Fire free

Going the extra mile with fire and coal
Alexandra Gorsche © Conny Leitgeb Photography
5. December 2022 | 
Alexandra Gorsche
5. December 2022
|
Alexandra Gorsche

Roasted and smoky flavors bring momentum to the menus of upscale gastronomy. Oysters, scallops and langoustines end up on the grill – but it’s not just premium products and cuts that are becoming delicacies, but also cuts such as flat iron (shoulder centerpiece) and brisket (boneless beef brisket). One trend is whole grill menus, which are no longer only on the menu in summer, but also in winter.

It should be vegetables

Vegetables on the grill, spices and other ways of preparing products are strong themes. Smoking vegetables and then processing them into purees, spreads, spice or dip sauces is in. It is also exciting to serve smoked vegetables as gazpacho - the possibilities are endless. The basic requirements are high-quality basic products, know-how and an understanding of indirect and direct grilling and how to deal with the core temperature (resting phase). Tip: Especially for the winter months, spices such as cinnamon, cloves, juniper berries, star anise and allspice are recommended to enhance the winter flavors of curing solutions, sauces and rubs.

Show cooking

The professionals agree. The show effect must remain, at least in part. Guests identify with the process of grilling, which is why the live act creates special emotional moments.

Ready for the winter

To delight guests even in the colder seasons, a perfect base should be guaranteed, as well as the right cast-iron barbecue utensils. Hot sauces and stews or even waffles. Without cast iron, the outdoor fun won't last long. For fire baskets and that campfire feeling, a Kindling Cracking is ideal. With this fixed upside-down log splitter, you can determine exactly where the wood is split. Experience gastronomy through and through with a table grill, where guests can also lend a hand. Tip: Big Green Egg.

A la table, s'il vous plaît! A la table, s'il vous plaît! A la table, s'il vous plaît! A la table, s'il vous plaît!

Why on earth don’t we all drink Styrian wine?

Why Styrian wine is becoming a key talking point for the hospitality industry and restaurateurs

With the ‘We Drink Styrian’ initiative, Wein Steiermark is sending a strong message about provenance, regionality and genuine wine expertise. For restaurateurs and hosts, this is more than just a campaign: Styrian wine becomes an experience, a recommendation at the table and a strategic tool for greater visibility, added value and regional identity.

Gostilna Rajh in Prekmurje

Why This Restaurant in Slovenia Is Worth the Trip

Gostilna Rajh in Bakovci, near Murska Sobota, is regarded as a culinary ambassador for the Slovenian region of Prekmurje. Tanja, Damir and Leon Pintarič demonstrate how traditional dishes such as lángos, bograč, vinegar-marinated meat and Prekmurska gibanica, combined with a modern twist and genuine hospitality, make this a culinary destination just a stone’s throw from the Austrian border.

When Peas Become Caviar

Two-Michelin-Star Chef David Toutain at Restaurant Ikarus in Hangar-7 Salzburg

In June 2026, David Toutain will bring his nature-inspired two-Michelin-starred cuisine to the Ikarus restaurant at Red Bull Hangar-7 in Salzburg. The Parisian chef will demonstrate why vegetables, herbs, fermentation and short supply chains are no longer supporting players in fine dining, but rather the new language of luxury. A menu blending Normandy, sustainability and that green pea which Toutain calls the caviar of vegetables.

quick & dirty
Grillen & BBQ zeigen sich als martialische Art der Zubereitung, schließen allerdings Fine-Dining nicht aus. Foto beigestellt
Fire free

Roasted and smoky flavors bring momentum to the menus of upscale gastronomy. Oysters, scallops and langoustines end up on the grill – but it’s not just premium products and cuts that are becoming delicacies, but also cuts such as flat iron (shoulder centerpiece) and brisket (boneless beef brisket). One trend is whole grill menus, which are no longer only on the menu in summer, but also in winter.