Dark surface with a pale plate holding a chocolate pool topped by a white four-hole button; a white bowl contains green sauce with pink slices; a napkin bears a floral cluster.
Culinary Spotlight

A Matter of Taste

  • Issue

    04/26

Good cuisine always says something about the place and the people behind it. We take a look at five restaurants that stand out for their unique style, exciting ideas, and a special flair for culinary delight.

CHAMBARD sign suspended from an ornate wrought-iron bracket on a brick building, with flower boxes and a blue sky.
Kaysersberg, France. Photo: Ilya Kagan

Le Chambard

Chef Olivier Nasti has spent 25 years shaping the culinary landscape of Alsace with his visionary, nature-inspired cuisine. As a two-star Michelin chef and passionate hunter, respect for ingredients, wildlife and community lies at the heart of his philosophy. At the Relais & Châteaux hotel Le Chambard, Nasti’s culinary creations celebrate regional identity, with sumptuous game dishes like pithivier – a game pâté baked in puff pastry – that showcase both his technical mastery and his deep local roots. His commitment to the craft shines each autumn at his annual Festival de la Chasse and the World Game Pie Championship in October. As a leading figure in French gastronomy, Nasti bridges traditional French values with modern innovation.

A half-cut pastry pie with red filling on a white plate, with red sauce spilled, placed on a wooden board among evergreen sprigs and pinecones.
Fotos: Ilya Kagan
Rustic wooden table set with a cast-iron skillet of fish in sauce, a side of fries, a leafy salad, and a carved pineapple flower on a wooden board.

This ethos extends to the dessert menu, crafted in collaboration with chef pâtissier Jordan Gasco – the creative force behind the hotel’s Skulptur chocolaterie. Together, they offer sophisticated, avant-garde, reduced-sugar pastries that evoke childhood memories and perfectly complement the experience at the historic establishment’s newly opened Salon de Thé.

A long pastry topped with chopped pistachios rests on a flatbread on a white dining table, with a dessert, napkin, and wine nearby.
Photos: Ilya Kagan
Two round cookies with white icing and red sprinkles on a wooden board, surrounded by decorative shells and assorted treats.

Tenoch

Burritos, handmade tortillas and exquisite octopus tacos take center stage in a menu created by founders Josh Kremer and Pablo Carmona that celebrates Mexican cuisine with subtle Japanese influences. Named after Tenochtitlán – the ancient capital of the Aztec Empire – the restaurant reflects these rich cultural roots through both its menu and interior design. Located within the luxury Paradero Todos Santos hotel, it celebrates the unique identity and landscape of the Baja California Sur peninsula.

Outdoor bar under a concrete ceiling with a long counter, hanging plants and glassware on metal shelves, warm lighting, and staff at work.
Todos Santos, Mexico. Photo: Tenoch Restaurant

es:senz

Culinary excellence in the Chiemgau: For the third consecutive year, Edip Sigl has retained the third Michelin star for his es:senz restaurant at the Das Achental resort. This achievement cements his place among a group of just twelve three-star chefs in Germany.

Group of restaurant staff in uniforms and aprons posing on a grassy lawn in front of a wooden building with greenery.
Grassau, Germany. Photo: Christopher Busch

His winning philosophy is based on a minimalist approach that elevates the flavors of his Bavarian homeland, creating exceptional dishes built around no more than three or four key ingredients, brought together by masterfully crafted sauces.

Gourmet plate with seared beef slice, green sorbet ball, caramelized onion, viola flower, carrot garnish, and herbs on a white plate with sauce.
Photos: Christopher Busch
Two wooden pedestals display small stacked bites topped with greens; a chocolate cake with tiny pastry cylinders and cotton candy sticks nearby.

Vesta

The fifth edition of the Michelin Guide Estonia recommends more than 40 restaurants across the country, including Vesta, a neighborhood bistro in the Kalamaja district founded by three friends. The restaurant recently earned a Bib Gourmand award for its exceptional value. With its young team, open kitchen and a small seasonal menu of authentic, unpretentious dishes, Vesta offers the perfect setting for relaxed, convivial evenings.

Sunlit dining room with wooden tables set for service: tall candles, folded napkins, glassware, and empty chairs.
Tallinn, Estonia. Photo: Vesta Restaurant

Maido

Lima, Peru: Last year, the Maido, owned by Mitsuharu “Micha” Tsumura, was awarded the top spot in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants ranking. For more than 15 years, it has dedicated itself to Nikkei cuisine, a combination of Japanese cooking techniques and Peruvian ingredients. Fusing the flavors of the Pacific Ocean with treasures from the Amazon region, the seasonal menu stars rare items such as paiche, one of the world’s largest freshwater fish. Guests arriving at the restaurant are traditionally met with the Japanese greeting: maido!

Elegant white oval plate with small bites, yellow lattice tuile, edible flowers, and nuts on a glass table; napkins and bread in background.
Punta Ala, Italy. Photos: Valentina Pettinelli
Sunset beach scene with burgundy cabanas and white curtains, rows of lounge chairs on the sandy shore facing the calm sea.

VistAmare

Exclusive beachside dining at its best. In southern Tuscany, the boutique Cala Beach Resort offers guests an unforgettable evening: an exclusive dinner under the stars with their feet in the sand. VistAmare, one of three on-site restaurants, serves contemporary Mediterranean dishes overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Photos: Ilya Kagan, Valentina Pettinell, Christopher Busch, courtesy of Vesta Restaurant, Tenoch Restaurant, and Maido Restaurant

Smiling young woman with short blonde hair and hoop earrings, standing outdoors in front of a stone building with ornate architectural details.

Merle Wilkening

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As a Senior Editor at GG Magazine, Merle Wilkening writes about the people, places, and ideas that shape our world. She is most in her element interviewing personalities who speak about their passions with genuine enthusiasm. Driven by curiosity, her travels regularly take her toward the sun in search of unique encounters and the stories behind the world’s most captivating destinations. Her culinary pursuits range from local neighborhood gems to Michelin-starred dining.

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