South Tyrol II: Ottmanngut – An elegant Belle Époque oasis in Meran

May 1, 2014 by nadel&gabel

Imagine a stunning panorama view on palms, vineyards and snow covered mountains – all at once, imagine a magical garden full of citrus fruit trees, herbs and flowers, imagine a calm and elegant villa that breathes history, imagine tasteful and and artful food, imagine thoughtful and caring people … just a dream? No, all of this can be found in the recently reopenend Ottmanngut in Meran, where we’ve been lucky to stay during our spring break in South Tyrol. This […]

Categories: Behind the camera, In the kitchen, Italy, nature, objects & places, On the road, travel • Tags: alpine, boutique, food, garden, guesthouse, historic, holiday, hotel, individual, mediterranean, Merano, modern, mountain, old, Ottmanngut, slow, South, special, suite, travel, Tyrol, view, vineyard

An ode to South Tyrol – Bread dumplings with stinging nettles

April 27, 2014 by nadel&gabel

Before I am showing you some more pictures from beautiful South Tyrol I decided to complement my photographic impressions of the region by some culinary ones. Dumplings based on dried old bread are one of THE traditional dishes of this region. In fact bread dumplings – like yeast dough, quark or potato based dumplings – are common all around the former Habsburg monarchy, especially in Austria, Czech republic (‘Bohemia’), Southern Germany and South Tyrol, may they be called “Semmelknödl”, “Brotknödel” […]

Categories: around the world, bread, In the kitchen, spring, vegetarian • Tags: Austria, bread, cheese, culinary, dumplings, easy, frugal, Habsburg, health, herb, medicinal, nettles, old, recipe, South, speck, spring, stinging, traditional, Tyrol, wild

Antiquities, and a perfect carrot cake cheese cake for Easter sunday

April 11, 2014 by nadel&gabel

First it was only carrot cake I somehow got obsessed with. All those tempting recipes around … thoroughly – and much to my friends, neighbours and colleagues delight – I did extensive research and testing. Cakes that passed my kitchen or caught my interest were Hannahs carrot cake with cream cheese honey frosting (very carroty and nutty, adding an intense flavoured honey to the frosting is just wow!) With a little touch of fancyness and probably only for culinary open […]

Categories: cake, cookie & dessert, In the kitchen, spring, vegetarian • Tags: antiquities, baking, cake, carrot, cheese, cookie & dessert, cream cheese, easter, enamel, flower, market, mini, old, plate, recipe, retro, spring, tableware, vintage

My work space II – Folded book into mail holder

February 22, 2014 by nadel&gabel

My guilty conscience started in the moment I entered the antiquarian book shop. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that the owner could read it in my face – that I didn’t want to buy one of his books for its content, to read it or give it away … but to destroy it! I had seen some interesting DIY projects reusing old books, for example this, this or this one. But I always asked myself the question: Am I […]

Categories: craft & DIY, interior, paper, storage • Tags: art, book, card, chart, Craft, desk, easy, fold, folder, holder, mail, office, old, organization, paper, storage, tutorial, vintage