My personal highlight:
A peaceful hideaway where to slurp an exotic fresh juice and spent hours observing the crystal clear Zanzibar sea

Welcome to Sevi Boutique Hotel ! This little pearl is located in the village of Matemwe on the north-eastern coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago, between Mwangaseni and Kigomani.

A day at Sevi Boutique Hotel starts with a hearty welcome of the staff and a delicious breakfast! Home made bread, croissants and jams combined with fresh juices to boost your energy. All of this served on a spacious terrace overlooking the sea. The African dream !

After breakfast there is the choice to either relax at the pools. One is the infinity pool overlooking the sea, the other is embedded in a beautiful garden. For those who choose a Spa day, choose out of their massages and get a swim at the pool in the SPA area after your treatment!
My mornings often started with a walk along the white sandy beaches admiring the incredible wide tides! The scenery is amazing and nature full of surprises.

What I loved best at this place is its tranquility. Traveling from the northern part of Zanzibar that is more busy and crowded with tourists and all inclusive resorts, this spot is unattractive for beach boys. All hotels here are relatively far apart.
Sometimes in the evening you see local boys and kids playing football, I enjoyed this bit of action in the hood!

My personal suggestions: As almost everywhere on the islands, the beach is dependent on the tides. At low tide, the sea can get beyond the coral barrier. An accommodation with pool is therefore recommended.

Accommodation

Find 14 different villas or Bungalows in the traditional Bandas style. The rooms are very spacious and decorated with natural materials. Little details as a hammock in the garden or private little pool make your stay extra special. I loved to do my morning yoga in 2nd floor of my Bandas and get a bath in my cozy private pool! All rooms are surrounded by a well maintained garden, this offers good privacy between every bungalow. Of course there is a mosquito net around your the kingsize bed and AC.

As honeymoon travelers or family holiday with kids opt for the Villa. It offers a seafront and all comfort you need on 250 sqm on two floors. The view out of the balcony on the second floor will leave you lots of unforgettable memories to bring back home.

Book your room here and ask for the actual rates!

Food & Drinks

As a food lover I was very happy to enjoy fresh sea food every day. The fish is caught practically in front of the hotel. The menu choice is small but special every day. There are dishes for vegetarian, too. I was happy to discover various local Swahili dishes with excellent curry during my stay. Get a variety of raw tuna carpaccio to grilled lobster combined with local vegetables and spices. Be prepared to fall in love with special aromatized salts as curry or cinnamon and fresh baked bread!

What to do around Matemwe & Sevi Boutique Hotel

Matemwe is ideally located for snorkeling or diving at the Mnemba Atoll, one of the diving hotspots of the island. If you are planning several dives, Matemwe is a good choice. Ask the Diving specialist at Sevi to advise you. A snorkeling morning is around 45 USD which I found reasonable, all equipment used was of good quality, wet suit, water, coffee & snacks included. Of course you can choose a service from the local fisher man that are around the beach. Prices are cheaper but service quality varies.The staff of Sevi Boutique Hotel and Manager George are very happy to assist you for any kind of activity.
I would like to take the occasion here to say thank you for the time spent at Sevi and hope to be back soon!

Are you in the mood of more lovefoodish travel stories?
Planning a trip to Bali? Get some inspiration here!

My personal highlight: Delicate white & red drops tickling my senses to discover Switzerland’s wine heritage month by month

How better way to discover the selection of a wine producer than having a surprise wine box flattering directly into your letterbox? It’s the ideal way to get introduced to one of the most important wine producer and distributor in Switzerland.

Who is the wine company Obrist ?

Back in the year 1896 Emile Obrist recognizes the importance of owning vineyards to ensure the production of quality wines. He gradually acquires prestigious wineries such as the Cure d’Attalens, the Clos du Rocher and the vineyards of the Château de Chardonne. Since the 1960s, Obrist has worked closely with the traditional wine cellar Maurice Gay to cover wine demands from the canton of Valais.

What I learn today, is that Obrist belongs to one of Switzerland’s most important wine producers and distributors. They own 83 hectares of vineyards extending from the La Côte region, through the Lavaux terraces, to the Chablais.

Lavaux Vineyard Terraces – A world heritage nominated by UNESCO

The Lavaux Vineyard Terraces stretch for about 30 km along the south-facing northern shores of Lake Geneva. They go from the Chateau de Chillon to the eastern outskirts of Lausanne (Vaud region). This valley is breathtaking, traveling by train will give you the opportunity to catch the beauty of this spectacular landscape. It demonstrates in a highly visible way the evolution and development over almost a millennia, through the well preserved landscape and buildings.

The different soils and microclimates of the vineyards create an captivating variation of flavors in the wines of this area. At the edge of the lake, the vineyards gorge themselves on the triple effect of the sun: the rays directly from the sky, those reflecting off the lake and the warmth stored in the walls forming the thousands of terraces of Lavaux. The famous grape variety of the region is the Chasselas, a fruity and dry wine.

Talking about how to experience the wines best paired with food, discovering my favorite white, rosé and red drops from Obrist

Shared happiness is double happiness

Together with my foodie friends we prepared an aperitivo Italian Style containing healthy grilled veggies, prosciutto e melone, tomato bruschette and tasty Swiss Cheese as the tête a moin.

The wine we paired with this aperitivo is the rosé Nr. 1 Cuvée E. Obrist 2016. A wine offering a smooth delicate note on your tongue with a cherry and pepper note.

Price / bottle: 7.30 CHF – Order it here

Best white wine to use for a traditional Cheese Fondue

An excellent wine to pair with an aromatic and creamy cheese fondue moitie moitie is the Arvine from Yvorne Chablais – Cloes de Rennauds AOC 2016. Dry and fruity with a lightly sour note from the rhubarbs. It just points out perfectly the flavors of the cheese. Wine & Cheese made our belly go boom!

Price / bottle: CHF 19.40 – Order it here

Find here the basic recipe for 4 persons – 800 grams of cheese fresh grated, moitie moitie (Gruyère AOP and Vacherin Fribourgeois AOP)

1. Cut half kilo of bread in little squares (bread with a crust is recommended)
2. Take 2 cloves of garlic and rub it all over the caquelon pot
3. Boil 4 dl of wine together with garlic on a small heat in the caquelon pot
4. Add 800 grams of the pre-grated cheese. Melt the cheese over medium heat and stir constantly
5. Dissolve 2 teaspoons of cornstarch (for example maizena) in 2 dl of kirsch Schnaps and stir in the cheese
6. Continue to stir patiently. If the cheese and wine do not bind, add a little lemon juice or some more maizena
7. Season with pepper and grated nutmeg
8. Remove the caquelon from the heat, light the heater and place it on the table on your heater
9. Stir constantly and get ready to start the pleasure

A red wine for a special occasion, time for some romance with your romeo?