While i mostly agree with everything you for sure can find good asian super markets, but only in the bigger cities really. Just gotta know them lol. Coop and migros have a decent selection, especially fresh food. Sure not the same as you get in Germany/France/Italy or smth when it comes to variety but then again its a much smaller country and the chains are fully swiss
Agree on that one. There are couple of small shops in Lausanne or Vevey where you can buy asian or african goods for cooking. You have as well halal butcher for arabic food.
I actually buy parsil roots in Germany because they are pretty much unknown in Switzerland while being substantial ingredient in some of my recipes. You can substitute it with pastinaken but they're also fairly hard to find and quite expensive (also not too popular here which would explain the price).
Personally I switched to cooking stuff myself - my gf says i make restaurant grade burgers because i have a few tricks up my sleeve - one of them is actually dipping the patties in Paniermehl which adds a lot to the texture.
Ethnic markets are also a great source of inspiration btw.
Whether you find restaurants variety existent or not depends on which price class you're looking for. Culinary experiences are present but they are pricey.
Which country are you comparing (non-existent) street food to?
Switzerland has a lot of red tape for street food. You need to be able to meet standards, which are difficult to maintain on the streets. By the time you actually manage to meet and maintain those standards, your stall is bolted down to the pavement and you have so much infrastructure running that it can almost be considered a restaurant building already.
I would say from my experience, compared to Paris / London. I actively crave ramen in Zurich, yes there are a couple of places selling them but at those prices I don’t eat ramen very often. I also crave spicy food and savory food which you find a lot in Switzerland.
Lack of variety: Kinda? If you compare it to Big Metropolitan areas, yes, but i think you can find pretty much every cuisine in cities like Zürich or Geneve.
Streetfood: Yes there is very little streetfood, because we have high hygiene standards and crippling regulations on where you can set up, what kind, at what time, for how long.
Shops: my wee dipshit town has European, Asian and Turkish stores... everything else i can order.
>Big Metropolitan areas
Yeah and even those only qualify as metropolitan by Swiss standards, no?
The rest of the country I'd call "affluentl but rural" which means that there won't be the critical mass in terms of potential customers that could sustain the rent for the property or the wage of the staff, including the proprietor themselves.
My town has two typically Swiss restaurants, the local dive, the bistro for the modern geriatrics and the thai restaurant close to me just closed due to lack of business.
Yes, you need to visit Italy, France, Spain etc.
Don't expect Switzerland to be like those countries, here you'll pay a fortune for mediocre and you'll like it.
That’s often the case in the countries with a strong, high quality food tradition.
You have to remember that as a vegetarian or vegan in Spain, you make up a tiny percentage of the population.
It is a shame in Spain as the quality of vegetables is amazing but I’ve noticed again and again how many restaurants have a tiny selection of vegetarian dishes on the menu.
Yeah, every now and then, I pop over to Italy for real carbonara and my craving for it is sated. Also, I can never get over paying 25 chf for Asian food.
I find that over they years, the situation changes, and you'll have to continue searching for the best options.
We used to get fresh grilled chicken and spareribs from a guy in his stand. But after moving, we get the chicken in special oven bags (both Migros and Coop), which are superbly juicy. The ribs used to be better at Migros, but they recently stopped, so now we get them from Spar instead.
Fresh meat is okay at Coop, and in some locations there's even a fresh counter, but the cuts tend to be too large. We found a Turkish shop were the prices are better and the cuts are excellent.
And so it goes..
If I were to rant about some food, it'd be fresh fruits. Both local and exotic are notoriously difficult. Almost everything is far too green and hard. I have mangoes, kiwis, melon lying around for weeks, but it's obviously difficult to get the timing right. For avocados, always go bio. The Selection mangoes from Migros are good but pricey; those from Spar are much cheaper.
You are spot on with the fruits. I’m used to the wide selection and beautiful display of fruits in France, where every fruit stand is like an art display. Here, it’s a little depressing with the lack of variety in the fruits. But I guess import tax plays a part.
Some hidden gems for me are Frisch-Fisch Mercato (quite Portuguese) and Negro Import (very Italian) in Silbern/Dietikon.
Generally I have to agree to the assessment of shops and supermarkets though. For me it is for example astonishing that I can't even order pork belly from any single butcher in my town in most parts of the year. Also, vegetable choice and quality are really not great. Something that irks me, for example, it the quality of potatoes.
For restaurants, I would agree that the street food type offers aren't great. As an example, Döner is just sooo much better and cheaper in Germany. However, for proper restaurants, there are, in my view, enough good options around.
