Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Matterhorn Chef
()
When LAist thinks of schnitzel and sauerkraut, there is one place that does not come to mind: the San Fernando Valley.
At first, we were hesitant. The Valley is known for many things: oppressive summer heat, acres of apartment buildings, terrible road conditions...but not German food. Unless, of course, you make your way to Oxnard and Woodman and the restaurant known as Matterhorn Chef. Originally Hoppe's Old Heidelberg, the restaurant was taken over by chef Ueli Huegli, who turned the OH into the MC.
After a rather vague search for restaurants serving fondue earlier this year, LAist became aware of the Matterhorn Chef. Looking for a night of fun, we headed for the home of the singing chef over the weekend. We were early for our reservations, so we decided to start the night off with a visit to the bar. We were pleased with the selection (they have a nice variety of German schnapps, as well as ice-cold Jagermeister) and service, though the drinks themselves were not as good as the company—or the bartenders, who regaled us with how they got started tending bar while watching baseball and chatting with servers picking up drink orders. (We recommend a nice cold glass of Spaten Oktoberfest served from the tap.)
Support for LAist comes from
Though the service during dinner proved to be rather spotty, a cheerful and friendly hostess seated us at a secluded booth; after placing drink orders we were presented with a platter of assorted salads and vegetables to accompany a basket of bread while we perused the menu. Containing traditional German and Swiss meals, as well as pasta, seafood and "Continental" fare, the menu rounds out at about six pages. We settled on an appetizer of cold asparagus in vinagrette, entrees of wild boar stew and Kasseler Rippchen (smoked pork with sauerkraut) and dessert of chocolate mousse.
The food, from beginning to end, was delicious. Our asparagus appetizer, chilled and topped with diced hard-boiled egg and vinagrette, was tender but not soggy, with a perfect balance of the asparagus flavor and the tasty—but not overpowering—marinade. Dinner portions are enormous: our two huge slices of smoked pork came with a pile of excellent sauerkraut, steamed spinach, roasted potatoes and steamed carrots; the wild boar stew came heaped on a plate piled with hills of kraut, spinach, beets and carrots. Busily inhaling all of the wonderful food in front of us, we didn't notice Chef Ueli until he was upon us in white cap and apron, wandering through the restaurant chatting with patrons about dinner. He stopped and talked amiably with us about our meal, then excused himself to continue the tour.
Just about this time the accordion player arrived to accompany the strolling violinist who had been entertaining diners all evening. We were seated directly across from the enclave set up for musical accompaniment, and thus had a first-rate view of the evening's entertainment. Aside from the dueling accordion-and-violin interludes and Chef Ueli picking up his own accordion to serenade birthday parties, we were treated to an impromptu rendition of "Crazy" by one of the waitresses.
Oh, and we almost forgot to mention dessert. After the huge and delicious meal, we couldn't resist giving one of the ten items on the dessert tray a taste. We settled on the amazingly decadent chocolate mousse, topped with thick cream, dark chocolate shavings and a chocolate cookie, along with a cup of strong coffee. The mousse was thick and rich—not overly sweet—and a fitting end to an enormous and enjoyable meal.
Matterhorn Chef is located at 13726 Oxnard Street in Van Nuys. For information, hours or reservations, call (818) 781-4330.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake. -
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
Best of LAist