Landgasthof Backers

The story

Landgasthof Backers, Twist: Slow Food & Michelin-Recommended Country Cooking

Where the Land Meets the Table

In the small town of Twist, in the heart of the Bourtanger Moor-Veenland nature park, Landgasthof Backers offers a kitchen rooted in place. Chef Helmut Backers, a member of the Slow Food Chef Alliance since 2019, cooks with a clear philosophy: let the season and the region decide the menu. The restaurant’s Michelin Recommended status for 2026 reflects the precision and care behind this classic country cooking.

A Chef’s Journey Home

Helmut Backers grew up in Dortmund, trained at the renowned Union Bräu, then cooked in Paris, Switzerland, and the Münsterland before returning to his family’s landgasthof in Twist with his wife Irene. For two decades, the couple has turned the inn into a destination for honest, refined cooking. His two cookbooks, “Gaumenglück” (2010) and “Backers & Backers” (2017), capture the breadth of his craft.

The Kitchen’s Rhythm

The menu changes with what’s available. A Duett-Menü for two might feature spring salad with fish terrine, followed by maize-fed chicken breast with Mediterranean vegetables and gnocchi, then a dessert of “arme Ritter” with orange ice cream. There’s a vegetarian menu too, built around a poached egg on creamed spinach and black salsify, or Kaspressknödel (pan-fried herb dumplings) in a creamy sauce. Main courses like braised beef cheek with carrot, spinach, and potato gratin, or a duo of wild duck breast and leg-filled ravioli with quince, show the kitchen’s range. Ingredients come from farmers and producers the chef knows personally—meat, fish, vegetables, herbs.

Beyond the Plate

The commitment to “good, clean, and fair” extends beyond the kitchen. The restaurant produces its own specialties: Brotretter-Nudeln (pasta made from bread-saving initiative), spruce tip syrup, and Veenland Gin, all available in the on-site shop. The dining room is a base for exploring the surrounding moorland, with cycling routes like the Emsland-Route and United Countries Tour passing nearby. Landgasthof Backers proves that regional cooking, done with skill and integrity, deserves a place on any gourmet map.