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Food Insider

Impressive view: The “Azure Window” in San Lawrenz

The best view of the famous Inland Sea, one of the most spectacular natural attractions that the Maltese island of Gozo has to offer, can be enjoyed from the terrace of the "Azure Window" restaurant. Can the food and drinks keep up? The restaurant is named after the former landmark of Gozo. The Azure Window was a natural rock formation that looked like a window. Unfortunately, it collapsed a few years ago during a storm and therefore no longer exists. It was only a few minutes' walk from the Inland Sea. By the way: The so-called Blue Hole is also very close to the Inland Sea and the restaurant featured in this article. The "Azure Window" is a small restaurant located in the municipality of San Lawrenz. It is very remote with a direct view of the Inland Sea. This part of San Lawrenz is called Dwejra and the bay there is called Dwejra Bay, with the famous Fungus Rock in the middle. There is a lot to see around the restaurant and snorkelers and divers will also get their money's worth in the sea, the Inland Sea and the Blue Hole. It is obvious that you will get hungry and thirsty at some point. The "Azure Window" is mainly geared towards tourists during the day, but comparatively few people find their way to this remote region of the island of Gozo. In the evening, they try to offer "better food", but in a relaxed and informal way. The result: The Azure Window is definitely not cheap. It is not overpriced, but still rather expensive. The menu is not

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Frankfurt Priority Lounge with much potential for improvement

The Priority Lounge in Terminal 2 of Frankfurt Airport is one of several lounges designed to offer passengers more comfort and exclusive services before departure. It is aimed at both business travelers and vacationers who want to relax away from the often hectic hustle and bustle of the airport. But while at first glance the lounge promises amenities such as comfortable seating, free food and drinks, and a quiet working environment, opinions differ on the actual quality of the services offered. While some passengers appreciate the peace and quiet, others see room for improvement in terms of the food on offer and general facilities. A critical look at the Priority Lounge in Terminal 2 shows how good the lounge really is and whether it lives up to its name. Facilities and atmosphere: practical, but with compromises The Priority Lounge in Terminal 2, like many lounges at Frankfurt Airport, is functionally designed. At first glance, it offers passengers comfortable seating, generous window glazing, and various relaxation zones. However, this lounge quickly becomes overcrowded at peak times, as participants of various card systems, as well as business class travelers of some airlines, have access here. Since many long-haul flights depart from Terminal 2, it can quickly become full. The facilities are functional, but not very luxurious, which is something that frequent travelers in particular criticize when comparing it with lounges in other large international airports. Unlike modern premium lounges, which offer showers, sleeping areas or even wellness offers, the Priority Lounge's offering is limited to the essentials - a fact that many passengers find disappointing. Note:

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Almdudler and Napoleon: Successful grill fun promotion delights fans

This year's Grillgaudi promotion by Almdudler in collaboration with the Napoleon brand was a complete success. In the second edition of the campaign, 200 high-quality grill sets were raffled off, giving grill fans and Almdudler lovers in Austria, Germany, the BENELUX countries and Hungary the opportunity to enrich their grilling season. Participation was easy: Almdudler buyers had to upload their receipts to enter the raffle. Among the prizes were two exclusive grill models: the compact Napoleon Travelq 285X in Almdudler design and the classic Napoleon charcoal kettle grill. In addition, the winners received a supply of Almdudler Original to round off the grilling experience. Managing Director Gerhard Schilling emphasized the importance of Almdudler as a companion for barbecue parties, while Marina Freundl, Managing Director of Napoleon, highlighted the positive response to the campaign.

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"Palermo": Mediterranean fine dining in Almaty

The “Palermo” restaurant at Panfilov St 98 in the Kazakh metropolis of Almaty serves Italian specialties. You notice as soon as you enter that the restaurant is part of the upscale gastronomy. The large and well-maintained freshwater aquariums, which are located near the entrance on the right-hand side, are certainly a real eye-catcher. They are large and house various ornamental fish species, such as cichlids. Incidentally, these animals do not end up on the plate, even if you ask. One positive thing is that the tanks appear to be very well-maintained and the fish have been carefully chosen. None of the aquariums are dirty or overpopulated in any way. Wines from France and Italy dominate the menu. The extremely friendly staff quickly show you a table and shortly afterwards make the first recommendations for drinks. Local wines from Kazakhstan are hardly on the menu, but there is an extremely extensive selection from Italy and France. It is not surprising that wines from these countries are stocked, as the focus is on Mediterranean specialties. Incidentally, numerous wines are also displayed on wine racks, which give the restaurant a special visual touch. Of course not all of them, because not every one is suitable for such a display. Certain mussels are served completely fresh and can even be selected individually by the guest, as they are in a saltwater aquarium. This means that you know in advance what or who you will soon be served on your plate. This “storage facility” is also in absolutely perfect condition in terms of cleanliness. Although the “Palermo” is located in the upscale gastronomy sector,