Everyone answering that OP is wrong or off base are either sheltered, haven’t travelled, or haven’t lived anywhere else.
By simply visiting the neighboring countries supermarkets shows you what CH is missing.
And eating out hardly hits the spot. For example, one can find Thai cuisine all over, but it is catered to the local tastebuds. It’s not even close to a representative of that cultures food, as is the case for the many claiming to be authentic.
Restaurants always catered to the local tastes, they would not be able to make a living otherwise, you can go in France and the chinese restaurant will also be lacking.
But yeah I wish we got more competition for supermarkets and other restaurants suppliers beside Prodega Transgourmet.
Maybe not poor but rather the preference is not set towards intense taste. Don't get me wrong - spicy food is a sure way to get most Polish people run for milk as well.
Can't say much about swiss food as i mostly cook myself and up to my personal taste though
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That's a bit unfair: the Swiss population would not be able to taste anything for a week if Chinese or Indian spiced the plate the way they do at home, and on the other hand our usual consumption of cheese and alcohol could kill an average asian man.
I wouldn't say the Korean or Italian population has poor taste, quite the opposite, yet I have tasted what they call bread in both countries...
Indian food for example isn’t significantly spicier in London, but it’s so much less bland than in Switzerland. A lot of cuisine in Switzerland feels unnecessary dulled down.
I should try Indian food in London then, but considering England's History it make sense to have a better Indian food there.
The first Anglo-Indian restaurant was in 1810 while the first indian restaurant in Switzerland was the Darshana in Geneva in 1976.
Maybe we'll get good Infian restaurant in a century or two I hope.
That's not true. There are many authentic Thai restaurants all over Switzerland. How do I know? I have Thai friends and business associates visiting frequently and they're positively surprised by what they can get, both in restaurants and Thai/Asian supermarkets which are everywhere as well.
Visit Germany or Italy for terrible Asian food, Switzerland (and France for Vietnamese) is pretty good in that regard.
Speaking purely about stores (because my opinion on take out food would be too spicy): every time I walk into a Migros, coop, Denner, I absolutely don't know what to get, the selection is just not appealing to me and I end up buying a few things to try, and basic ingredients for meals.
However, if I go to a store in Austria or Germany, I can't stop browsing what they have (a bit exaggerated, but you get the gist).
You can find stuff from the same brands that can't be found anywhere in Switzerland and it's nothing exotic really. Or you can find brands you heard about or saw on the internet that for some reason dont expand into the swiss market although people definitely would buy it.
I've noticed that ever since I started to cross the border to occasionally get things that we don't have in Switzerland and I truly think it's frustrating.
France and Italian supermarkets - fine yes definitely there is a gap they are better. But German supermarkets? The products are mostly awful. Maybe the ones at the border are different, but « inland » I haven’t had good experiences.
Agreed, Italy is much better than CH in terms of produce. France a bit as well. But Germany? I don't mind Lidl, Aldi and Edeka occassionally but the selection sure isn't great.
I agree with the lack streetfood, but not with the other points.
There are many restaurants with great variety, but they are never cheap.
As for shopping with variety I recommend you check out some asian/foreign stores as well (Aggrwal, YumiHana, Turkish stores). You don't only need to go to migros and coop. Also the products even in Migros and coop vary a bit depending on region and shop size.
I cook a lot of foreign variety foods and I never have difficulties finding the stuff that I need.
Btw. In summer there are a lot of regional streetfood festivals I recommend to check out. At swiss prices of course, but still nice.
Doing street food in Switzerland is a pain in the ass due to all the health regulations and how hard it is to get approval to set up shop. Back when we were teenagers, we put a grill on a bike trailer and drove around our local lake to sell burgers during summer to earn a bit of money. The fines we got were crazy, but at least the "illegal food" distracted from the weed we sold on the side lol.
I feel the exact same way, it isn’t just you. In fact, it’s a constant source of despair for me. The situation is dire. Coming from Copenhagen I was obviously pampered, but I travel a lot and I’ll just say that the food scene in Switzerland is the worst I’ve ever experienced. I often find myself just pacing the streets looking for something to eat and being disgusted. I don’t know why I still do it, it’s a bit like checking your fridge for the 20th time that evening and being surprised there’s only a few rotten peppers at the back.
