Bâlehoo

Whether your place is already filled to the brim with visitors or you’re about to have a crib in your “crib”, send your besucher overflow to Wettstein Bed and Breakfast.

Located near the Wettsteinplatz in Basel, this two-room B&B is in a quiet leafy area with easy walking access to the Messe, the Rhine, and Roche. The ground-floor room I saw had two single beds and was bright, clean and comfortable with direct access to a charming garden (see photo, courtesy of Wettstein B&B). The room also included a small kitchenette, perfect for longer stays. Owned by a British couple, rates are CHF 70-110 per person/per night depending on the season (including breakfast). Services include cable TV, ADSL/WLAN and a sauna. Additional photos are available here.

For more information and bookings contact
Family WHELAN LARDON
Wettsteinallee 100
CH-4058 Basel (BS)
+41 61 693 27 68

If your visitors’ tastes run more to the Gross side (of Basel that is) check out BnB Haus zur Sonnenwende (Solstice House) located near the Spalentor across from this Balehoo-er’s very own former apartment on Eulerstrasse. Five rooms in the historic building are decorated in a pleasantly Moroccan-esque style. Note they all share a bathroom (but remember this is Switzerland, Home of the McClean). Plus, the cost is extremely reasonable. A single room is CHF 80 per person/night and a double room is CHF 70 per person/night. Both rates include breakfast. An additional CHF 3.20 per person guest tax includes a free Basel tram or bus ticket. Visit the website or call for more information.

Willi Paul Paulussen & Raffaela Solèr
BnB Haus zur Sonnenwende
Eulerstrasse 27
CH-4051 Basel
Tel. +41 (0)61 302 39 55
www.haus-zur-sonnenwende.ch

For additional B&B recommendations in Basel and other cities in Switzerland, visit www.bnb.ch.

As winter edges dangerously closer, Baselers can be seen out and about grabbing their last bits of sun for the season. For a taste of sunshine in its herbal form, head to Café-Restaurant zum Schmale Wurf, one of several restaurants crammed on the edge of the Rhine in Kleinbasel. The surprisingly non-touristy restaurant boasts not only a fabulous location but also has very tasty hausegemacht (homemade) pastas with sauces heavy on flavor not heavy on …heavy. I had their angel hair with pesto sauce recently and it was the perfect balance of bright fresh basil, rich nuttiness and garlicky goodness.  The menu also features a nice assortment of antipasti. The reasonable prices won’t leave a bad taste in your mouth either.

Café-Restaurant zum Schmale Wurf
Rheingasse 10
Basel, BS 4058 Switzerland
+41 61 683 3325

For those of us who like French wines, cheese and other specialties, don’t miss the final day (Monday, September 1) of the Degustha 2008.

Held just over the border in Hagenthal, France, from August 28-September 1, this interactive expo features hundreds of winemakers from around France, who have their cellar’s best wines available for the tasting and buying. Taste the latest vintage of your favorite chablis and burgundy or try something new - a deep, berry-colored Cahor or, perhaps, a flavorful Chinon.

When you’ve had your fill of wine, you can soak up some of the champagne you just drank by sampling many other French gastronomic specialities on offer, including fois gras, rillette and other charcuterie, as well as cheeses, preserves and my favorite – “ravioles”. These ravioli-like pastas stuffed with goat cheese are a specialty from the Lyon area.

If you prefer not to snack on vendor offerings, there are approximately 30 restaurants and bistros that have set up camp at the Degustha, offering seafood, tarte flambé and everything in between. And don’t forget to browse the spice, fabric, soaps and ceramics stalls to pick up a few nice gift items. (See some great photos of the degustha here.)

There really is something for everyone at the Degustha, so designate a driver, hop in the car, and go!

HA/DEGUSTHA/MAIRIE
BP 01 HK - F68220 Hagenthal (Haut-Rhin)
Tél : 03 89 68 11 12
www.degustha.fr

It has come to this: I am paying for my San Pelligrino six-packs with 20-rappen coins (that’s 36 coins for those of you playing the game at home). Why you might ask? Because they are there. In fact, they are everywhere. Under the sofa cushion, in a coat pocket, by the bowlful on the bookshelf – I even found one in my boot the other day.