engelberg magazin nummer16 sommer

Fast alles, was hinter der Theke und in der Küche zu- bereitet wird, stammt aus Engelberg und der Region. Almost all the produce used behind the counter and in the kitchen comes from the Engelberg area.

Für den kleinen Hunger zwi- schendurch gibt es unter anderem Bagels. Aber auch Suppen, Salate oder salzige Crêpes stehen auf der Karte, sowie eine leckere Auswahl an diversen Kuchen, Waffeln, etc.

Wer kann da schon widerstehen?

As well as chocolate and a wide range of cakes and waff les, etc. the café serves bagels, soups, salads and savoury crêpes.

Who can resist?

On their travels abroad, Coralie and Daniel Benjamin used to miss exquisite Swiss chocolate. It was this yearning that gave them the idea to make their own sweet treats once they got back home. A year and a half ago they opened Alp- schmaus Bistro + Take Away – an elegant eatery that offers chocolate in all its guises. But the café doesn’t only to cater to chocolate lovers; it is also the perfect place for those who like savoury foods, home-made treats and local specialities. With its crêpes, waf f les, hot chocolate, truf f les and chocolate cake, A lpschmaus tru ly is chocolate heaven! But there is a lso plenty on of fer for sweet teeth of any stripe, as well as a selec tion of sa- surrounding area: “We purchase the milk, cheese, but ter, eggs and other produc ts right here in Engelberg,” says Daniel. The Benjamins get their meat f rom Wolfenschiessen, their chocolate f rom Centra l Switzerland, and their spirits f rom Sachseln. “The loca l produce avail- able is so good, there’s no need to make any compromises,” says Daniel. If a cer tain produc t isn’ t available f rom the loca l area, the Benja- mins tr y to ensure that it at least comes f rom Switzerland. So instead of Sprite, for example, they ser ve Elmer Citro, and Sina lco instead of Fanta. The wines are a lso a ll Swiss, and the beer is loca l. The couple don’ t mind that regiona l produce is sometimes a lit tle more expensive; buy ing loca l is a principle they are passionate about. The café, which opened nex t to the railway station in December 2013, is self-ser v ice – something that initia lly came as a surprise to some guests. “There were a vour y snacks such as bagels, savour y crêpes, soups and sa lads. And the ingredients used to create the delicious lunches and sweet treats a lmost a ll hail f rom Engelberg and the

few raised eyebrows, but it ’s a concept that works.” Because of its location by the station, many people who v isit are travellers who just want a quick drink. They don’ t have the time to wait to be ser ved and to get the bill. But the staf f are happy to wait on those guests who do require table ser v ice – if they are elderly or inf irm, for example. Politeness and good cheer are an impor tant par t of the ser v ice at A lpschmaus, contributing to the pleasant atmosphere both inside the stylish ly decorated café and out on its large sun terrace. “We have

had lots of positive feedback about our qua lity, the f lavour of our food, and the atmos- phere,” says Daniel. And the Benjamins a lready have a loya l loca l customer base a longside the numerous tour-

Alpschmaus has become a popular place for people to meet and linger.

ists. Daniel is proud of the fac t that the café appea ls to a ll dif ferent ages.

Despite the fac t that both Cora lie and Daniel trained in hospita lity in Lucerne, it was entirely down to chance that they ended up opening a café. As the parents of three pre- school children, they had no such idea in mind. But when they returned home af ter their long, inspiring travels they were given the oppor tu- nity to take over the former Café Desirée – and decided to seize the chance! They developed the concept for the café independently, with the goa l of creating a cosy new meeting place in Engelberg: “We love the v illage, the loca l nature, and the loca l produce. We wanted to do something for Engelberg.” And that ’s cer tain ly what they’ve achieved with their unique eater y; A lpschmaus is a delightf u lly homely place for anyone who pops by – and not on ly because it ’s a paradise for chocoholics!

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gastronomie | food+drink

gastronomie | food+drink