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")
(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!
Enjoy your cheese!
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