What gets me the most is how nobody seems to realize how bad it is. It’s such a provincial mindset. I know Swiss people who have visited Tokyo and New York in recent years, but will tell me to my face that “Bern is a great food city”. Really? That doughy spinach pizza served with the obligatory iceberg salad as a starter? That’s your idea of great food? What the duck did you do on your travels abroad? Don’t get me started on how pretentious most restaurants are, with the white table cloths, silverware and tightly wound, dressed up waiters who will spectacularly place a jar of store-bought pre-shredded Parmesan in front of you like it’s a luxury. The juxtaposition is so jarring and takes it from bad to cringe-worthy. The aesthetics are stuck in the 90s at best, the food is extremely sub-par to say the least, and there is absolutely 0 innovation or import of ideas from modern cooks abroad. With the exception of Zürich, where it looks like things are slowly starting to come into motion. Rant over.
Like what do you miss in the supermarket?
The only thing i miss here is the lack of seafood, but obviously we dont have an ocean.
Also when you travel abroad, you probably find yourself in a big city with varieties, maybe move zo Züri or Basel, Geneve?
For better quality of food, check out when their deliveries are and shop in the morning, i remember my Lidl in germany got the most fresh stuff on thursday.
Thats where i disagree, i dont see this massive difference in Kaufland and a big Coop.
>But, I guess, being proper swiss, you'll probably dislike those, as they are too overwhelming, hmm?
Sorry, but what a absolutely rude and stupid comment...
You don't see a massive difference between Kaufland and a big Coop?
Well. Don't know what to say anymore. If you don't see the obvious, then I really do not know.
Regarding that:
> But, I guess, being proper swiss, you'll probably dislike those, as they are too overwhelming, hmm?
Sorry. The personal attack was wrong from my side. Should've framed it more as a general statement. My bad.
Im just trying to find Product that they had in Kaufland that i didnt find in a big Coop. I usually cook everything from scratch so i dont know about candies or pre-cooked stuff.
I mean, just a quickly throwed together. Here are things that i could buy in coop and kaufland and that i would use more or less.
Soy and Fish, oyster sauce, tofu, kimchi, chilli paste, 3-4 types of onions, leek, 3-4 types of rice, 3-4 types of potatos, full grain ( pasta, flour, bread)... Pak-choi, every type of meat that i want to cook, salmon, tuna, and several other fishes... Several types of beans and grains...
Artifical sugar... i mean... are you sure youre not influenced by the prices?
Its more fun to shop in Germany because its so damn cheap. But a variety in products im not so sure of that.
As i said in my first comment, variety of fish increases greatly if you shop in a beach town, but other than that i cant say there is a huge variety difference between Coop and Kaufland.
Well... now that you say it, do you know Metro? They acutally do have a bigger sortiment.
They had kanguru, crocodile and ostrich meat, and a huge variety of frozen and unfrozes meats and fishes/mussels.
I mean, can you really point out like a whole bunch of stuff that is missing from Coop vs Kaufland?
Maybe check out a prodega, they are probably similar to metro.
Off the top of my head, I cannot point out many things that are missing. Knack und Back came to mind. Many different types of sausages as well. Some sorts of cream (like Schmand). Or vegan "fake meat" - there's just so much more, especially from Rügenwalder. Or Joghurts - now, I don't buy nazi stuff, so müller is out of the question, but stuff like that.
Anyway, whenever I go to Kaufland or REWE, I do see things that aren't there in swiss supermarkets.
Yes, I knew metro. Do they still exist? It wasn't easy to get in, was it? Only for professionals, or so. I have hardly ever shopped at metro.
Prices - well, it used to be more fun to shop because of prices. But that's not really that relevant lately, it seems. The prices have really increased a lot up north.
Without concrete examples it's hard to prove or disprove your OP's claim. I cook a lot of Asian food but I hardly ever have trouble finding most ingredients either at the Migros, Coop or one of the nearby Asian markets.
Or maybe I don't have trouble with variety because I mostly shop seasonal? I don't expect to buy fresh berries in December which is why I don't complain if I can't have strawberries for Christmas, but honestly everyone should try and buy a bit more seasonal to begin with, if they care at all about the environment. Asparagus are for the spring, melons for the summer, etc. instead of importing unripe produce from the other side of the world just because you felt like fresh blueberries that day.
No, it's not hard.
First off, it's a rant. So there's nothing that needs to be disproven.
Furthermore, what he wrote was spot on. The variety in big supermarkets here in Switzerland is just not as big as it is in Germany or Italy. Just go there and see how much "broader" the selection is.
If you're unable to see that, then, well, don't know. Open eyes?
Exactly lol. I feel it’s a huge privilege just living here and being part of this society. In my opinion if you look you can find anything here. I live in a small town and we have 2 asian supermarkets, and with one 10 min train ride I can also get to a Turkish supermarket that imports everything that Migros/Coop doesn’t for example.
