Indulge in the half-and-half fondue
Ah, fondue – a glorious flood of cheese at every meal. Enjoy it in its region of origin, the canton of Fribourg: half Gruyère, half Vacherin Fribourgeois! Of course, add a nice splash of white wine, and perhaps a touch of kirsch.
Are you used to making it at home with ready-made packets? We promise, after tasting the real thing, it will be hard to go back. Dip your fondue fork and bread into the luscious mixture and savor every bite! No other fondue comes close. Pair it with a local white wine, like a Fendant from Valais.
📍 Dash over to the delicious fondue at Bains des Pâquis in Geneva. Treat yourself to a cheesy feast for 27 CHF, with a stunning lake view.
Taste the delicious Rösti
This is a typical culinary specialty of German-speaking Switzerland. Rösti are grated potatoes, pan-fried until crispy on the outside, with a soft, comforting interior. Enjoy them simply, Swiss-style, with cheese, onions, bacon, or eggs – perfect for satisfying your appetite.
💡 Fun and surprising fact: this dish gave its name to the “Röstigraben,” the cultural boundary between German-speaking Switzerland and French-speaking Switzerland, often used to highlight regional differences. Now imagine a barrier of (real) rösti on your plate… tempting, isn’t it?
📍 Our local favorite spot: Café de l’Evêché. It is located in Lausanne, accessible by train from Paris, Dijon, and even Marseille (as well as other cities in the southeast) during the summer. Wander around the cathedral area to find this traditional restaurant. Order the house rösti and savor every bite!
Viande des Grisons
It’s hard to talk about Switzerland without mentioning its charcuterie. One of the highlights: Viande de Grisons. Never heard of it? That’s normal – it’s not widely found in France. This specialty from the canton of the Grisons is air-dried beef rubbed with salt and spices for several months.
Enjoy it in very thin slices, perfect on its own for a tasty picnic, or as a complement to a raclette. Often imitated, never equaled: look for the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) to taste the real Bündnerfleisch!
📍 Dreaming of it? You can find viande de Grisons all over Switzerland, even in supermarkets, where it often has its own dedicated section.
Milk chocolate
It would be impossible to talk about Swiss culinary specialities without mentioning milk chocolate. Swiss know-how when it comes to chocolate-making dates back to the 19th century when numerous factories were opened in the country. Switzerland is still one of the leading chocolate manufacturers in the world. For those of you with a sweet tooth, you will be happy to hear that there are many brands and varieties to choose from! So get testing!
Birchermüesli
Birchermüesli is one of the most popular breakfasts in Switzerland. It first appeared at the end of the 19th century and was named after the doctor and dietician Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner who prescribed it to his patients to help them to get fit. The original recipe uses oats, condensed milk, lemon juice, grated apple and hazelnuts or almonds. Nowadays, the condensed milk is often replaced with yoghurt and cream, and other fruits have been added into the mix.