The Wednesday Night Cooking Club - Dessert and Coffee

I have spent the last several weeks trying to summarize the evening that I spent with the Coolinary Cru. I mean, how do you describe the indescribable?

I can honestly say that everything truly amazing that I have experienced, at least as it relates to watches, Switzerland and France really began just before Thanksgiving of 2015. It was then that at the CAFFÈ SPETTACOLO that I first met Rod Hess, and in the ensuing years he has been kind enough to introduce me to his home town, and I have become somewhat attached to the local teams (in particular the football club) -

But in the process, he has also pointed the way to several "not known by the general press" bits of information that have helped me break some of the better stories on the "Blog Formerly Known as Tempus Fugit".

The past three years have been a bit of a blur for me, from running Tempus Fugit, being offered a big-time job in Watch Town proper, giving up Tempus Fugit, souring on watches and reporting on them... 

But something special happened during this trip. I can honestly say that I rediscovered my love and appreciation for watches, I reconnected with my friends, and in the process, in many ways I reconnected with myself.

So un grand merci to the Coolinary Cru for their kindness in welcoming me to the Coolinary Mansion. It was, and remains one of the best nights I can remember.

And I suppose that this is the best way to close this story. It is about the friends you have, and those who remain, as yet, unmet. A watch can tell time, but it can also capture a moment (literally and figuratively). I had picked up this green time machine at the Swatch Drive-In in Biel/Bienne by the Omega and Swatch campus before heading back to the station and CAFFÈ SPETTACOLO where this who adventure - not just this "Big Night", but in many ways this whole watch adventure really began -

The Blancpain X Swatch Indian Ocean

So that's it for now, and two quick travel tips from your old friend Henki -

• When you come to a fork in the road, take it!
• When someone gives you good advice, follow it!

Now go out and meet those as yet unmet friends!

The Wednesday Night Cooking Club - Main Course

Two chefs, a coffee company sales manager, and a watch industry insider walk into a bar...

Above are three of the members of the Coolinary Cru, hard at work in the Coolinary Mansion's kitchen. You may remember the gentleman on the right from our previous installment. The two gentlemen on the left are both well-known in the Swiss restaurant world. 

Adrian von Weissenfluh has worked in some very impressive kitchens, and on this particular Wednesday evening he was tag-teaming the cooking duties with this guy -

Marcel Möri, noted regional restaurateur and medalist in the  IKA/Culinary Olympics.

The menu was simple, yet incredibly satisfying. Ribs and assorted grilled meat -

And then something magical, which chef Möri
referred to as "Swiss Jambalaya". Rice and shrimp and vegetables jacked with pastis and other wonderful things.

Needless to say, it was very good!

Tune in next time as we wrap this up.

The Wednesday Night Cooking Club - Part Deux

"When someone gives you good advice? Take it!"

Henki

 So there I was, in an unlikely location, trying to get a better handle on just what this place was. The gentleman before you is Philippe Scholl. A man who knows more than a bit about coffee, and as I would discover, more than a bit about a lot of things, and could probably teach a master course on embracing life and making each day his masterpiece.

I think he could tell that I was a bit befuddled, so after he offered me another glass of wine, I asked - 

"What is this place?"

He smiled and told me -

"This is the Coolinary Mansion, where the Coolinary Cru meets."

In addition to a RIDICULOUSLY amazingly equipped kitchen, there was (as previously mentioned) a dining area complete with large screen tv, a tasteful bar (not one to attract bar flies and day-drinkers), and a vibe that I really can't put into words. Well, maybe I can put it this way - it is the type of place that you would want to hang out with your good friends, sharing moments together, telling stories, truly enjoying life, and making even more amazing memories. It is a place for friends, and friends yet to be met.

"So how did this whole thing start?"; 

"Well, we were all in a bar..."

I explained that it is entirely possible that is how the original Continental Congress came together leading to the formation of the United States ; )

It was still rather hard to get my head around. A top class kitchen of professional standards, a tasteful dining room / club area, a clubhouse that you felt instantly welcomed and at home in. And I didn't want to push. I was, after all, a guest in this place.

So I headed back out to the parking lot cum bistro and was sitting with Rod. He was on the phone giving feedback to someone who had participated in one of his pitch training sessions, when Philippe leaned out the kitchen window, and informed us that Marcel had called, and wanted to come over and cook, and maybe we should stay for dinner?

I looked at Rod, a smile slowly spread over his face. He asked me if I wanted to stay.

"Well, when someone gives you good advice? You take it!"

And Alea iacta est - the die is (or was) cast, and we started talking about what might be in store.

We have finished the amuse-bouche. Stay tuned for the next course!

The Wednesday Night Cooking Club

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it!"

Yogi Berra

Travel is amazing in the ways that it can open you up to new experiences, new people, and new ideas. And my most recent trip proved that beyond any doubt!

About three weeks ago I was in France and Switzerland visiting some watch brands and taking in FC Biel / Bienne's game -

No, I was not a new signing!

I then traveled on to Besançon, France to check out the Lip HQ and get reacquainted with one of my favorite places -

More on that in posts to come ; ) 

After planes, trains, and automobiles I was back in Biel / Bienne -

It was my last day before heading home, and I texted my friend Rod to see if he was near the station, and he said he could be at the cafe by the station in about 30 minutes, I said no problem, I could hang out. But then he texted back and suggested I could come to his "cooking club", which was about a 10 minute walk away. I said sure - imagining I would be walking to some adult education center with a bunch of guys and gals wearing white aprons working on perfecting their schnitzel recipes. 

After a few wrong turns, I found myself in front of what appeared to be some sort of apartment building with a storefront on the ground level. 

My phone rang - 

"Are you here?"

To which I said -

"I think so..." 

trying the door, it was locked.

"Come around through the alley..."

So I walked through the alley, took a right...

And there in what was the parking lot, was a fairly upscale backyard dining set-up with barbecue grill.

I was offered a glass of wine, invited to sit down, and thought to myself that this will be a nice place to hang out until Rod and I head to dinner. 

I was told to put my bags inside. I walked through the door, and had my second surprise -

Essentially, it was an industrial kitchen, kitted out with professional grade stoves, ovens, refrigerators - you name it.

I then took a left hand turn into what turned out to be...

A dining area that could accommodate at least 16 people.

And now I was really confused, and also intrigued. So I went back to the kitchen and asked Philippe if he could tell me more about this...

And in our next episode, I will fill you in on what was, pretty much without any doubt, one of the most fun, unexpected, and fantastic nights that I've ever had in Switzerland (and pretty much anywhere else for that matter)!