Cooperation – this article was written in cooperation with Bahnhöfli Entlebuch
Hike&Dine voucher Emmenuferweg and Banhöfli Entlebuch
Hike&Dine in the footsteps of Solène & Matthias. With the Hike&Dine voucher for only 50 CHF you get:
- The Hike&Dine menu (welcome drink and 3 courses) at the Restaurant Bahnhöfli incl. surprise from the Chef
- Hiking description Emmenuferweg: Chapellbodenbrücke – Entlebuch
- Restaurant description Bahnhöfli Entlebuch and contacts for reservation
Our visit to the Bahnhöfli Entlebuch
We visited the Banhöfli Entlebuch restaurant on a June day when we were hiking along the Emmenuferweg. Read all about our visit to Banhöfli Entlebuch in this article.
About Restaurant Bahnhöfli Entlebuch
The Restaurant Bahnhöfli Entlebuch stands slightly elevated in the curve behind the Entlebuch train station. Just before we entered the restaurant, a summer thunderstorm unloaded. We just made it to Bahnhöfli Entlebuch before the big rain. We went up the stairs to the entrance and entered the guest room. Willi Felder, the patron of the Bahnhöfli Entlebuch, gave us a warm welcome. We put our backpacks down and the first thing we did was a quick tour of the place.
The first thing we noticed was the lighting. A multitude of lamps, small spotlights and bulbs hang from the ceiling and illuminate the guest room. Right next to the guest room there are two other rooms, which groups can reserve for occasions such as family celebrations. Daily newspapers hang nicely sorted on hangers. Willi Felder led us to our table. We took a seat in the winter garden. The rain splashed on the glass roof – and we were glad that we were no longer hiking, but sitting inside in the cozy Bahnhöfli Entlebuch.
The aperitif: A Ticino in the Banhöfli Entlebuch
We started with a white wine from Switzerland. The Biancobello from Ticino convinced us with fruity-fresh pineapple and lychee notes. We enjoyed a zuccetti antipasti with celery salad garnished with garden herbs.
Our starter at Bahnhöfli Entlebuch: A tasty end to the asparagus season
Solène opted for the homemade wild garlic gnocchi with warm asparagus tips. They were served with porcini mushrooms and sweet cherry tomatoes in a light creamy sauce. A spuma and some garden herbs adorned the plate. The dish was perfectly seasoned and showed a variety of flavors. Matthias chose the cream of asparagus soup with Entlebuch raw ham and biosphere flowers. The freshness surprised him positively.
Cordonbleu and a secret recipe from grandfather Pfnägi for the main course at Bahnhöfli Entlebuch
Solène decided to kill two birds with one stone and ordered the FC Entlebuch sponsor plate. When can you enjoy a pork cordon bleu with Williams croquettes and vegetables and do something good for the local soccer club at the same time? 1 franc per dish goes to the association.
Matthias, meanwhile, chose the classic: the Pfnägi steak from Entlebuch pork – gratinated in the oven and served with grandfather’s herb butter in the cast iron pan. This was served with market vegetables and Wiliams croquettes. “Pfnägi” is the nickname of Willi Felders’ grandfather, who invented the egg-enriched herb sauce. Both dishes were extremely tasty and beautifully presented.
For the main course, we ordered the Nobler Blauer, a Pinot Noir from Nadine Saxer. It was aged for 3 months in a used barrique. The drop from Winterthur’s wine country was an excellent choice with the two meat dishes we were served.
The dessert: Plum sorbet and Indian Ganesha à la Bahnhöfli
Even though we were actually full, we didn’t want to miss out on a little dessert. Solène ordered the lime sorbet with vodka. Matthias chose the plum sorbet with plum brandy. Both desserts were garnished with fresh mint from the garden as well as a paper-thin pistachio biscotti.
We were served the best espresso we have ever had in Switzerland. Willi Felder obtains the assemblage of Arabica beans specially blended for him with the resonant name “Indian Ganesha à la Bahnhöfli” from coffee sommelier Willi Zemp. For Bahnhöfli Entlebuch this is a matter of course, but for us it is worth mentioning: with every kilo of coffee beans purchased, a donation goes to Nepal. The sweet-sweet notes of the coffee formed the perfect conclusion to a very successful culinary evening with the dedicated full-blooded restaurateur Willi Felder and his team.
About the kitchen of the Restaurant Bahnhöfli Entlebuch
After our meal, we talked with host Willi Felder about his philosophy. He is the fifth generation to run the Bahnhöfli Entlebuch. Whether it’s the kitchen or the business itself, Willi Felder has a lot on his mind.
Forgotten recipes reinterpreted for the modern age
Willi Felder, patron of the Bahnhöfli Entlebuch, often cooks from forgotten recipes. Anyone who now thinks of heavy sauces and lots of butter does not know Willi Felder. He translates traditional recipes, some from old cookbooks, into the modern era. One such creation is the black walnut.
Regional ingredients from the Entlebuch Biosphere
Whenever possible, Willi and his team use ingredients that come from the Entlebuch Biosphere. He gets the meat from the local butcher’s shop; he buys the crunchy vegetables from the farmer’s wives; and he finds the morels and other mushrooms with his Labrador during morning walks in various places in the Entlebuch. The herbs and edible flowers come from his lovingly curated herb garden, just behind the Entlebuch train station.
The local incorporated in the plate: made in the Biosphere Entlebuch
Local isn’t just important when it comes to ingredients. Willi Felder not only looks at what goes on the plate – but also where the plate itself comes from. So he hired a potter two villages away in Schüpfheim, who makes the beautiful plates by hand. Each plate is unique and contains incorporated alluvial wood from the Emme River. You can feel the attention to detail with the commitment to the region. It makes a visit to the Bahnhöfli in Entlebuch a unique experience.
Dinner on the terrace of the Bahnhöfli Entlebuch
When we were at Bahnhhöfli Entlebuch for the first time, we were unlucky with the weather. That’s why we went back again when the sun was shining. After all, when the weather is nice, you can sit outside. On the left side of the house there are several seating options. Surrounded by green bushes, you sit comfortably on the terrace, protected from the sun. We enjoyed it very much. Here are some impressions:
Hike&Dine: Hike on the Emmenuferweg
“Combine your visit to Bahnhöfli Entlebuch with a relaxing hike from Chapelbodenbrücke via Entlebuch to Schüpfheim – all along the Kleine Emme. On this hike you can cool off in the river in summer and enjoy nature in the protective shade of the trees.”
More pictures from our visit to the Bahnhöfli Entlebuch
Find here more pictures of our visit at Willi Felder in the Bahnhöfli Entlebuch
