Moving to Switzerland - Guide to Swiss Food

If you are planning on moving to Switzerland, UK-based Hamiltons Removals can help. We have over 20 years of experience in the removals industry, and provide removals to Switzerland, Europe and worldwide.

Moving to Switzerland means that you can use our tailored removals to Switzerland service. It’s perfect for domestic and commercial customers looking for peace of mind. We are members of the British Association of Removals (BAR), ensuring the highest standards are always met and your possessions will arrive safely and on time. Our removals to Switzerland service includes shipping / transportation to all Swiss towns and cities, including Geneva, Berne, Zurich, Basel, Lausanne, St. Gallen and Winterthur. Whether you require sole use of a dedicated container or a part load service, we can help.

Removals to Switzerland  - click here for full information on our removals to Switzerland service or click here for an instant European removals quote.

Removals to Switzerland: Hamiltons Can Help

There are three main reasons you might be moving to Switzerland: for a new job, to be with family or to retire. Moving to another country can be a daunting experience, which is why Hamiltons are here to help with pretty much every aspect of your move. Whether your move is personal or professional, we offer a myriad of ways to make the moving process smooth and painless for you. From packing to storage and cleaning or pet services, to transportation and importation of cars, Hamiltons can help, and one of the many other ways we do that is by putting together this blog. You’ll find all sorts of useful articles on living and working in Switzerland, and this one is all about food and drink.

Moving to Switzerland: Guide to Swiss Food

Food in Switzerland includes a mix of regional influences from Italian, German and French cuisine, but is reliant on the usual worldwide staples of meat, vegetables and fish. Dishes tend to be wholesome and based on simple ingredients, but the most important part of the meal in Switzerland is the dessert. There are also a lot of specialist breads, many cooked for celebrations or festivals, and we mustn’t forget müesli, which was introduced by a Swiss doctor to help his patients as far back as 1900. Of course one of the dishes the Swiss are most famous for is fondue - molten cheese eaten with small dipped pieces of bread, or if you prefer a sweeter version, melted chocolate with various pieces of fruit to dip.

Moving to Switzerland: What do the Swiss Eat?

Breakfast is important to the Swiss, and has evolved over the years to include a wide range of dishes. The usual coffee, tea and fruit juices are fairly standard, as are eggs in all forms, but specialist bread is usually at the centre of the table. Bakeries supply a huge choice, including rye, maize and ‘burli’ (small), but the favourite for most is ‘zopf’ - a rich white bread baked in a braid and served with butter, honey, jams, cheeses and cold meats. Many Swiss won’t contemplate breakfast without müesli, or ‘birchermüesli’, the traditional recipe named after the Swiss doctor who introduced it.

Italian food is everywhere in contemporary Switzerland, and pasta forms the basis of a lot of dishes widely cooked. Tarts and quiches, with both savoury and sweet fillings, are very popular, as are omelettes, rosti and rice. You will find meat dishes, including veal, beef and chicken, dishes we think of as German such as sauerkraut, and bratwurst, as well as hotpots and salads. However, it’s the desserts that get the Swiss taste buds going. Cakes and cookies, cheesecake and soufflé, it’s always wise to leave room when eating in Switzerland. It’s unlikely that the Swiss would let an occasion go by without having a special cake for it.

We have, of course not really mentioned the two food types that Switzerland is best known for - cheese and chocolate. From Emmental to Gruyere, Vacherin to Appenzeller, Switzerland is home to over 450 varieties of cheese. Nestle, Lindt and Toblerone all come from Switzerland, which produces over 150,000 tonnes of chocolate every year. Swiss chocolatiers are considered the best in the world, and the Swiss agree - they themselves consume over half of the chocolate made.

Moving to Switzerland: Eating Out in Switzerland

Eating out in Switzerland can be costly, but there are enough ‘family’ restaurants to keep even the most cost-conscious person happy. If your budget will stretch, Switzerland has finished 2nd worldwide for Michelin stars per person, and most cities will give you a huge range of choice in both style and cost. Brunch has become very popular in the last few years, and is available at hundreds of cafes across Switzerland, sometimes all day. Many offer regional variations, including English!

Like the rest of Europe, Switzerland still has its traditional dishes and a very proud food heritage, but the world is a much smaller place these days, and if you want something fast, or something skinny, or something fried from your favourite chain, these won’t be hard to find either.

Removals to Switzerland - click here for full information on our removals to Switzerland service or click here for an instant European removals quote.