Where's all the Swiss Cheese?

Swiss cheese is something of a myth. Year after year, tourists visit Switzerland and spend fruitless hours searching for it. Like the yeti, people claim to have seen one "over there" but the evidence is not very convincing. So what is Swiss cheese?

There are over 400 varieties of cheese in Switzerland. To make it easier the Swiss Cheese Marketing association has catagorised them into the following headings:

Appenzeller (this is the one with the holes in it, the so-called "Swiss cheese")

Bündner Bergkäse

Emmentaler AOC

L'Etivaz AOC

Le Gruyère AOC

Raclette

Walliser Raclette AOC

Sbrinz AOC

Tête de Moine AOC

Tilsiter

Tomme Vaudoise

Vacherin Fribourgeois AOC

Vacherin Mont-d'Or AOC

Alpkäse und Spezialitäten

(If you click on the name above, a link to http://www.switzerland-cheese.ch - and takes you straight to Switzerland's cheese database. Let the fun begin...)

But this does not really help you find your favourite. Unless you like going through a huge database and sorting out your cheese by milk type, ripening time, and region, the best thing is to try as many as you can. It won't take long before you find a few you like the best.  When I have visitors, provided they like cheese, I offer them five kinds:

 Gruyére 

A hard alpine cheese, Sbrinz or Hobelkäse

Tilsiter

a soft cheese, usually Tomme 

Vacherin 

I have found that these five give a well rounded picture of cheese here and people find their favourites quickly!

It's a small, starters pack, so to speak and all of them are  readily available.

It would also be worth your while to try the following:

- Order a cheese plate at a restaurant. Usually, they will serve local specialities and if it's not listed on the menu what kind of cheese is being served, then ask the waiter.

-  Chäs Fritz - Jungfraustrasse 46 in Interlaken and on Hauptstrasse 90, in Brienz. With over 60 different kinds to choose from and a very knowlegeable staff, it's the ultimate cheese experience. Ask if you can try before you buy.

- The Swiss Mountain Market on Höheweg has a selection of local specialities and alpine cheeses which are not available at the Coop or the Migros. There is usually a little plate of cheese to try. 

Rather than buying a pre-packaged piece at the store, the Coop and the Migros in Interlaken both have cheese counters where you can buy cheese open. Choose what you would like to try and the assistant will cut a piece for you, the smallest amount is a 100 grams and you'll pay by weight. In this way, you can make your own cheese plate and not have to worry about a large piece you don't like.

If you are going there,  Ballenberg Museum has a cheese store and a cheese maker - you shouldn't miss these. The mild goat cheese at Ballenberg is fantastic and makes a nice snack. 

On the 18th of August, they are also offering a special food tour through the museum called  "Chüstige Tipple" - from 9.30am to 3pm. It costs CHF 135.- per person, but includes entrance to the museum and all the food and drinks served through out the day. Book early by phone 033 952 10 25 or by e-mail :reservation@ballenberg.ch . It's culinary journey through the whole country in one day and for food lovers a must!

http://ballenberg.ch/en/Veranstaltungen

Through out August and September, Grindelwald Tourism is offering an "Alpine Dairy and Farm Excursion." For CHF 5.- (or free with the Visitors Card), this guided tour takes you to Bussalp and where you can see cheese making in action at a real alpine dairy. For more information contact the tourist office in Grindelwald.

Enjoy your cheese!

Events in August

No idea what to do today?

 

Here's a list of upcoming events for the Interlaken and Brienz region.

5^th and the 26^th – Schloss Interlaken: Middle Ages dinner with theatre performance. Not your everyday supper either: food is served on wooden boards, drinks in earthenware mugs and you only get a spoon. Bring your own knife if you want, but forks are not allowed! Sign up ahead of time at: http://www.mittelalteressen-interlaken.ch/termine.htm or at the Tell Spiel in Interlaken. The evening costs CHF 98.- per person, but it is certainly a dinner you will never forget!

6^th – if you like to get up early, then here's the deal for you: the Wanderexpress to the Brienzer Rothorn. Leaving Brienz at 5 am, a perfect adventure for those who want to see the mountains waking up – call 033 952 22 22 for reservations (possible until 12:00 noon the day before). The trip will only be possible if the weather is good, so it's wise to ask when reserving.

Every Tuesday:

Folklore evening on the lake promenade in Brienz, from 8pm, entrance is free.

Want to try your hand at wood carving? Every Tuesday, from 6pm to 7.30pm Fuchs Holzschnitz in Hofstetten let you try your skills. Call Brienz Tourism 033 952 80 80 for more information and reservations.

Tuesday Market on Jungfraustrasse Interlaken from 8am to 5pm. A diverse market with interesting wares, worth a browse.

Every Wednesday:

From the 10^th of August: Guided tour of the Violin makers school in Brienz, 5pm. Call Brienz Tourism for more information: 033 952 80 80.

Guided tour of the village of Brienz. 9.30 – 11.30 am, meeting point is Brienz railway station. This two hour tour will give you a different view of this pretty lake side village, and is certainly worth taking time for. Call Brienz Tourism for more information: 033 952 80 80

The air force base at Unterbach opens its doors to visitors every Wednesday from 2pm, an interesting look behind the doors of one of Switzerland's alpine military bases. . Call Brienz Tourism for more information and reservations: 033 952 80 80

Until the 31st of August, Wednesdays – Heimatwerk Interlaken (Höheweg 115) is having a demonstration of bobbin lace making, from 3pm to 6pm. Bobbin lace making was once a common task in rural Switzerland but has sadly witnessed a decline in the past century but it has recently seen a revival of interest in this age old tradition. See history at work!

 

Every Thursday:

Ever wondered what a farmer does when the cows come home? Here's your chance to find out. From 4pm, the Heiniger farm shows you the work they do and gives you a chance to meet some of their animals. For reservations call, Brienz Tourism for more information: 033 952 80 80

 

Every Saturday and Sunday, the Lama Ranch Brienz takes visitors on a lama trekking tour into the mountains. There are 2 hour and 2 day tours on offer contact www.lama-ranch-brienz.ch for more information.