SWISS FOOD - Avocadoes

the avo assessment

This has always been a pet hate of mine - trying to find avocados in Switezrland that don't follow this below little timetable. Luckily, I posted this on my Facebook page and my friend Andrea came to the rescue and said that I should try the one's from Aldi.

And so I put it to the test and here is the proof!

Avo from Coop

Avo from Aldi (and cheaper too!)

SWISS FOOD - Primo Restaurant

primo!

I have started a new little Monday ritual where I go out for lunch every Mondy on my own. I have Pilates just before, and so am always starving afterwards but also need to do alot of errands after the weekend. So finding the Italian restaurant in Zugerland called Primo has worked out real well.

I avoid pizza and pasta - as our Monday night tradition is Meatless Mondays, so spinach and ricotta tortellini with red pesto is my go to dinner. And as I have just down Pilates I don't think I could (or should) eat a pizza. But I found that there Chicken Breast with Parmesan Cheese Salad to so yummy!

So if you are in a hurry, but trying to avoid take-away foodthis is a great restaurant to pop into whilst you do all your shopping...

SWISS PLACES
Primo Restaurant Pizzeria 
Since 1984 Primo has been the culinary meeting point for visitors to the Zugerland shopping centre. In addition to the specialties such as cheesecake, XXL Bratwurst and Rösti, guests can choose from a variety of Swiss and Italian specialties in the à la carte menu.

SWISS FOOD - In a Tube

in a tube

A while back we were chatting about how odd it is to find mayonaise in a tube in Switzerland, but once this has settled in your mind as being kinda cool, then you are going to love how both freshly ground garlic and chilli can also be found in a tube. I really like this idea as that means the smells don't permeate everything in your fridge!

SWISS FOOD - Autumn Dinner

autumn dinner

Last night, as part of the girls First Communion Classes, the priest Father Urs joined us for dinner. It was a great excuse to use my 12 Days of Christmas servingware as it has an autumn feel to it - especially as I was able to use the beautiful flowers still looking lovely from my birthday last week that Emily gave me.

For dinner, we had a few snacks (nuts, tortilla chips and guacomole), roast lamb with roasted potatoes, pumpkins and beans but what I really wanted to chat about was the Orange Chocolate Cake I bought from Sprüngli. I love orange dark chocolate but I have never had it as a "cake". It is divine and a new seasonal favourite of mine that I am going to have to eat religiously every November now!

SWISS FOOD
Sprüngli Orange Chocolate Cake 

SWISS FOOD - Autumn Pie

a vs. b

We were going to make a pie as part of our AUtumn Bucket List this year. Instead, Migros are doing a competition to decide which is best A for Apple Pie or B for Blueberry Pie. We had a little taste test and all of us voted that Apple was the sure winner. What's your favourite?

 

 

 

SWISS FOOD
Migros
www.migros.ch/avsb

SWISS FOOD - Halloween

spooky cupcakes

Every year @migros bakery gets better! Look what I found for #Halloween and 2 for 4.80chf.

SWISS FOOD - Swiss Chocolates

Looking for cool #Swiss #souvenirs? 

Picked up these #chocolate #swissarmyknives from #ottos 

#baar #switzerland #swissfood #swissbuys

SWISS FOOD - Super Sweets

super sweets

Found some fun and funky sweets from #ottos #zug #switzerland #swissfood. Great prices, so perfect for picking up candy in bulk for Halloween, pinatas or party favours.

SWISS FOOD - Macarons

macarons

One of my favourite desserts since moving to Europe must be macarons or sometimes spelt macaroons but not to be confused with coconut macaroons. The creme de la creme of macaroons must be Ladurée in Paris, but Swiss bakeries make ones just as sublime. 

Sprüngli make their own version called Luxemburgerli, though they are smaller but come in lots of variations and flavours.
Similarly, Bachman make their own smaller version - and I noticed they now even have ones that look and taste just like watermelon.
And, would you believe that even COOP supermarket made these and they are perfect!
But if you after the "real thing" there is also a Ladurée in Zurich!

SWISS FOOD - SA Heritage Day

peppermint bliss

Happy South African Heriatge Day! This post is not really about Swiss Food, as it is a South African dessert but as it is made using two of my favourite Nestle products, we think even Switzerland would approve and as it tastes so good would want to call it it's own!

