We ate some fabulous food in Switzerland; all of our stand-out meals included wurst (German for sausage), which is weird because I’ve always hated sausages…perhaps I’m acquiring a taste for them now!
Our first memorable meal was in Basel at the farmers market outside the town hall. We stopped at a small butcher’s stand with a grill tacked onto the side of it where various types of wurst were being cooked and served with a hunk of bread and a generous squirt of mustard. To my surprise it was absolutely delicious and I finished the whole thing (it’s unusual for me to actually eat an entire sausage). Who knew street meat could be this good? Actually, anyone who’s eaten at Japadog knows, but it’s been a long time so I guess I needed a reminder of the humble street vendor’s awesomeness!
wurst and mustard in Basel
For our first meal out in Mürren, we wanted to find a raclette so I could introduce my Dad to the cheesy indulgence we’d enjoyed in the French Alps, but it seemed this was not a dish commonly served in Mürren so we settled on another traditional Swiss dish; Rösti. The grated and fried potato was served with wurst and onion gravy – the wurst was not as good as the one in Basel, and the gravy was a little to salty for my taste, but the Rösti was simple, delicious and very hearty. The restaurant was located on the rooftop of the Hotel Bellevue, which had a spectacular view across the valley to the mountains beyond:
Rösti and Wurst in Mürren
table with a view!
On our last evening in Mürren we decided to utilise the fondue set that was in the kitchen cupboard of our chalet. The grocery store sold a fondue ‘set’, which was basically just enough cheese to feed a small army, in a box. We bought some wurst (of course), some lamb, bread and cured meat and prepared our feast for the evening. Fondues are so fun to eat; it’s more like entertainment than a meal, but just really delicious entertainment! It was also more fun to make it ourselves than going to a restaurant to eat fondue, although I just generally enjoy the process of meal preparation just as much as eating it…
lamb and wurst for the fondue
patriotic fondue set
cheeeeeeeese!!
Brendan, Dad and me enjoying the fondue
Our culinary adventures in Switzerland were delicious, memorable and very Swiss! As an aside, I dedicate this post to my brother Greg, who apparently has been put off cheese for life after overdosing on a fondue last time we were in Switzerland. Greg, you don’t know what you’re missing!!
your view at dinner was amazing! Reminds me when we stop for lunch on a ski day in the Alps.