What is Swiss cuisine famous for?
Coming to travel to a new land, a new country, what are you looking forward to? I'll guess it! In addition to impressive attractions, amazing architecture or natural scenery, I am sure that you will plan to explore the cuisine of your destination? Because the cuisine of each place has its own characteristics of that land, making anyone curious and eager to taste. This article, I would like to invite you to visit Swiss food culture, discover what dishes this country has famous for!
About Swiss Food Culture
Why say Swiss cuisine is likely to cause memories? It is no coincidence that this country is home to the best chef training schools. Although not the most famous cuisine in the world, the typical dishes of this country know how to keep visitors by great taste. Swiss cuisine has many unique features when it is harmonized and influenced by many other regions and countries such as France, Germany and Italy. Besides, Switzerland also has its own specialties that only when you are a guest in this country can you have the opportunity to taste. Switzerland is divided into 26 cantons, you will have a lot of choices of traditional dishes when coming to any part of this country.
With its farming origins, Swiss cuisine tends to be simple with typical ingredients such as potatoes and cheese. However, when through the talented processing hands of the chef, those dishes will become "memorable". Swiss people are always hospitable and polite, as a guest here you will feel yourself lost in the "good land" when you enjoy a peaceful space and enjoy a rich but idyllic cuisine.
Famous Swiss dishes
Based on the basic ingredients: Fresh milk, potatoes, cheese, butter ,... Swiss chefs can prepare a variety of exquisite dishes. There are dishes that have made a name that visitors insist on trying when arriving in this country. Here, I will introduce to you the famous Swiss dishes!
1. Cheese Fondue – Cheese hotpot, a cuisine everyone eats when going to Switzerland
If you don't get to try this dish when you leave after a trip to Switzerland, you've wasted your trip. Melted cheese hotpot is a traditional dish made from the most familiar and familiar ingredients of this country, including: Cheese, garlic cooked with white wine and a little cornmeal. Once you have tried it, you will definitely not forget this taste, the greasy and fragrant feeling will make you remember its homeland forever. Melted cheese is served with bread, fresh vegetables and white wine. The hot pot will be boiled continuously throughout the enjoyment process so that the cheese does not clump and keeps its delicious heat. There have been many interesting stories told about the birth of this dish, they say that due to the cold weather conditions in difficult circumstances, melting cheese with dry bread can help them alleviate the cold and overcome hunger. Thanks to their creative minds, they seasoned it with garlic, cornstarch and realized it was a perfect combination.
This is an indispensable dish in the breakfast of people on some lands of Switzerland.
I recommends some famous restaurants serving Cheese Fondue in Switzerland:
– Fribourger Fonduestuebli restaurant is located in Rotwandstrasse 38, Zurich 8004, Switzerland.
– Chasstube Rehalp restaurant in Forchstrasse 359 8008 Zurich, Switzerland.
– Adler's Swiss Chuchi restaurant is located at Rosengasse 10, Zurigo, Svizzera, 8001, Switzerland.
See also 1 Some delicious restaurants in Switzerland on Wikipedia
2. Rosti – Potato chips
This is an indispensable dish in the breakfast of people on some lands in Switzerland, you can easily find this dish anywhere in this country. Rosti is a testament to the simple character of Swiss cuisine, they thinly grate or grate potatoes, mix them with onions, cheese and chopped apples, add a little salt and ground pepper and then fry or bake. Such a simple but famous dish throughout the world is finished. You will find something special when you enjoy it, the crust is crispy and the inside is fluffy. Swiss people often eat Rosti with omelets and spinach. They choose this dish for breakfast because it provides enough energy for the day.
Here are some famous restaurants you can choose to enjoy Rosti:
– Brasserie Anker restaurant is located at Schmiedenplatz 1/ Kornhausplatz 16, Bern 3011, Switzerland.
– Hasenburg restaurant at Schneidergasse 20, Basel 4051, Switzerland.
3. Raclette – Melted cheese, a famous Swiss cuisine
For Swiss people, cheese is an indispensable ingredient in daily meals. Raclette is the name of a Swiss cheese and people also use it for this famous dish. They are always looking for ways to combine seamlessly with other ingredients and they seem to realize that it is a great combination. Made from fine cow's milk, melted cheese is usually served on boiled potatoes, with corn cobs and pickled onions, served with bread or used to make salads. Raclette is bound to make cheese lovers fall in love.
Try visiting the restaurants below to enjoy the famous Raclette:
– Swiss Chuchi restaurant is located at Rosengasse 10, Zurigo, Svizzera, 8001, Switzerland.
- Walliser Keller restaurant at Zaehringerstrasse 21 Niederdorf – Historic Quater, Zurich 8001, Switzerland.
– Le Dezaley restaurant is located at Romergasse 7, Zurich 8001, Switzerland.
4. Saffron Risotto – Turmeric rice, famous Swiss cuisine
As introduced, Swiss cuisine is heavily influenced by neighboring countries and regions, Saffron Risotto is a typical. Turmeric rice is a traditional Italian dish, made from a special type of rice of this country, cooked with onions, wine and cheese. The most special thing to mention is the ingredient that makes the soul of the dish, which is saffron. Although it is an imported dish, Saffron Risotto of Switzerland is skillfully crafted by chefs to create their own unique character.
You can enjoy Saffron Risotto at some of the famous restaurants below:
You can enjoy Saffron Risotto at some of the famous restaurants below:
– Ristorante Bindella restaurant at In Gassen 6 8001 Zurich, Switzerland.