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Del Papa: Italian fine dining in the heart of Almaty

Right in the center of Almaty, on Kabanbay Batyr St 83, an Italian restaurant awaits its guests. As soon as you enter the restaurant, you notice that you are not only in a very attractively designed restaurant, but that you are also being looked after by the service-oriented staff, as you are greeted right at the entrance. Until 1997, Almaty was the capital of the then newly independent Kazakhstan. For various reasons, it was decided that Astana would be the capital of the ninth largest state in the world. Almaty is still a very important city and is considered the cultural center of Kazakhstan. It is therefore not surprising that there is also top international gastronomy here. Friendly staff in a beautifully designed restaurant Top gastronomy should not always be understood in terms of the number of stars or toques, but rather what the operator serves and offers. The Del Papa in Almaty is right at the top, as both the beautifully designed restaurant and the quality of the food and drinks score points. In terms of price, the food is in the upper middle class for local standards. For Europeans, this means that you get very good value for money. In Almaty, wages are significantly higher than in the rest of the huge country, which is why prices in restaurants tend to be considerably higher than, for example, in the countryside, where income levels are not particularly good compared to Europe. The atmosphere in Del Papa is very cozy and could be described as a somewhat rustic restaurant. However, one could criticize the fact that there are some

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Südback Stuttgart: Meet the baker and confectioner Helferlein

Südback, one of the largest trade fairs for the bakery and confectionery trade in Europe, has been taking place on the grounds of the Stuttgart State Exhibition Center from October 26 to 29, 2024. It is primarily a B2B trade fair aimed at companies active in this industry. Visitors get a fascinating insight into what goes on behind the scenes. According to official information, more than 560 exhibitors from many countries around the world are represented. Around 35.000 trade visitors are expected. With over 60.000 square meters of exhibition space, the trade fair offers a diverse selection of machines, raw materials and, above all, delicious baked goods and sweet creations that celebrate craftsmanship and set new standards. Many suppliers of finished goods present A central part of the trade fair are the baked goods and pastries on display. In the Bakers and Confectioners Trend Forum, experts demonstrate the craft live, show artisanal finesse and innovative techniques that form the basis for masterpieces such as modern types of bread, artistic cakes and creative pastries. Visitors can not only learn about the latest baking processes and techniques, but also taste traditional and new products from the region and from international companies. Products such as rye bread, gluten-free baked goods, but also special creations such as croissants in atypical flavors or new fillings in traditional pastries receive special attention. In this context, one thing is particularly striking: suppliers of convenience goods are represented in large numbers at Südback. Whether it is frozen bread, rolls, cakes and tarts or baking mixes, it doesn't matter. Everything is represented. Even sandwiches that are ready-made

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“Jaffa Vegan Streetfood” brings fresh Vienna to the gastronomy of Brigittenau

A few days ago, a new “insider tip” for high-quality vegan food at a fair price opened in the 20th district of Vienna under the name “Jaffa Vegan Streetfood” in a very inconspicuous place between a Bipa drugstore and a doner kebab restaurant. Previously, this business premises housed a branch of a well-known bakery chain. This chain closed its doors some time ago. For several months, the new tenant has been drawing attention to the upcoming opening by means of poster advertising on the windows. This week, the time has finally come, because after a long wait, “Jaffa Vegan Streetfood” has opened its doors. Vienna’s Brigittenau has a few very good restaurants, but even locals don’t think of them first when thinking of a good lunch or dinner, for example. The entire district around the famous Wallensteinplatz, where the “Vinobodana” theater is located, has been undergoing gastronomic upheaval for more than a decade. Only a few traditional businesses have been able to survive. The region is characterised by snack bars, which mostly serve Turkish cuisine. Of course there is also a pizzeria and even an extremely good Vietnamese restaurant, but otherwise the selection is rather poor. Vegan specialities spice up the "gastronomic Siberia of Vienna" Sharaf Jaffa, an experienced restaurateur with Arabic roots, has decided to go a different way and bring a breath of fresh air to Brigittenau. His concept is fundamentally different from that of his local competitors, because "Jaffa Vegan Streetfood" specialises in vegetarian and vegan dishes. It offers a symbiosis

