Restaurant set to resume dining services with traditional dishes
In the heart of Ravensburg, Germany, a beloved institution is set to undergo a new chapter. The traditional inn "Zum goldenen Ochsen", located at the corner of Burgstraße/Eichelstraße beneath the Mehlsack, will reopen with a fresh name and management.
Ronald Dressel, a 44-year-old chef originally from Saxony, and Michele Albanese, a 39-year-old Sicilian chef, will be the new hosts of the inn starting from September 1st. The Kimpfler family, who have nurtured this establishment over the past five decades, are handing over the reins with great respect and enthusiasm.
Michele Albanese, who completed his chef training at the Hotel Schwedi in Langenargen and added a qualification as a restaurant specialist at the Hotel Buchhorner Hof in Langenargen, most recently worked at the Club Kantine and Café Central in Ravensburg before joining the Gasthaus Ochsen in October. Ronald Dressel, on the other hand, has a diverse culinary background, having worked at various locations including Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Switzerland, Britain, the Black Forest, Heidelberg, Meersburg, Überlingen, and Friedrichshafen before becoming the head chef at the Ochsen in Ravensburg in January 2022.
The renovations of the inn are ongoing and will continue until the reopening. The paneling in the guest room will be sanded down and the floor renewed in August. New furniture has also been ordered.
The new operators value tradition and plan to maintain it in the inn. They aim to maintain the staff they have worked with and train apprentices for the professions of chef and restaurant specialist. The cuisine will remain Swabian, regional, and seasonal, with a new feature of offering a lunch menu in the future. They also plan to cooperate with local suppliers.
Both Ronald Dressel and Michele Albanese have young children and plan to keep the restaurant closed on Sundays and holidays. The inn, which has been at its current location since 1850, includes the guest room, the hotel bar, the rooftop terrace, and a spacious side room with a fireplace.
Ronald Dressel and Michele Albanese decided to become self-employed hosts of the restaurant after Michele Albanese heard that a successor was needed for the restaurant by chance. The decision to take over the restaurant was made quickly, and they are eager to maintain the cozy-rustic atmosphere of the restaurant that has been cherished by the community for generations.
In the revamped "Zum goldenen Ochsen," other culinary traditions will entwine with Swabian food-and-drink, as Ronald Dressel, a seasoned cook from various home-and-garden locations, and Michele Albanese, a Sicilian chef with a region-specific specialization, collaborate to create a unique lifestyle experience for patrons. The duo will promote local suppliers, offering a lunch menu, while preserving the traditional staff and training future apprentices in chef and restaurant specialist professions, keeping the inn's warm, rustic ambiance intact.
