Host Nation Update, May 17, 2023
Engelberg tunnel near Leonberg will be closed one night from Saturday, May 20, to Sunday, May 21
In the night from Saturday, May 20, to Sunday, May 21, the Engelberg Tunnel near Leonberg will be closed from midnight to 6 am. During the full closure, the safety and operating technology will receive a scheduled software update as part of its renewal, which will require the shutdown of the entire tunnel control system. The detour will take place during the low-traffic period in the direction of Heilbronn via the U1 from the Leonberg-West exit and in the direction of Munich and Karlsruhe via the U18 from the Stuttgart-Feuerbach junction.
The Engelberg Tunnel needs to be refurbished because the route runs through an anhydrite layer. The rock transforms into gypsum when it comes into contact with water and expands by up to 50 percent, resulting in constant pressure on the tubes and thus cracks in the tunnel wall. Once the west tube is completed as planned in 2023, the east tube will be renovated. According to the current status, the overall project should be completed by 2025. (Stuttgarter Nachrichten, May 17)
This restaurant serves food without plates
To dine at Heaven’s Kitchen, advance reservation is essential. The restaurant, bustling on a Friday evening at 8:30 p.m., offers a delightful ambiance, professional service, and a noteworthy recommendation to complement Jörg Geiger’s Prisecco—a glass of Liebfraumilch Schwarze Madonna from the renowned Hammel winery in the Palatinate region. However, the true essence of the dining experience unfolds when the “Experience” commences.
A serving trolley arrives, carrying bowls filled with exclusively plant-based fare. The dishes exhibit artistry, with carefully crafted polenta mounds and various toppings. The table becomes a canvas adorned with celery fillets coated in almond and herb crust, accompanied by a delectable pea puree and an arugula mound. Sweet potatoes crowned with vegan fresh goat cheese cream and embellished with balsamic shallots and hazelnut pumpernickel crunch are also present, along with a tarte tatin featuring vibrant carrots and arugula pesto. The roasted oyster mushrooms and spring onions are perfectly complemented by the polenta. The experience thus far is both entertaining and, most importantly, a delight to the palate. The flavors are incredibly delicious and remarkably fresh—you would likely savor them even off traditional plates.
This is no ordinary meal; it is an extraordinary “experience.” As dessert arrives, a fresh base of baking paper is laid out. Cream puffs rest atop a dollop of cream, accompanied by apple-rhubarb compote with crumble. A splendid slice of blueberry-lemon cheesecake claims the central spot. Every eight weeks, Heaven’s Kitchen introduces new dishes to its dinner menu. Despite the alluring and Instagram-worthy presentation, the individual plates consistently deliver genuine flavor and are worth revisiting.
Heaven’s Kitchen is located at Theodor-Heuss-Strasse 26, Stuttgart, reachable at 01 76 / 26 83 88 38. The restaurant operates from Wednesday to Sunday, serving customers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with extended hours on Thursdays to Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, visit www.heavenskitchen.rocks.Info (Stuttgarter Zeitung)
