Mountian Munchies in Switzerland

[hodge-podge]

I am going to fly to zurich in february, then hop on a train to Andermatt to ski for a week. I was wondering what type of ski food I am going to come across, what foods I should search out and what foods to avoid. I realize the food is going to be secondary compared to the amazing off-piste runs I will be on, but I was hoping there would some interesting culinary finds.

Good and unique alcoholic drinks would be good to know as well.

On a side note, I will have one night in Zurich before I fly back to Canada. What are the must haves. Anything from a good bratwurst and beer to fine sit down dinner.

Cheers

Ben

[cmling]

Kropf.

http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults...perty_id=333962

I love this place and make a point of going there whenever I am in Zürich. This is a place for sausages, beer, and atmosphere: all of them excellent.

I suppose I should add that to the best of my knowledge smoking is not yet banned in Switzerland.

[foodie52]

When you are on the slopes, your options are limited! If you are lucky enough to be skiing where there is a restaurant, stop in by all means. Have a glass of wine and the local food. You can't go wrong, for goodness sake. Just enjoy being hungry, in the fresh air and appreciate the local offerings. They will be mostly noodles and sausages. They taste damned good after a morning of skiing.

[Boris_A]

For Zürich, Kropf is an excellent suggestion. It's a "Bavarian beer hall" from the end of 19th century, when establishing foreign restaurants was very fashionable in European cities.

For exceptionally well made, traditional Swiss cuisine, try Alpenrose (also here) near main station. Outstanding!

For a cheese fondue, I recommend Le Dezaley. A bit of a stereotypic interieur, but the quality of the fondue is very good.

For a bratwurst while standing, there's Vorderer Sternen. Immensly popular, and rightly so.

Not to be missed: a quick beer and some Spanish tapas at Bodega Espanola. Original interieur from 1880, born in the same spirit as Kropf. If weather is fine, check for a visit to the tower of the very nearby Grossmünster church: phantanstic view all over Zürich and surrounding.

Finally, if all reservations fail and timetable is constrained, you can never do a mistake with the central Zeughauskeller

Of course, here you'll find a lot of fashionable, modern places, but AFAIK no one offers outstanding food you could not find anywhere else.

[SWISS_CHEF]

I lived in Interlaken for 4 years and I suggest:

Gasthof Alte Post

3764 Weissenburg

Tel. +41 (0)33 783 15 15

Fax +41 (0)33 783 15 78

On the road from Interlaken to Gstaad. Old coach stop. Very charming dining room. Very good food, served table side and you get seconds. Prices are moderate.

In Interlaken there is a good wine bar:

Vineria Grapperia "Per Bacco"

Rugenparkstrasse 2

3800 Interlaken

Have had many very fine meals at the

Grand Hotel Beau Rivage

Best wood-fired pizza in Interlaken is definitely:

Pizzeria Horn

Harderstr.35

3800 Interlaken, Schweiz

Tel. ++41 33 822 92 92

Fax ++41 33 823 50 80

A bit off the beaten path, but worth it. Besure to order the antipasti.

Also, a must is:

Restaurant Bären

Seestrasse 2

3800 Unterseen (Interlaken)

Telefon: 033 822 75 26

Fax: 033 822 75 28

Traditional Swiss food in a tiny ancient chalet.

Another must is the Restaurant Hirschen

Hauptstrasse 11, Postfach 64

3800 Matten b. Interlaken

Tel. ++41 (0)33 822 15 45

Fax ++41 (0)33 823 37 45

They grow most of their own meat and veg and source everything locally.

One tip in Interlaken...skip all the restaurants on the main strip in the center of town. They are expensive and packed with tourists...except McDonalds which is full of locals. You probably knew that though.

[kerriar]

You could try Kronenhalle for reasonably good Swiss food. This place is a long established Zurich institution. Food and atmosphere is well above average but it is the paintings on the wall which will stay in your memory - they include origionals by Picasso, Matisse, Miro, Chagall, etc. Most of these painters eat there and this was James Joyce's daily haunt when he lived in Zurich.

The main dining room and bar have light fittings made by Giacometti. The athmosphere is chic but unpretentious. The prices will probably be a bit hard on your Canadian dollar but you'll have already guessed that this is not a cheap city.

There is a website at http://www.kronenhalle.com/ but only in German.

[John Talbott]

A recent NYT article by Bonnie Tsui on Zermatt suggested eating at Elsie’s Bar, Chez Vrony & Igloo Bar.

[joshlh]

My experience so far in Zermatt and other ski resort towns in Switzerland is that food is pretty much incidental to skiing and partying. There are some nice hot drinks, though: spiked chocolate or tea, and glühwein, which is not to be missed.

Edited April 12, 2008 by joshlh (log)

[ghostrider]

This is going back about 10 yrs now, but in Wengen I stumbled across the best rosti I've ever had - & trust me, I tried the rosti everywhere I went in 4 trips to Switzerland. It was at a free-standing place (not a hotel restaurant) near the station. The rosti was laced with cheese, onions & smoky Swiss bacon bits. Outrageously good.

[joshlh]

Speaking of great roesti, the Hasenburg in Basel serves up many excellent variations along with an enjoyably typical Swiss atmosphere.