 

And the bathroom - that was quite big. 

Covid time - whenever inside the building, masks all the time.

In case you decide for a room with a view, that's the view! Really beautiful!

 

Dec 23rd, 2021.