With beautiful weather and pleasant temperatures, the reception took place under old trees in the park of Ludwigsburg Palace nicknamed the “Swabian Versailles”.

The Parkcafé restaurant is located in the Palace gardens - the “Blooming Baroque (German: Blühenden Barock) Ludwigsburg” covering an area of 32 hectares (79 acres) around the Schüsselesee (an oval-shaped man-made lake).

At the beginning of the 19th century, Duke Friedrich II had this garden designed. We were delighted that Volker Kugel, Managing Director of Blühendes Barock, was able to welcome us in person and tell us all about the gardens.

Grand Officer Maître Restaurateur Torsten Lacher, who has been running the Parkcafé for over 20 years, and his son Heiko Lacher, who runs Anima (a restaurant in Tuttlingen), welcomed 33 members and their guests in the “Yellow Salon” of the Parkcafé for this summer event.

The idea of the host was for all the wines to come from the Cleebronn & Güglingen winegrowers' cooperative.

At the reception there was delicious finger food with a sparkling dry Riesling wine or a non-alcoholic “Pecco” sparkling fruit juice drink.

The first wine was a 2021 rosé from Lemberger grapes. The juicy fruit sweetness was perfect and made you want more.

Heiko Lacher created the delicious appetizers. The absolute highlight was the “gateau” of duck liver/smoked eel, green apple and white chocolate. A real treat!

The next wine, 2021 Cleebronner Michaelsberg Riesling Kabinett, smelled of fresh citrus fruits paired with mineral notes.

Head Chef of Parkcafé is Wolfgang Lacher, Torsten’s brother. He was responsible for the rest of the menu.

Bouillabaisse “Lacher's style” was served with a 2020 HC Dry Chardonnay - light and fresh, it was reminiscent of a salty sea breeze and harmoniously combined with three kinds of fish.

For the main course, two kinds of venison, fillet (tender with butter) and leg with Savoy cabbage and celery foam were matched with a 2019 CG Dry Pinot Noir.

The sweet finale was made up of dessert variations, Guanaja chocolate, raspberries and rhubarb from the Parkcafé patisserie accompanied by a 2017 nN3 Lemberger ‘Elixir’ made from dried Lemberger grapes.

The coffee was accompanied by lovingly-made chocolates by Laura Ledig, who won the 2019 Baden-Württemberg heat of the Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition.

Bailli Jochen Schramm presented the Chaîne Professionals plaque to the hosts as well as certificates for the brigade members. The whole team certainly deserved a big compliment for this successful event!

Based on a detailed article by Friedrich Müller, Vice-Chargé de Presse Honoraire

Event photos courtesy of Prof Dr Wolfgang Biegert and Katja Hoffmann