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A political scandal as culinary inspiration
A modern kitchen inspired by Mediterranean lightness and a unique historic setting are the trademarks of Hôtel DuPeyrou Le Restaurant in Swiss Neuchâtel. Influenced by the culinary experiences of growing up in Australia, the head chef uses spices to bring local produce like fish and lamb to life.
“I want to bring out the best in food,”says head chef and owner Craig Penlington, who took over the restaurant in 1998 together with his wife Françoise. The Australian born chef was instantly smitten with the historic building: “We don’t have places like this in Australia. Hôtel DuPeyrou was built in 1758, roughly at the same time Europeans discovered Australia.”
The restaurant has seen many important historical events – and at least one political scandal: in the 1970s, the French president François Mitterrand was served an absinthe parfait. While the liqueur is quite popular today, it was actually illegal at that time, turning the innocent dinner into a famous scandal. Craig Penlington honours this history with his own cheeky version of the scandalous parfait.
Beautifully decorated function rooms on the first floor additionally offer the ideal surroundings for events like weddings, private parties, business seminars or conferences. The garden, meanwhile, is a magnificent place for enjoying a cocktail or an aperitif.