Life in the Krone
Slowly, slowly let the deliciously creamy pastry melt in your mouth. Marvel at the precision of the local Bregenzerwald furniture-makers’ carpentry and finishing, feel the tactile delight of running your own hand over the wood. All senses alert for everything the Krone and Hittisau and the Bregenzerwald region will bring you. Revel in being looked after, and at last calling your time your own. Discuss wine bouquets and regional delicacies with our staff. Take a long country walk… and let your thoughts roam too. Turn up for tea in the chimney-corner room and find a lovely hoard of magazines and books. And then just drowse on, perhaps ordering the odd glass of wine. Hearken to the crackling of the log fire. Chat gently with fellow-guests. Look out at the night sky full of stars, and relish being alive. In the Krone. Now that is a life.
It’s family business…
The Krone family – absolutely not the same thing as “Mr. and Mrs Manager and Staff”! The Krone family means Helene and Dietmar Nussbaumer and their two boys Oskar and Max, then the senior chefs Wilma and Herbert Natter and the 15 or so thoroughly nice individuals whose teamwork keeps the Krone running happily.
When we say “the Krone family”, it’s not just a metaphor. What it means is best seen any day at lunch-time. That’s when all the family sit down together round the “Stube table: Helene, Dietmar, Beate, Nadja, Anna, Angelina, Angelika, big Michael, little Michael, Simone, Henry, Sevim and all the others who help in kitchen, rooms or Reception – and of course Oskar and Max. We all eat, discuss, share laughs, plan, take stock, enjoy being together. This half-hour we keep special, for fostering our togetherness and sharing our love of good things.
Abdel Kader
Our bar & buffet support – all the way from Aleppo
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A special place in Hittisau: …the river Bolgenach
What I appreciate about the Krone: …my fellow workers
If I were staying at the Krone I would: …sit and relax in the garden
Being a good host entails: …always showing kindness and hospitality
Who or what motivates me: …the good food & positive atmosphere at the Krone
Angelika
Restauranteur & member of the service team at the Krone
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My favourite food: …Lasagne
A special place in Hittisau: …the Hittisberg mountain
What I appreciate about the Krone: …our good working atmosphere
If I were staying at the Krone I would: …order Kaiserschmarren*
Being a good hostess entails: …making sure our guests are happy so they come back time and time again
Who or what motivates me: …getting praise for the work I do
Angelina
Receptionist and bookkeeper as well as a cool, calm and collected focal point
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My favourite food: Kaiserschmarren
A special place in Hittisau: …the Women’s Museum
What I appreciate about the Krone: …the informal vibe; the attention to detail and the regional flair of our products and rooms
If I were staying at the Krone I would: …read a book a day in our chimney room
Being a good hostess entails: …contributing as much as possible to ensure a perfect holiday for our guests
Who or what motivates me: …happy guests and the wonderful midday meal for everybody working at the Krone
Anna
Head of reception and first contact for just about everything
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My favourite food: …spinach dumplings in sage butter and my granny’s Kässpätzle
A special place in Hittisau: …the Rotenberg (Red Mountain) or rather the little red bench at the edge of the forest
What I appreciate about the Krone: …the variety of my work
If I were staying at the Krone I would: … enjoy a leisurely evening in front of the open fire
Being a good hostess entails: …faithfully representing the Krone and our philosophy; treating guests and work colleagues alike with courtesy and respect
Who or what motivates me: …my fellow workers & an enjoyable working environment; challenges and responsibilities and the fact that I am learning new things every day
Famous last words: …I admire the unfailing commitment of our senior partners, whether in the kitchen, in the restaurant or the floral decoration throughout the Krone!
Beate
“I’m part of the service team, a bit on the short side but sturdy.” That’s quite an understatement. Beate is our restaurant manager and has been with us for over 20 years.
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My favourite food: …I love all sorts of different foods, from regional to Italian, Chinese, Thai…
A special place in Hittisau: …my secret summer bathing place
What I appreciate about the Krone: …no question – the excellent food!
If I were staying at the Krone I would: …spend a snowy winter’s day in front of a blazing fire in the chimney room devouring a big fat book
Being a good hostess entails: …making all our guests’ wishes come true and have them believe that they are spending their days at the Krone amongst friends
Who or what motivates me: …our good team spirit; we do a lot together, not just at work but also in our spare time. Mainly eating and drinking – to improve and perfect our taste buds of course!
Famous last words: …come on over to the Krone and see for yourself! I’m ready and waiting!
Dietmar
Host, wine lover, landlord & father
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My favourite food: …anything that’s well made
A special place in Hittisau: …the Engenloch ravine
What I appreciate about the Krone: …the fact that all our ancestors were visonaries
If I were staying at the Krone I would: …get up, have breakfast, read the paper in the chimney room, go for a decent hike, revive body and soul with tea and cake in the afternoon, read a book in the garden in summer or in the chimney room in winter, go for a snooze, have dinner with a bottle of wine, retire to the chimney room with a fruit brandy and another good book, then bed. Happy days!
Being a good host entails: …personal encounters with our guests; happy and contented Krone residents who can’t wait to come back
Who or what motivates me: …the entire Krone family from Beate to Fatma, our guests and my very own nearest and dearest
Famous last words: …I run the Krone in Hittisau – how lucky am I!
