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The chef-owner of Chef’s Table by Chef Stephan shares with us one of his top cities to visit when he’s in need of a holiday.
When chef Stephan Zoisl is not busy cooking up a storm in his restaurant, Chef’s Table by Chef Stephan along Tras Street, he spends his free time travelling the world and getting inspired by all the interesting dishes and ingredients he encounters. However, one city that holds a special place in his heart is Barcelona, Spain for its amazing food and mesmerising architecture. Zoisl shares with us his usual itinerary which includes a lot of food and sight-seeing.
One of my favourite summer destinations is… Barcelona. I love the city for its relaxed vibe, as well as the fantastic produce you can find at La Boqueria food market along Las Ramblas. The city is also known for its beautiful beaches and crazy nightlife.
I have very fond memories of this place… as I’ve already visited Barcelona a few times, although the last time I was there was about six years ago. But I’ve kept all the good memories of the relaxed city vibe and two weeks of trying out food and putting on a substantial amount of weight.
When I want to experience the local culture, I head down to… La Boqueria food market. You can literally spend the whole day here — from breakfast to dinner — to discover old and new Barcelona through food, as well as to engage with the locals.
My itinerary always includes… a visit to Sagrada Família, one of the most stunning architectural designs ever built. I like the works of Antoni Gaudí, therefore Park Guëll by Gaudí is a definite must-see as well. I complete my holiday by checking out related artworks by Salvador Dali.
The cuisine there is… real and authentic. Catalan people are proud of what they do. They put their heart and soul into their food. Oh, their jamon is also to-die-for.
If I’m craving for an authentic meal here… I would eat at this place called Inopia, which has changed its name to Lolita Taperia. It’s one of the first restaurants opened by Albert Adria (from the former El Bulli team) and I had one of my best dinner experiences there. It’s tapas at its best. I’m quite sure that they still have the same concept even with the name change, but I haven’t checked it out in a while.
For freshly baked bread and pastries… there’s one address that comes to mind: Forn Baluard at Carrer del Baluard. But as a native Austrian, I prefer the sourdough bread from my country. For the best bread experience, my advice is to take a trip to Austria which is also one of my favourite summer destinations.
But if you want it right now, take a trip to Icon Village in Tanjong Pagar and look for Nick Vina Bakery. In my opinion, it has the best bread in Singapore. I’ve watched how the bakers make it — they get the flour from Germany and they have their own sourdough starter. I would be proud if I could bake bread like they do.
I always come home with… a good bottle of Spanish extra virgin olive oil, olives and top quality jamon de bellota.
Whenever I come back from my holiday, my experience inspires me to… look back and understand the humble approach of cooking I witnessed in casual eateries, street food and culture. Barcelona has its high-end restaurants and renowned Spanish chefs who have changed the culinary world in the past few years. But even they know that it’s all down to the produce they use.
My travel mantra is… to have no agenda at all! Just take it day by day, get lost and explore the city. For me, a real holiday means no agenda, phone, emails etc. Just let life do its part, relax and go with the flow.
Dudi Aureus is the senior dining and travel editor at Tatler Singapore, covering the city’s most exciting restaurants, global travel trends, and the personalities shaping the culinary and lifestyle scenes. She also serves as co-jury chair for the Tatler Best awards in Singapore, celebrating the very best in hospitality. When she’s off duty, she can often be found at a favourite hole-in-the-wall Thai spot, savouring a perfectly balanced pad thai.
