switzerland - food / wine tour?

[slamnation]

I have 3 - 4 days in switzerland, any suggestions on food / wine tours / cooking classes?

Also any good suggestions where to stay?
thanks!

[glbtrtr]

Tough question because there are hundreds of answers depending on your tastes, location, interests, when you will be there, etc.

I did a "one star" dining tour in Switz once, basing myself in a modest but great location Hotel Lotschberg in Interlaken and then went out everyday on my Swiss train pass and did 6 Michelin one star restaurants. Showed up without reservations, ordered the day's menu and had a fabulous experience. Plus learned a lot about all the multiple efficient connections you can make with the Swiss transportation system.

Highlights were the George Wenger in a tiny little town in the Swiss Jura called Noirmont, near La Choux de Fonds and the Bahnhof Hotel in Burgdorf near Bern. Burgdorf is an elegant sleeper of a little city that is not on anyone's tourism radar. It is the center for the Emmental Swiss Cheese industry and while that might sound like factories and smokestacks, think again. Cheesemaking is a pretty quiet industry and it brings in major money so think elegance, quiet taste and low-key and you have the picture of Burgdorf

Other restaurants were not as memorable but always fun to explore. Prices then ( a few years ago) ranged from $40-65 for the set menu - really not all that bad for 5-7 courses with lots of extras thrown in, as well as chats with the chef and staff who were intrigued with my dining mission and who were quite curious to learn about their colleagues restaurants.

Last year had a fabulous $400 for two lunch at Bruderholz near Basel Swizerland which is a wonderful little city that just about has it all, on a small scale for dining, hotels, old city walks, top rate arts and museums, cafes, and train access to surrounding interesting sites, easy access to Zurich airport and still has much of its medieval core intact without too many "modern" incursions on timeless charm that have taken place in other Swiss cities.

We stayed in the downtown Hotel Violin which was the former prison rather now incredibly turned into a boutique hotel of great charm but with funny quirks - restaurant here while highly popular was not all that great. Best meal in Basel itself is the Braunermutz in the same block as the hotel - old fashion beer hall type local restauarant and the saugages with roesti and onion gravy are worth a trip to Basel for that alone.

The Bruderholz (Hans Stucki - former chef deceased) restaurant is listed in 1000 Things To Do Before You Die - it was great, old world and probably easier to get into without reservations than other well-known restaurants. It is right across from the Studio Basel tram station from downtown - about a 20 minute excursion into a green sleepy little suburb of Basel - Alschwil at the end of the number 6 tram is another very lovely village to visit if you have a few days in Basel, along with the Rudolf Steiner institute in Dornach, and the famous museum at the other end of the number 6 tram in Riehen.

My favorite place to chill out when I have extended time in Switzerland is the Hotel Lindenhof in Brienz, on Lake Brienz, BernerOberland near Interlaken. This small charming town has escaped the hyper tourism of Interlaken yet has easy access to all the scenic wonders of this incredibly beautiful and accessible area. They have quirky little rooms and full board plans - we always get their weeklong half board plan with the Berner Oberland travel pass and do a lot of day hikes.

Even if you don't hike, there are great ways to access spectacular scenery linking with all the public transportation that takes you up to mountain tops for fabulous views. The food here is quite good, imaginative, artfully presented and varied, if not gourmet standards. The site of the hotel is stunning - lush gardens and picturesque lake side and village views, close to the steam train that goes up the Rothorn peak.
http://www.hotel-lindenhof.ch/

Hope this gets you started thinking and if you can give a few more clues about your interests, likes and dislikes maybe I can help you more.

[IFS2008]

My clear favorite is Gerard Rabaey in Montreux. Traditional world, world-class products impeccably prepared. He spezializes in sweatbreads, pigeon and puff pastry. A feast. I am not sure about cooking classes there.

Tatjana Gandits has taken over at Bruderholz in Basel and cooks interesting cross-over dishes with some Asian influence. Definitely a must if in Basel.

In Zurich, go to the Dolder Grand and experience Heiko Nieder's beautiful modern inspiring cuisine.

[girobike]

Great advice, both of you. Will remember both your opinions next time I'm headed that direction.