Fabian
our GASCHT-apprentice
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My favourite food: …Grand-grand-mum´s omeletts and “Riebel”
A special place in Hittisau: …the Hittisberg and Goldloch Canyon
What I appreciate about the Krone: …the hospitality, being together and being part of everything.
If I were staying at the Krone I would: …eat Schnitzel with Rösti.
Being a good host entails: …Offer guests the best and a stay that you will not forget.
Who or what motivates me: …gute Musik und die wunderschöne Natur, besonders die mächtigen Berge, besondere Momente in meinem Leben.
Famous last words: …My goal is not to be better than the others, but better than I was yesterday.
Fatma
(Cleaning) Lady of the Manor and the very soul of the house with cleanliness her top priority
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My favourite food: …traditional Turkish fare (Lahmacun)
A special place in Hittisau: …the village square just outside the Krone
What I appreciate about the Krone: …Dietmar, for being a good boss
If I were staying at the Krone I would: …enjoy a great night’s sleep in one of the cosy beds
Being a good hostess entails: …making sure everything is clean. Being kind and friendly.
Who or what motivates me: …the daily variety
Figen
Room maid, always with a smile on her face
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My favourite food: …kuru fasulye pilaw (Turkish bean hot pot with rice)
A special place in Hittisau: …the village square
What I appreciate about the Krone: …the solidarity and our end of season outings
If I were staying at the Krone I would: …order trout in the restaurant and finish off with an icecream out on the terrace
Being a good hostess entails: …respect
Who or what motivates me: …nice Krone residents & wonderful colleagues
Helene
Chef with a (confessed) sweet tooth, Lady of the Manor, mum
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My favourite food: …fish and Dame Blanche
A special place in Hittisau: …the little bench outside St Anthony’s chapel in the Lecknertal valley
What I appreciate about the Krone: …that she is such a resilient old lady
If I were staying at the Krone I would: …feel ever so well looked after
Being a good hostess entails: …providing the perfect feel-good space
Who or what motivates me: …the happy faces of our Krone residents
Famous last words: …thank you to all our great staff – you are such an important part of the Krone
Johanna
On the days the Krone rests, Johanna has been helping us out in the kitchen for many years
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My favourite food: …Käsknöpfle**
A special place in Hittisau: …the Lecknertal valley
What I appreciate about the Krone: …that I can work here and the nice work environment
If I were staying at the Krone I would: …enjoy the good food & drink
Being a good hostess entails: …doing your very best to ensure that every guest feels at home at the Krone
Who or what motivates me: …the good mood in the kitchen
Famous last words: …long may it continue this way
Manuela aka “Manu”
Krone mum (Manu left school nearly 30 years ago and has been a member of the Krone family ever since)
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My favourite food: …Wienerschnitzel with Wilma’s homemade potato salad
A special place in Hittisau: …Bolgenach (the area of Hittisau where I live)
What I appreciate about the Krone: …there’s never a dull moment in this house!
Who or what motivates me: …we all stick together
Famous last words: …I am happy to work for and with such a lovely bunch of people
Michael B. (lill´Michael)
Chef: gardemanger & in charge of starters
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My favourite food: …horse radish mousse and trout caught in Sibratsgfäll
A special place in Hittisau: …Kirchenbühl, where our senior partners live and the Mersen walk
What I appreciate about the Krone: …the people I have the privilege to work with
If I were staying at the Krone I would: …simply delight in the warmth and all the joys you find here
Being a good host entails: …creating phenomenal dishes for our guests
Who or what motivates me: …cooking; coming up with new & fresh creations; music
Famous last words: … the Krone is a great place and I love to work there!
Michael G.-L.
From Schnepfau and head chef in the Krone kitchen
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My favourite food: …Kässpätzle**
A special place in Hittisau: …the traditional Goldener Adler inn and ‘Villa Kirchenbühl’ – home of our senior partners
What I appreciate about the Krone: …the feeling of working as a big family
If I were staying at the Krone I would: …enjoy the beautiful rooms with a good book at hand
Being a good host entails: …communicating to our guests just how much I enjoy my profession and how proud I am of the produce our region has to offer
Who or what motivates me: …broadening my horizons and gaining new knowledge every day
Famous last words: …cowboys never look back
Nadja
Restauranteur after completing her apprenticeship a few years ago and an important member of our service team;
now on maternity leave
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My favourite food: …Wienerschnitzel (preferably veal)
A special place in Hittisau: …the Engenloch ravine. Having grown up on a farm I appreciate the fact that we still have so many of them in Hittisau
What I appreciate about the Krone: …my work colleagues and a crackling log fire in the chimney room
If I were staying at the Krone I would: …eat!!!!
Being a good hostess entails: …being open-minded and true to yourself – no airs and graces please; plus a sense of humour and a relaxed and welcoming attitude towards our guests
Who or what motivates me: …when our guests go home with a smile on their face and a thank you to us for the wonderful time they had
Sevim
Kitchen help of good heart and sharp mind
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A special place in Hittisau: …the water walking trail
What I appreciate about the Krone: …Oskar und Max, Helene and Diemar’s boys
If I were staying at the Krone I would: …sit in the garden and soak up the sun
Being a good hostess entails: …treating everybody with respect
Who or what motivates me: …my family in my homeland Bulgaria
Translator’s foodie illuminations:
*Kaiserschmarren (shredded sweet pancake with raisins and a fine sugar dusting)
**Käsknöpfle/Kässpätzle (regional cheesy pasta with seriously strong cheese and caramelised onions)
