My youngest step-daughter (she calls me big daddy) is having a birthday and has invited the family to dinner at Restaurant Züri in Wilmersdorf. I am taking the liberty to assume, after having reviewed the website menu, that there is a connection between the Swiss specialties found there and the city of Zürich, Switzerland. In any event, the exact origin of the cuisine is not as important as enjoying a nice meal with family on a festive occasion. Fortunately our gang in Berlin has always excelled in this area.

The restaurant is small but cozy and upon arrival we were escorted to our table for six while the fire from a kitchen grill flickered through a window on the rear wall. Our waiter initially spoke German, as one might expect, but quickly changed to American English when it was time for me to order. It turns out that he studied at a university in the US and apparently saw me coming a mile away. I guess Arnold doesn't fool anybody either, assuming that there is anybody left in America who doesn't already know who he is. Our waiter had already informed all of us what wines were being served by the glass and I asked him which white was the most full-bodied. His answer was the Lindeman's Bin 65 Chardonnay from Australia, which was a very pleasant blend of citrus and oak, and turned out to be the least expensive on the list. I felt like I had struck gold because I had tried a few Chardonnays since our return, and so far, had only found those of the soft, delicate variety...ask for what you want. My empty stomach was calling to me and I ordered a small Feldsalat (Valerianella) with a light dressing that had a nice flavor. I was feeling pretty good about the evening so far.

For the main I ordered Züri Röschti which was the famous Swiss hash brown potatoes with bacon, onion, spinach and cheese, with a sunny-side-up fried egg on top. This may not be for those who are watching their cholesterol but it sure was good. For a moment I thought it was 2 AM at a high-end 24x7 breakfast establishment back across the Atlantic. Others ordered Züri Geschnätzltes mit Röschti which was the hash browns with veal strips covered by a creamy white-wine mushroom sauce. Our son-in-law ordered a variation of this with fillet steak and a glass of Merlot. Our grandson ordered a bowl full of braised chicken wings which put a smile on his face. The table was quiet and one by one the plates emptied.

Of course, this is a birthday celebration and we must have some dessert. We decided on three orders of Schokokuchen for the table which appeared to be a chocolate brownie with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. The difference was that the brownie was actually lighter and apparently made with some bitter chocolate as well that blended very nicely with the fruit and cream.

Big daddy wants to thank the baby girl for a very enjoyable evening at Restaurant Züri. I believe the Swiss kitchen is represented well in Berlin. Our waiter was very friendly and dedicated to helping us have a good experience. The total bill with tax was €160.60. Last but not least, I have found a new Chardonnay that is available on this continent.