Swiss Michelin Star Chef Marc Strebel Brings His Simple, Creative, and Local-First Dishes to TRB

Located on the serene and idyllic shore of Lake Neuchâteland and backed by the Swiss Alps, La Maison du Village is about as far removed from the gritty kineticism of Beijing as you could imagine. Despite that, Michelin chef Marc Strebel and his partner and restaurant manager Caroline Arlettaz have found a fitting three-day partnership with TRB Forbidden City, Oct 19-21, overlooking the placid (though perhaps less idyllic) bank of the city's ancient heart.

Opening in 2012, Arlettaz has cultivated a relaxed environment front of house (and out on their sprawling terrace) for the self-proclaimed "curious perfectionist" Strebel to present his modern and elegant plates of Swiss-French cuisine.

Of his beginnings, Strebel tells the Beijinger, "I used to cook at home as a child and had the chance to learn how to cook in [Le Montreux] Palace with great chefs that passed down to me the passion of cooking."

That initial interest has since blossomed into a love for natural, locally sourced ingredients. When quizzed as to how he would achieve the same results here, in a city that is hardly known for being the height of fecundity, Strebel says: "Except for the Absinthe [a local product of Sauges, where La Maison du Village is based] that we took in our luggage ... we chose products that were easy to find here."

"Our philosophy with nature is an everyday work that took many years to connect with great producers sharing our vision ... The perfect example would be the pata negra [Iberion ham] from two brothers native from the region but with Spanish roots located just one village beside our restaurant. This dried ham is a very exclusive product made as it was before, without a fridge or smoker. We feel so lucky to work together with them since the beginning," Strebel adds.

With regards to how he intends to maintain that philosophy of local produce first somewhere so far from home, Strebel explains, "Being here only for a few days is not enough to meet the local producers, but that's why we work together with the Chef JFK [Zhang, TRB Forbidden City's corporate chef] who proposed us quality products that he finds here."

Finally, what does the duo hope to try during their time in Beijing? "Peking duck, common Chinese street foods, and other typical meals that I didn't even know existed! That's the advantage of having local guides!"

Catch Marc Strebel and Caroline Arlettaz of La Maison du Village at TRB Forbidden City as part of Swiss Gastronomic Week from Friday to Sunday, Oct 19-21. Choose between a four-course lunch menu (RMB 388, RMB 588 with wine pairing) or a five-course dinner menu (RMB 688, RMB 988 with wine pairing).

Hungry for more? Find all of this week's culinary happenings here.

Photos courtesy of TRB, arcinfo.ch