Saturday, November 13, 2010

My Cheesy Swiss Fantasy

I would visit the Bernese Alps area with a single goal: to eat authentic Raclette and real Fondue moitie moitie (half and half) again.  In my dream visit, I would arrive in Switzerland 8 pounds lighter than my usual weight and in good enough shape to be able to hike at least 5 miles in the gorgeous Swiss countryside before each meal and 1 or 2 afterward. Eating would occur mid-day, about 2:30 when appetites would be ravenous and we'd arrange to spend two or three hours enjoying the food and still have sufficient time for full digestion before passing out at night. I'd do this in September, late September, when the air is cooling (cheese weather) and the alps would be visible in all their splendor. The Raclette meal would be first, then I'd have a day off to eat salad and rest. The following day would be the Fondue feast. I'd perhaps get a liver transplant (this is a fantasy after all) before leaving because a nice fresh 18 year old liver might be able to process the two bottles of Swiss white wine that I'd like to drink with the cheese dishes.

Of course, there would have to be appetite left every evening for Swiss chocolate  - about 7 p.m.. Lovely truffles made from that Swiss chocolate with a melt point of 98.6 - the kind puddles into silk on the tongue. And with the chocolate I'd savor just a little brandy.

After a short break I'd drive back down to Annecy and do a Tartiflette Savoyard day, same as above.

Final "Ugly American" fantasy details: Nobody would mind that we were taking tons of photos of the food; we'd be invited into the kitchen to meet the chefs and get more background information in English; we'd get a decent seat in the restaurants; taxi's would be available to deliver us and take us home.

2 comments:

  1. My wife and I once had a lunch in a Parisian Bistro with attitude. I had a plate with two or three kinds of salmon on it, the poached being horribly spoiled. When we brought the matter up with our server, we got the whole stupid american business. I had to explain to this nasty man that I didn't require salmon lessons from any self righteous frenchman. Your swiss dream sounds delicious. Have you read the United States of Arugula? - fascinating book

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  2. Hi. Thanks for the comment. I read you all the time and really enjoy all your writing - your food descriptions in particular. You do eat well!! I'll get hold of the book.

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