An
Unexpected Meeting with the Star Chef of Munich,
Alfonce Schuhbeck
The
City of Munich is one of the most charming cities in
Germany, with delightful historic architecture, a bevy of delicious
restaurants and beer gardens, as well as some of the best shopping
in the world. Touring around Munich will take you to the Rathaus-Glockenspiel
clock with moving characters, the charming restaurant called
Hofbrau where it is said Adolf Hitler gave his first speech
as a political activist. The Ratskeller is another lovely old
venue, where authentic Bavarian dishes and beer abound, but
the most sought after dining venue in Munich is the restaurant
owned by renowned chef Alfons Schuhbeck.
Bonnie Carroll Meets Alfonse Schuhbeck
Alfons
Schuhbeck was born on May 2, 1949 in upper Bavaria as Alfons
Karg, but while he was playing with his band in the Bavarian
holiday resort of Waging am See, a chance meeting with restaurateur
Sebastian Schuhbeck put him on a path that would see him become
one of Germany's most respected culinary talents. This man committed
Alfons in a career in the hospitality business and became his
mentor. Sebastian Schubeck later adopted Alfons and made him
his heir.
He
studied at the College of Hotel Management Bad Reichenhall in
Bavaria. After that he went through practical training in Salzburg,
Geneva, Paris, London and Munich (in Eckart Witzigmanns three
stars awarded Aubergine). After training in restaurants around
Europe he became Schuhbeck's head chef and heir and took his
mentor's surname. When he was awarded a Michelin star in 1983
he became only the third chef outside France to be so honored.
The French Gault Millau restaurant guide gave him 17 points
and 3 hoods and elected him Cook of the year in 1989.
Schuhbecks in den Sudtiroler Stuben
Schubeck's
Kurhausstüber was a former village inn that became a favorite
restaurant for the upper society of Munich and Salzburg putting
the talented chef on the map. Today with over 20 cookbooks,
long-standing appearances on television and a catering business
favored by Bayern Munich FC he is arguably Germany's most famous
chef. Despite his celebrity status, the base of Schuhbeck's
food world still stands in Munich's Südtiroler Stuben -
a tastefully traditional restaurant specializing in classic
Bavarian dishes updated with global flavors.
A
chance meeting gave Chef Schuhbeck the opportunity to become
a world renowned chef, and it was a chance meeting that also
brought me face to face with Alfons Schuhbeck during a visit
to Munich this year. I was touring the city with a Viking River
Cruise group when the tour guide said to me "there goes
the top chef in Munich" and I immediately veered away from
the group and followed the renowned chef into his restaurant
Schuhbeck's in den Sudtiroler Stuben.
Munich City Center
Chef
Schuhbeck seemed to enjoy my enthusiasm to meet him and was
happy to give me some quotes and pose for photos. Sometimes
I must agree with my mother who firmly believed 'timing is everything
in life'. I was simply delighted by his generosity in assisting
me with a story.
This award-winning restaurant combines its exclusive lifestyle
with a menu of Bavarian tradition, rounding out the star cuisine
with a wine list that includes more than 800 selections. The
main restaurant seats 120 people. It is a beautiful setting
for any event with additional rooms such as the Münchner
Kindl room and the Baroque room to choose from. In the vaults
under the cozy Tyrolean Stuben there is a wine cellar and the
lion's basement, built in the early Baroque style, where wine
seminars are offered by their talented sommeliers. For additional
information visit: http://www.schuhbeck.de/en/.
Schuhbecks
in den Sudtiroler Stuben
Platzl 6
Munich Germany
+49 89 216 6900
http://www.schuhbeck.de/en/
By Bonnie Carroll
About Bonnie Carroll
Bonnie Carroll has been a food/travel/lifestyle writer since
1983. She is the founder & publisher of Bonnie Carroll's
Life Bites News - www.lifebitesnews.com,
does travel and food reporting on KZSB1290 radio, and contributes
to a variety of national and international travel/lifestyle
publications. Her first children's book C.C. Charles was published
in 2002 and she is currently working on a second book. Contact
her at Contact her at writebc@aol.com.