Swiss cuisine draws inspiration from different cultures and celebrates its mix of tradition and regional diversity

Believe it or not, there is more to Switzerland’s cuisine than the infamous Swiss chocolate. With influences from French, Italian and German cooking, Switzerland’s cuisine is combustion of different flavors and aromas.  Over the years, Arabic and Eastern foods like kebabs and chow mein have also stormed fast food joints. Needless to say, quality international cooking is most prevalent in Geneva and Zurich.

A three-course meal or a quick bite?
Unlike the traditional English breakfast of sausages, scrambled egg and baked beans, a typical Swiss breakfast consists of bread, butter or margarine, or at most cheese and cereal. Bread, dairy products, and cheese - lots of it - are the basic ingredients of Swiss food. Zopf is braided egg bread enjoyed by many over breakfast or lunch. Lunch can be either a simple sandwich, or a fuller, leisurely meal often enjoyed by businessmen. Dinner in Switzerland is seldom a three-course meal.

Traditional Swiss cuisine
Perhaps the most popular dish on the Swiss menu is fondue. Simple as fondue may look when you catch someone dipping crusty bread into a pot of molten cheese, the right combination of typically Gruyère and Vacherin cheese, mixed with white wine, flour, kirsch and a little garlic makes fondue the delicacy it is.

If you are a sworn vegetarian, opt for Raclette. It is cheese served with jacket potatoes, pickled onions and gherkins. The appealing quality of the dish is the preparation of the cheese, which is held over heat and scraped into a bowl as it melts. The dish has its origins in Valais, but is popular throughout Switzerland’s Alpine regions.

Zurcher Geschnetzeltes is another traditional Swiss meal. It is diced veal fried in butter and simmered with onions and mushrooms, with a hint of white wine and cream. If you really want a heartier meal, try a Bernerplatte. It is a platter of various meats like pork, smoked beef tongue, bacon, chops and Bernese sausages, served with green beans or sauerkraut.

Traditional Swiss desserts
Chocolate fondue or dark chocolate mousse are very popular Swiss desserts. Zuger kirchentorte is another one. A specialty of the cherry-growing canton of Zug, it is a pastry made of flour and ground hazelnuts soaked in cherry brandy. Apfelküchlein is a deep fried apple cookie. It can be eaten either hot or cold, with or without vanilla sauce. Basler Leckerli are Basel cookies. If you have a keen taste for honey, Basler Lackerli are the right choice for you. Brunsli are a traditional Swiss Christmas treat. They are brownies made of almonds and bitter chocolate. Chräbeli are another Christmas treat. They are cookies containing anise and kirsch.

Swiss etiquette
As a woman, it is important to know that Swiss businessmen do not appreciate being asked out for dinner by a woman. In this case, a lunch invitation would be more appropriate. Attire needs to be subdued and tasteful, and punctuality is a must.

When dining at restaurants, elbows should be kept off the table and it is considered impolite to drink before the toast. Unlike some other countries, do not ask for salt and pepper unless they are on the table already. Soft foods like potatoes, salads and fruit should be cut with a fork and not a knife. At the end of a meal, your knife and fork should be placed on your plate in the 5.25 position to indicate that you have had enough.  Whenever you are invited to a business associate’s home for a meal, a small gift should be given to the family. Flowers, wine or chocolates are typical gifts. It is generally considered impolite to ask for a tour of the home. You will be offered one if your host wishes.