Gmundner ceramics & Africa feeling

Kitzbühel | Issue 54 | Winter 2023

Gmundner Keramik – a synonym for sophisticated Austrian home culture for more than 500 years – now also offers unparalleled travel experiences: proprietor Markus Friesacher has created the Gmundner Lodge in Namibia, a place which unites luxury with a sustainable self-providing hotel concept. The fundament is his own farm whose operations are based on sustainable agriculture which supplies the kitchen brigade with fresh, high-quality organic produce. Etienne Coertzen and his team perform their magic daily, with ever-changing menus at the high end of culinary joy. On request, lodge guests can even venture upon a truly incomparable dining experience: lunch or dinner in the wilderness.

Executive Chef de Cuisine Etienne Coertzen – previously at the illustrious “Jordan Restaurant” in Stellenbosch, South Africa, among other highlights – sets his signature on creative seasonal cuisine and regionality at the Gmundner Lodge. On the menu, apart from local fusion cuisine, Austrian delicacies are also to be found. The toque-decorated Austrian chefs Rudi and Karl Obauer were flown in from Salzburg in order to train the cooking team in Namibia. A deep-seated personal connection to Namibia inspired Markus Friesacher to create two new ceramic collections: “Africa” and “San” using vivid designs in warm, earthy colours alongside prints of the local fauna. The artwork of San is also reflected in the ceramics. The San edition was originally generated by an art and societal help project engaging artists from San in southern Africa. That is how a true Africa feeling can grace your dinner table. By the same token, those who set out on the journey to Namibia can also preserve their vacation at the Gmundner Lodge for longer on their dining table.