– KINDLI restaurant is located in Pfalzgasse 1, Zurich 8001, Switzerland.
5. Berner Platte
People often call this dish a mixed meat plate because it is made of many types of meat with different ways of processing: Beef, sausage, smoked pork,... Serve with sauerkraut, potatoes and dried beans. All displayed on a large plate, this dish is sure to wow you with its diversity. Berner Platte was born from an important historical event in 1798, when Bernese defeated the French army at Neuenegg. Returning as a winner, they were exhorted by the people and celebrated with all the food they had. From there, this unique dish was also born.
Photo 6: Berner Platte. Source: tabbynera (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tabbynera/11068918584/sizes/c/)
6. Zopf bread
In a country as diverse in bread as Switzerland, Zopf has conquered the palate of the taster and become one of the most famous breads. One feature that distinguishes Zopf from other breads is its distinctive shape, which is that a maiden's braid is combed into it a golden hue. Some Swiss people believe that this dish originates from the act of cutting braids buried with husbands in memory of widows. Zopf bread is made from white flour, milk, eggs, butter and baking yeast. Only simple ingredients, but its taste also makes people enjoy memories.
7. Bűndnernusstorte, delicious Swiss cuisine
As a country that loves the greasy of cheese, there is no doubt that Swiss people also love sweet food. The Bűndnernusstorte cake is one of the country's most typical traditional pastries, originating from Graubünden, Switzerland. The main ingredients that make this dish are flour, butter, sugar, cream and caramel. Especially indispensable is the fragrant taste of nuts such as almonds, walnuts. Locals or any visitors who come here want to try this unique dish to feel the chewing sounds that are both soft and crunchy. You can enjoy the cake with a glass of tea or a cup of coffee that will make its taste even greater.
8. Älplermagronen – Cheese pasta
Coming to the 8th dish on the list of famous Swiss cuisine, I introduces you to a dish associated with cheese. It seems that combining cheese with foods to create new dishes is the passion of creating culinary art of the Swiss. Still extremely simple ingredients, including: Pasta, cheese, potatoes, onions, ice cream and bacon. With the talented hands of artistic creators, they have created a dish that tastes great.
Recommended restaurants serving cheese pasta that you can check out:
– Luna Piccante restaurant is located at Obereigasse 50 3812 Wilderswill, Wilderswill, Interlaken 3812, Switzerland.
Famous Swiss specialties that you can buy as gifts
1. Swiss chocolate
In a country that loves cheese and sweetness, it is understandable to mention the famous Swiss specialty dish called chocolate. Although not the father of chocolate and natural conditions are not suitable for growing cocoa trees, Swiss chocolate is still known around the world for its most modern production system. It is estimated that each resident of this country consumes 10-12kg of chocolate a year. They formed an association to manage the production and export of this dish – the Swiss Chocolate Association. Please refer to these famous chocolate brands if you want to have a meaningful gift for your friends and relatives after your trip to Switzerland: Lindt, Sprüngli, Teuscher, Suchard ...
2. Wine
The Swiss carefully preserved and developed their agricultural cultures such as the Heidi herding tradition, especially tending to the vineyards that provide the ingredients for Swiss wines that are famous around the world. Swiss wines taste different from those of other countries, perhaps thanks to their own unique recipes. The Swiss tend to increase the alcohol content of most wines by adding sugar to fermentation tanks. Swiss wine has made a name for itself around the world, it is not easy for you to buy this wine if you do not set foot in this country. So, this will be an especially precious gift for your loved ones.
3. Cheese, a specialty of Swiss cuisine
When traveling in Switzerland, you definitely cannot forget a specialty gift of this country – Cheese. Stand shoulder to shoulder with famous countries for cheese such as England, France, Spain ,... Swiss cheese is somewhat better when hailed as the "king of cheeses". Crafted completely by handcraft, from the finest ingredients, Swiss cheese has conquered visitors from all over the world. The main source of milk is sourced from farms in the west of the country and has been rigorously tested. They put all their heart into making soft, pliable, greasy cheeses.
So together we visited the unique cuisine of Switzerland. The dishes are elaborately and meticulously prepared by culinary art creators that make anyone come here to fall in love. It has its very own marks that make visitors curious and expectant. What are you waiting for, prepare yourself a trip right away to enjoy these wonderful flavors. And don't forget to "buy" famous Swiss specialties as gifts for your loved ones! I hope that the famous dishes that Toidi introduces to you will help you have the best experience when being a guest in Switzerland!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the characteristics of Swiss food culture?
Switzerland has an extremely rich cuisine with European characteristics, which is a harmonious combination with the culinary culture of Germany, France, Italy and many other countries around the world. But besides, Swiss cuisine also confidently shows off with its very own features, you can easily recognize it through the famous dishes or specialties of this country.
2. What are the famous Swiss dishes when traveling?
The famous Swiss dishes are made from familiar and simple ingredients, people here use them in daily meals. Therefore, it is not difficult for you to find restaurants that sell these dishes. You can refer to the famous restaurants that Toidi introduced above!
3. Are Swiss dishes expensive?
This is an important issue you need to understand before starting your trip in Switzerland. The cost of transportation and food in this country will usually be more expensive than in neighboring countries. But don't be disappointed or worried, talented Swiss chefs will show you that the price is worth it through a great cuisine.