Bites & Pieces May–Aug 2025
From liquid gold to fermented subtlety: here you will find everything you need to take your culinary repertoire to the next level. This section showcases food discoveries, ingredients, and gourmet products that everyone should know about—to refine, seduce, and amaze.
Hagn Zero: Free Grüner Veltliner at the highest level
Alcohol-free and sophisticated? The Hagn winery in Mailberg proves how elegantly tradition and innovation can be combined. With its new Zero line, the family business is adding two stylish alternatives to its menu: Grüner Veltliner Zero and Grüner Veltliner Sparkling Zero. Both impress with their varietal fruitiness, fresh structure, and lively acidity—without alcohol, but with full flavor depth.
Vinified with the same care as their classic counterparts and gently dealcoholized, the two Zero varieties are ideal for conscious connoisseurs, breakfast offerings, business lunches, or events with a no-alcohol or low-alcohol focus. The sparkling wine offers a sparkling alternative to an aperitif, while the still Veltliner scores as a versatile accompaniment to food – not only vegetarian cuisine.
Recommended serving: serve well chilled, at 6–8 °C, ideally in white wine glasses with a wide opening.
La Maison Tea Royal: Sparkling tea with style – completely alcohol-free
Fine bubbles, floral aromas, and zero alcohol: La Maison Tea Royal is the new favorite among non-alcoholic sparkling wine alternatives – and it doesn't come from Paris, but from southern Styria. Three winemakers, including Johannes Firmenich and Stefan and Bernhard Schauer, have used their sensitivity and oenological expertise to create two elegant sparkling teas that are perfect for stylish occasions.
Tea No. 7 “Blooming Rose” impresses with notes of black tea, hibiscus, red berries, and delicate elderberry – in an elegant salmon pink color with a creamy texture. Tea No. 9 “Herbal Garden” brings Greek mountain tea and green tea into play and tastes fresh, herbal, and lemony – ideal as an aperitif, for pairings with vegetarian cuisine, or as a signature mocktail. Thanks to the fine balance between aroma, dryness, and liveliness, neither variety tastes sweet or overpowering – but rather deliberately composed.
A real tip for hotel bars, catering services, or non-alcoholic wine offerings.
Avistria Olive Oil: Istrian Excellence with a Gold Guarantee
When passion meets centuries-old olive trees, true gold is created – in the truest sense of the word. The Austrian-Istrian family project Avistria, run by Beatrix and Rudolf Nemetschke, has been among the international leaders for years and was once again awarded four gold medals at the New York International Olive Oil Competition (NYIOOC) in 2024 – for all varieties submitted: Buža, Leccino, Istrian Blend, and Istarska Bjelica.
What makes it special is that Avistria processes early-harvested, indigenous, and rare olive varieties into intensely green oil with a high polyphenol content. The taste? Expressive and elegant – with notes of wild herbs, artichoke, arugula, and green apple, rounded off by a subtle bitterness and pleasant pungency. Ideal for fine dining, adding a delicate finish to starters, pasta, fish – or as a signature olive oil in hotel restaurants.
Tip for the catering industry: Less is more – a few drops are enough to add sensory depth to dishes and amaze guests.
The Green Mountain Geschnetzeltes: Zero meat, full flavor
Plant-based cuisine is growing – and with it, a product that is extremely versatile in professional kitchens. The Green Mountain, known for its vegan meat alternatives from Switzerland, is launching a new plant-based Geschnetzeltes product that not only tastes great, but is also versatile in the kitchen.
Made from 100% natural ingredients, with no additives or artificial flavors, its slightly fibrous texture is reminiscent of classic chicken meat – ideal for bowls, curries, pasta, wraps, or tacos. Thanks to its particularly good ability to absorb sauces and marinades, the Geschnetzeltes can be customized to suit individual tastes – perfect for creative kitchens with a plant-based focus. IQF frozen, in 1500 g bags for precise portioning and minimal waste. Recipe ideas, including climate and Nutri-Score information, are available via the Hilcona Foodservice recipe database.
Tip for chefs: The product is ideal for buffets and seasonal menus – with the added benefits of being plant-based and zero waste as clearly communicable messages.
11er finely grated rösti potatoes: creative, crispy, predictable
More time for the finish, less effort in preparation: with 11er's finely grated rösti potatoes, you can rethink the classic rösti – as a clever side dish, a stand-alone meal, or a creative twist. Whether as a rösti wrap, rösti risotto, or alpine sushi, this all-rounder saves mise en place time and offers complete flexibility in the pan, combi-steamer, oven, or even the microwave.
Pre-baked, frozen, and made from 88% potatoes combined with sunflower and rapeseed oil, 11er Rösti potatoes impress with their consistent texture and typical golden-brown crunch. Particularly practical: preparation is reliable even at high volumes – ideal for à la carte restaurants, hotel buffets, or creative menu components.
Tip for professionals: As a vegetarian main course with seasonal vegetables or as a crispy element in a signature dish – rösti always works. And that's without peeling, grating, or pre-cooking.
From Genusspunkt magazine, May-Aug 2025
© Michaela Lorber