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“Shafran” Almaty: The restaurant with the “Quelle catalog” menu

Near a city highway at Koktobe-1, 36 in the Kazakh metropolis of Almaty is one of the restaurants of the "Shafran" chain, which awaits its customers with an exceptionally extensive menu. On the outskirts of the city of Almaty, exactly between a highway and a forest, is the restaurant "Shafran". This is a branch of the chain of the same name, which has various locations in the metropolis. What is striking about the structure is that it offers three outdoor areas. In front of the entrance there are covered seating areas, which are protected from the sun in summer and are more designed for a cozy get-together. Both floors of the restaurant have balconies where you can also eat and drink. With three outdoor floors and two indoor floors, the "Shafran" is a larger restaurant. You might actually assume that the operators are prepared for lots of guests and as quick a service as possible, but this was not the case when we visited. It was sparsely attended and yet it took a long time for the drinks, for example, to be served. We had to wait longer for the food and the staff had no foreign language skills, although this is not a problem at all due to the way the menu is presented. Menu only in Russian and Kazakh, but with photos The usual national languages ​​in Kazakhstan, apart from a few regional languages, are Kazakh and Russian. The menu is written in these languages, so people who cannot read Cyrillic script have a problem. But the “Shafran” has found a truly international solution for this, because every dish

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Bigchefs: Delicious food on the Shymbulak in front of Almaty

To reach the "Bigchefs" restaurant, you must have an electric vehicle, because for environmental reasons the access road has not been accessible to combustion engines for some time. If you can't do that, there is a gondola lift built by the Austrian company Doppelmayr. The journey time with this cable car is around 15 minutes. Tickets are available online via the official homepage of the Shymbulak Mountain Resort (the QR code on the mobile phone must be scanned at the turnstile) or simply on site at the cash desk. The "Bigchefs" is not a "classic ski hut that you could put on any mountain". It is located after the first section on the left hand side of the mountain station and immediately catches the eye with its architecture, which is characterized by a lot of wood. In two further sections, the cable cars take you up to 3.200 meters all year round. This is something you should consider before or after visiting the restaurant, unless you are here in winter to ski anyway, because the view of the mountains of Kazakhstan is impressive. If the visibility is good, you can even see a 5.000-meter mountain. There is no cable car on this mountain yet, and there are no plans for one, but who knows, Doppelmayr and Leitner would certainly like to make an offer... A portrait of the Shymbulak can be found under this link at Aviation.Direct. Turkish franchise chain on Almaty's local mountain "Bigchefs" is a franchise chain that is completely unknown in Western Europe and has its roots in Turkey. It is represented in Kazakhstan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Northern Cyprus, Libya, Iraq,

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Vienna Coffee Festival: Small fair with many purchasing opportunities

At the beginning of September 2024, Vienna's Marx Halle was all about coffee and coffee machines. This year's Vienna Coffee Festival took place from September 6th to 8th, 2024. The B2C trade fair was strongly geared towards selling products directly to consumers on site. The Austrian capital has an extremely long tradition when it comes to coffee and is also considered the epitome of the so-called coffee house culture. The fact that the raw material required cannot usually be grown in the Alpine republic is irrelevant. Importers or so-called refiners established themselves on the market in Vienna as early as the 18th and 18th centuries. Some of them still exist today and are among the leading suppliers, at least in Europe. The expectations placed on an international coffee trade fair taking place in Vienna are therefore quite high. Numerous exhibitors from various countries, but also small regional companies, presented their products. From the typical Tchibo/Eduscho package to organic varieties that were supposedly grown and processed in a particularly sustainable way, pretty much everything was on display and available for purchase if desired. Even coffee plants and other perennials were on offer. The focus was on sales. However, the fair was also exclusively focused on coffee and coffee machines. Anyone who expected that tea drinkers would also get their money's worth was disappointed. But it was a coffee exhibition, not a tea exhibition. Nevertheless, a stand from the Czech Budweiser brewery, which also acted as a sponsor, seemed a little out of place, as it didn't really fit with the fair's theme.

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