Peppermint Crisp Tart is super easy to make, provided you live in SA. The problem being the three key ingredients are pretty hard to find abroad. Luckily Liam was able to smuggle in some Caramel Treat, Tennis Biscuits and Peppermint Crisp Bars for us.

INGREDIENTS
1 Can Caramel Treat
500ml Fresh Cream
1 packet Tennis Biscuits
2 peppermint crisp chocolate bars (or 1 large one)

DIRECTIONS
1. Place the tennis buiscuits in rows at the bottom of your desired dish, ensuring that the bottom of the dish is completely covered. (break in half if necessary, and we made as many layers as we had biscuits).
2. Place the caramel in a mixing bowl and mix until smooth.
3. In a seperate mixing bowl, whisk the cream until stiff peaks form, being careful not to overwhip. (I actually googles how to whip cream in a Kitchenaid, and top tips include make sure the cream is just taken out of the fridge before you whip so that it is still cold, and only whip at a medium speed).
4. Add the whipped cream and three quarters of the grated peppermint criss (use the big side) to the caramel and whip well.
5. Spread a generous amount of the mixture over the tennis biscuits and spread evenly.
6. Sprinkle the remaining peppermint crisp over the top and place in the fridge for an hour to set.
7. Enjoy!

SWISS FOOD - Zuger Kirschtorte Part 2

strickler

Earlier this month, we started our tour of the Zuger Kirschtorte mile in and around Zug (part 1). And our second stop of the tour today, is the Confiserie store Strickler. This place is more of Chocolatier than a bakery, but they do make a mean Kirschtorte. Other delights that I have sampled often (as they used to be my neighbour when In Good Company had a store in Zug) include their wide selection of handmade chocolates. Also, their Christmas parcels are beautifully presented.

SWISS PLACES - Confiserie Strickler
28 Bahnhofstrasse, Zug 6300

SWISS FOOD - Hafen Restaurant

the hafen

Every now and again I share my reviews on Trip advisor. Here is one from this weekend, where I finally was able to try out Hafen again after a long time not being able to secure a reservation.

“Great For Lunch and even better for Dinner (if you can get in!)”

I have tried so many times to get a dinner reservation but this place in the summer is a hot spot! Luckily last weekend we were able to enjoy a lovely lunch on the terrace as the sun shone on the water. They have a great kids menu and I totally loved their presentation of something as simple as fish and chips. And their coffee cups (which they sell) are the perfect souvenir!

• Visited September 2016

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g188110-d751965-r417900119-Hafenrestaurant-Zug.html#

 

 

 

 

 

SWISS FOOD

Hafenrestaurant

SWISS FOOD - Pombaer

• swissfamilygallagherI have a love hate relationship with these chips! They taste awesome and are in the shape of little bears 🐻🐻🐻 but it is impossible to eat just a handful, it's all or nothing #swissproblem

  

   

SWISS FOOD - Waffles

waffles

"And in the morning, I'm making waffles!" Donkey says it best in the movie Shrek, but for me this was never something I was going to share with my kids; until now. On a recent trip to IKEA, I spotted this box of heart waffles in their freezer and I am so glad I did. You get 12 heart mini waffles for the price of 4chf. We had them for Bailey's birthday breakfast and now I am permanently keeping a box in the freezer!

SWISS FOOD
IKEA Waffles
Thin and crispy waffles with whipped cream and jam is a suitable light lunch or snack between meals. For a more savory waffle, top with marinated salmon or shrimp instead.

SWISS FOOD - The Zuger Kirschtorte Part 1

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zuger kirschtorte

SWISS FOOD

Today, I am excited to share the first in a series all about our canton’s signature bake (clearly I have been inspired by the Great British Bake Off last night). The Zuger Kirschtorte (cherry tart) is a layer cake from Zug, Switzerland that consists of layers of nut-meringue, sponge cake and butter cream, and is flavoured with kirschwasser (cherry brandy).

Pastry chef Heinrich Höhn invented the cake 1921 in the city Zug and it won gold medals in pastry exhibitions in Lucerne in 1923 and 1928 and in London in 1930. In peak times Heinrich Höhn and his successor Jacques Treichler manufactured up to 100,000 of these cakes per year!

