whitneykt

I just found out that these three dishes are mainly winter dishes. So for anyone that is planning a trip to Switzerland during the summer months and are expecting to find these dishes that are recommended on just about every site I've been on, you may have to hunt them down. I'm told that there are some touristy restaurants that will sell them no matter what the season. But, just be aware, they may not be everywhere.

Just thought you'd like to know.

suze

Yes, I knew that.

European food is more seasonally based than we are used to seeing in the U.S. Raclette and fondue are both winter dishes. Venison stew and various sausages in the fall. Etc. You will be able to find raclette or fondue at some restaurants year-round, particularly in tourist areas.

cocofromdijon

I had a raclette at home with georgiegirl and cchottel and we enjoyed it especially because it was a late march rainy evening.
Even in France we love raclette et fondues (do you know fondue bourguignonne with beefand fondue savoyarde with cheese?)

coco

vedette

In my experience (Bernese Oberland, Zurich), rosti is available everywhere all the time. Raclette is widely available year-round in mountain towns and villages. Don't know about fondue.

tcreath

We had rosti on two different occassions, at two different restaurants, while in Appenzell in May of last year. The weather was quite mild.

Tracy

kappa

> you may have to hunt them down ..

No, it's not that hard. I agree they are more of winter dish that warm your body (if you didn't know that you might want to know how the cheese fondue started ..) but there are restaurants with Swiss specialities, touristic or not that serve fondue all through the year. At many non touristic Swiss café/restaurants fondue is not only typical Swiss but also just an usual dish that you can order any time of the year. As some one said on the other thread that you started about liquors, even the Swiss do need to eat cheese fondue in summer (not that often as in winter of course though.). I even know a few restaurants that serve as main dish ONLY cheese fondue. One of them don't, as a starter, even have salad. Just air-dried beef slices from Graubünden. Of course they do that all through the year. I could not believe they did not even have salad.

SuzieC

gosh.. I would have thought Rosti would make a nice "side" to a plain
(i.e., grilled, baked, broiled) protein

swandav2000

Also, keep in mind that the village of Gruyeres serves fondue & raclette all year long . . .

LOVE Gruyeres -- both the cheese & the village. Yummmmmmmmm

s

whitneykt

Thanks for all the info. And, SuzieC - I'm with you! I thought it would be a side dish.

Intrepid1

Rosti is even available at Burger King in Switzerland!

whitneykt

Burger King? Really? Do they serve it instead of French Fries? gt;

kappa

I think I once had a Rösti burger at McD or Burger king. Well, you don't want to try it again when you know usual Rösti, but why not for once?

whitneykt

I think I'll stick with the traditional dishes from traditional restaurants. Not planning on eating at BK or McD's. I can get them at home. May walk in to compare prices tho. gt;

enzian

Whitney,

You can get Rösti at every mountain restaurant (the ones at the top of lifts or on the hiking trails). Rösti either plain, or with an egg, or melted cheese, or sausage, is the standard menu item, along with Gulaschsuppe (which is also very good and a lighter option for lunch). And Raclette and/or Fondue are often served once a week or so at hotel restaurants in tourist areas, even in summer.

But Swiss cuisine is so much more than Raclette, Fondue, and Rösti! The meat, chicken, and fish dishes are wonderful---reflecting a blend of French, German, and Italian techniques and flavors which I think is called "Continental" cuisine. There is something about the chicken they raise in Europe---much more flavorful than most of what we get in the U.S. And the freshwater fish dishes (mainly trout and pike-perch) are also very good, with nice light sauces. I know you will be self-catering, but I hope you'll go out a few times and sample the wonderful Swiss food.

whitneykt

Actually, we want to eat out more than "self-cater". And, we do want to try other foods not just the ones mentioned here. Thanks for the suggestions.

kappa

I forgot to say. Roesti is not a winter food or at least much less so than fondue. That's sort of obvious. With fondue, you use fire on the table and the food is heated in front of you but that's not the case with Roesti. Just for the record, so anyone read the first post does not get a wrong info.

rex

Yes, see http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34476682

Best wishes,

Rex

kleeblatt

Fitnessteller: pork or chicken with a nice salad.
Risotto: Eaten as a side dish or a main meal.
Knöpfli or Spatzle: usually served as a side dish.
Fondue: someone mentioned you should make it in your apartment. You can get packaged fondues that are VERY good. Not too expensive either.

We have nice pizzerias here where each person orders there own pizza. You eat it with a fork and knife. You choose a pizza from the menu, not like in the US where you choose your own toppings.

Enjoy Swiss dining. It's not cheap but very good.

suze

If you ever see 'sausage' from a street stand like at a festival or market have one (like hot dogs in the U.S. only better).

blackduff

There's another little caution. When you order in many restaurants, you could order your XXXXX or you could order the same XXXX with "Teller" (sp?)

What this means that the full order will split into two plates. You'll get a full plate once and when you're thinking your too full, there's another plate will arrive. In fact I've had three plates full in the full order of XXXX. When you order the Teller, you get only one plate of XXXXX.

Of course you're hungry-order the full plate.

Blackduff