“Düsseldorf has more to offer than Mettbrötchen and Altbier: The city has become a real gourmet destination.”
Anyone who, like me, grew up in the Rhineland never forgets the culinary cornerstones of his homeland. Curry sausage, fried fish, sauerbraten, Mettbrötchen and Altbier. Even today, Rhineland “street food” can be found on every corner in the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia. But beyond my admittedly sentimental memories, Düsseldorf has now become a real gourmet address.
Business Food
The new restaurants around Mühlenstraße and the nearby old town, for example, fill up right on time for lunch. French bistro, American steakhouse, Spanish tapas bar or the honest “Mutter Ey Café” with gallery – the new Andreas Quarter wants to be the new place to go for the sophisticated public. It succeeds, even though my favourite is across the street. The reason is a dish that I haven’t seen on a menu for a long time: roasted marrowbone with homemade brioche. Somehow the plate with the halved bone and the fresh bread from the kitchen of the “Brasserie Stadthaus” fits exactly here – in the rough Düsseldorf old town.
Those who are more attracted to the Media Harbor for business will find a number of good addresses for the hungry business traveler. My all-time classic (because I almost always meet friends, artists and relaxed people there) is “Roberts Bistro”. But be careful: The place is always crowded, loud and turbulent and is rather less suitable for discussions about tax havens or company mergers.
Star cuisine
He wants to cut back: Two-star chef Jean-Claude Bourgueil is closing his legendary “Shuttle” and wants to open “In the Shuttle at Enzo’s” with veteran staff. How good it is that the Japanese exist. They feel so at home on the Rhine that the largest Japanese community in Germany has gathered here. This is definitely advantageous for the gourmet among business travelers – if he can get a table in the star restaurant “Yoshi by Nagaya“, for example. The master chef at the stove, Yoshizumi Nagaya, serves a menu with eight extraordinary courses that change daily. Get involved with the whole package right away and order the corresponding sake pretios. It’s worth it.
Street-Food
From the noble Japanese to the food in your hand – the difference couldn’t be greater. Although, even the regular Düsseldorf meal is a tradition in itself. For this purpose (I am speaking from many years of experience!) one goes to the Altstadt, to one of the few remaining private Altbier breweries in the city. The top-fermented dark beer is still celebrated here, while in the surrounding area – unfortunately also among the young – the more digestible Pils or Kölsch is now poured in large quantities. But here in “Uerige”, “Füchschen”, “Kürzer” or “Zum Schlüssel” everybody gets what he fancies. And that’s not only the drinkable 0.2 glasses but also the hearty food. Leave the many pizza and fast-food shops in the old town to one side, sit down on the wooden benches of the “Uerige” and order curry sausage, goulash or simply ground pork rolls in summer. In winter, be sure to order the soups and kale. I have had the experience with many business friends that a “meeting” here is a different sensation for people from outside. In addition, the old town with its reputation as the “longest bar in the world” has long since been transformed into a family-friendly party biotope (altbier-safari.de/brauereien.php)
Drinks
Old rule: What happens in the old town stays in the old town. The neat, stylish bars are not far away. I would recommend three of them: The “Colette La Belle”, located on the other side of the Rhine in the Oberkassel district, is a mixture of good long drinks (no cocktails) and a cool, young audience. Artists, self-employed people, writers, TV people – here everybody talks to everybody (Oberkasselerstr. 79). The “Beuys Bar” – named after Joseph Beuys, one of the city’s greatest artists – crouches on the edge of the old town in the shadow of the Andreas Quarter. The inconspicuous sign at the entrance doesn’t let you suspect that behind the door is home to probably the coolest location in town. The bar is bold, the selection and handling of the crew behind the bar is spectacular. If you want to philosophize about gin for a whole evening, this is the right place.
Kai Böcking …
was born in the Rhineland and Düsseldorf is his second living room. Nevertheless, the city always manages to surprise him – and give new impulses to the old love.
Fotos: © iStock.com/Spiderstock, Brasserie Stadthaus, Yoshi by Nagaya, Brauerei Kürzer