Heinrich Höhn standing in front of his bakery, together with employees, in 1913

The Conditorei Treichler has continued manufacturing and shipping the cakes up to the present day; and everyday we pass this bakery situated on Bundesplatz. The cake is, however, not protected, so variations of the cake are also manufactured by other pastry shops in the region, and to celebrate 100 years the Zug town created the Zuger Kirsch Torte Mile, where there is a walking tour you can take stopping off at the various bakeries that specialise in this cake whilst learning all about it.

Here are some sneak peeks of the first stop, naturally Treichler which also includes a museum inside that you can visit while you place your order for some tea and the cake.

Join us for the next in the series where we share more details of the famous cake and it's bakeries around town.

SWISS FOOD

Treichler

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Bundesplatz 3, CH–6300 Zug

In addition to the famous cake, Conditorei Treichler offers other delicacies: Zuger Chriesiperlen , Chriesi jams and Chriesi Chocolate, Zug Kirsch Liqueur and Zug Kirsch. Also available is a wide range of pastries and bread as well as pies and cakes , exclusively licensed through Luzerner Konditorei Heini is produced. We particularly enjoy on a Saturday morning their breakfast tower: a three tiered stand of croissants, breads, cheese, meats, jam... and your choice of juice, coffees and even a bowl of proper Swiss Bircher Muesli.

SWISS FOOD - Juanitos Mexican Restaurant

juanitos

One of our favourite restaurants in Zug that we have been going to for years, is the Mexican Restaurant Juanitos. It is right next to the lake so a great spot for lunch or dinner on a sunny day. But even if the weather is cold or wet, their interior will definitely warm you up - as too the food!

The restaurant serves all the traditional Mexican fare one enjoys: fajitas are my favourite and nine times out of ten I order the chicken ones. They also have a great mini plate for kids including a cob of corn that I know the girls enjoy.

All in all, a good spot if you are looking for non-Swiss food, especially if you have guests visiting and have tried every where else - it never disappoints.

SWISS FOOD
Juanitos Mexican Restaurant

SWISS FOOD - The Fork and Bottle

fork and bottle

I can't believe I haven't yet shared one of my favourite restaurants in Switzerland. It is in Zurich, but just before you actually get in the City, so even I braved to go their alone with the girls yesterday. It is totally worth the trip as here you can get a proper English Breakfast. This time though I had to go with a firm favourite of mine: their sauasge roll with homecut potatoe fries. 

And I was please Bailey opted for the Banana and Salted Caramel Buttermilk Pnacakes - as the portion is huge so I knew I could still a bite or two. 

 

But who knew that Zara's Fresh Pastry Basket would give a new meaning to the word huge! Need less to say, we took the yummy cookie and banana bread home with us...

SWISS FOOD 
Fork and Bottle
Known for being Zurich's only farm-to-table restaurant offering an ever-changing menu of craft beer, Fork & Bottle invites you in to enjoy great food and drink in a relaxed country setting.

SWISS FOOD - My Own Nut Granola

nutty granola

I have started planning a Breakfast Menu for our family. I hate having to THINK about meals, so I am trying to have a menu that I always have in mind when I shop and all the ingredients in the fridge ready for me or the girls to make. I've just started, but here already is a firm favourite.

SWISS FAMILY GALLAGHER 
BREAKFAST
OPTION 1
Homemade Nut Granola with Greek Yoghurt and Fresh Seasonal Fruit

INGREDIENTS
1 x bag of walnuts
1 x bag of pecan nuts
1 x almond slices
1 x hazel nuts
1 x pumpkin seeds 
1 x cashew nuts
1 x dried cranberries
1/4 pack Chai seeds
Spray Butter
Spices: Ginger, Nutmeg

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 160 degrees C.
Spray the baking sheet with butter.
Open contents of all bags onto the tray (crush/chop roughly if you wish but we like the chunky bits).

Sprinkle nutmeg and ginger over.
Coat in butter.
Place in the oven for 10 minutes, turning nuts over every 5 minutes. 
Cool on paper towel and store in an airtight container.

SWISS FOOD - A Pizza Kit

pizza kit

The other day, the girls and i spotted this little Pizza Kit in Migros, and so we decided to make our own pizzas. Not exactly from scratch, the boy has pre-rolled dough and pizza tomato sauce but one does get to decide the topppings. At 4chf, the girls share a box, and a pack of already grated cheese is less than 3chf - this is a great holiday budget option.