Gourmet Guide Switzerland – Unique cuisine is well worth a trip

Text: Nane Steinhoff | Photos: Pixabay

Switzerland is perhaps best known for its fondue and top-quality chocolate, but it truly has a lot more to offer when it comes to culinary delights. In the following special theme, we take a look at some of the country’s top restaurants, but first – let’s take a look at some traditional Swiss dishes that should be tried on your next trip to the country.

Rösti

A ‘rösti’ is a humble dish and one that is a staple throughout Switzerland. It consists primarily of grated potatoes that are cooked in a pan in the style of a fritter. It was originally a breakfast dish that was eaten by farmers, but has established itself as a favourite throughout the country and abroad.

Zürcher Geschnetzeltes

This term translates loosely to ‘cut meat Zurich style’ and describes a traditional Swiss dish with strips of veal, sometimes veal liver, mushrooms, onions, wine and cream. It’s a kind of stew and goes perfectly with ‘rösti’ (see previous dish on this page), rice or pasta. If you see the dish on a menu on your next trip to Switzerland, be sure to try it. You won’t regret it.

Älplermagronen

Also called hersman’s macaroni, this dish comes from the German part of Switzerland and usually includes cheese, potatoes, macaroni, onions, as well as milk or cream, and apples, too. If you order it, expect layered cooked potatoes and macaroni with cream and cheese which gets served with fried onion rings and stewed apple sauce. On a cold night, it is sure to really get you warmed up.

Bernese platter

Vegetarians and vegans – stop reading now! This one is for the meat-lovers out there. The ‘Bernese platter’ is found all over menus throughout the city of Bern and consists of numerous types of meat, like sausage, beef, ham, smoked bacon and pork knuckle, which all gets complemented with sauerkraut, potatoes and dried beans. Created on 5 March 1798, when the Bernese defeated the French army, the dish came about because everyone brought along whatever they had to hand to celebrate. Today, it is still a dish to try (if you like meat).