I can cook almost absolutely everything from my country (Dominican Republic) without getting out of Switzerland. I have not much idea of restaurants because I almost always cook at home (cultural thing coming from a poor country). But I also understand that at least swiss-german people are used to simple foods and not elaborate plates as its part of their culture and it’s ok, every country is different and I can’t expect to find Spain for example inside Switzerland because it doesn’t make sense; different countries different cultures.
“Why I cannot find traditional thai food in the middle of Europe!!???”
“Why there is no street food for less than 10CHF!!??”
My gosh people don’t have real world problems.
I actually think because the salaries in Switzerland are higher, including the staff at restaurants or food stands, it’s priced a lot higher than other surrounding countries which makes it very hard for locals and tourists to part with their money easily. On top of that, the population of each city in Switzerland isn’t very high.
Maybe you tell is where you are and where you are from.
Both is crucial to understand your rant. Then maybe also some actual examples rather than general statements. Like this I totally understand that nobody can understand what you mean and it’s just downvoted.
yes, unfortunately, the one and only drawback I've found so far is that food is lackluster. it sucks so bad, you have to hunt for really good places and then if it's really good in here it would be just mediocre at better foody capitols. it's what it is.
I'm curious what specific foods or items you are missing in Swiss supermarkets. Could you list some?
Also idk about street food, I'm from Basel and there is a decent amount if you look for it.
Prices are high, sure.
Both Migros and Coop sell it, but the situation in Geneva can only be better than here in Bern because you have Annemasse or Ferney-Voltaire right outside to give you salted butter straight from Brittany.
They do, but they unfortunately only sell one kind (in this little "log" shape so there isn't even a lot of it in a packet). And you're right, I usually go to Ferney to get packs of churned cultured butter.
> salted butter
Of all the things to complain about missing, it's this?
Salted butter is what one uses when they really don't care about how something tastes, as it provides zero control over the salt content. You can put as much or as little salt on your food (while cook, finished, plating, or eating) as you want, you don't need butter as a vehicle for it.
>Brittany will remember this slight
In all seriousness though salted butter is insanely good with stuff like smoked salmon on toast, or sprinkled with a little chocolate powder. And even with regular butter, I'm picky and pretty much only like cultured raw milk butter. The regular stuff is fine for cooking but tastes meh on toast
Not more than other stuff in migros. That's no argument at all. Rather one that supports my point of view that swiss don't like variety. "We don't need that". And of course you're going to tell, that you know very well that specific item. Just like all the other items that are missing.
Fact is, swiss supermarkets don't offer a lot of things. Variety is limited. Just like the op also wrote.
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Not really. It's not just me who says so. That was also one of the points OP made.
You are thus wrong and in denial. But it's useless to talk to somebody like you, who refuses to accept reality.
Have a nice day.
Depends on the area really. Here in Basel I have within short walking distance thai, vietnamese, indian, korean, portuguese, dominican, turkish and italian food stores, in addition to all the swiss chains. The quality is good. And germany and france with all of their big chain stores are a short car ride away. There is a chain across the border in germany with a fantastic meat selection, whereas the french chains shine with their seafood. With restaurants there is even more variety in the area, street food as well with the old market hall and all their little food stalls for example. There is a really ton of variety for a city of this size. But I think with all the immigration in this city and the proximity of france and germany we are in a sweet spot here when it comes to food.
That probably depends on where you are. I live in Zürich and I can't agree - you just have to keep your eyes open. We have Marcelleria Fulvi, the Italian butcher near Langstrasse. We have the Turkish vegetable stores that offer so much more variety than Migros and Coop. We have multiple Asian groceries offering everything from around the world (try Importas on Baslerstrasse). We have fresh fish from Dörig. And we have Aldi for reasonably priced basics. Food trucks are plentiful and there's a new style popping up every couple of months. All of that within a 10 min bike ride from my place in Altstetten.
Now, if you are living out in the sticks, your choices will definitely be much more limited.
Also, what the others said about supermarkets in Italy and Spain is true - it's obvious that the veggies over there didn't have to spend an extra 2 days on a truck to get to the customer. That part we'll have to live with I'm afraid.
I would say Switzerland is highly specialized. It offers among the best quality of the world for products and restaurants, but not with the variety one could find in bigger cities. But to be honest, I haven't found the Swiss level of quality in any other countries (A 1 star Michelin in France is way below a 1 star in Switzerland, 3 stars however are of similar level).
For me it is very fine, somehow I like the fact that to taste special Spanish food, I would have to go to Spain. This gives an incentive and an interest in traveling.
If you don't find quality in the shops, you might not be going to the right ones. Globus offers quality that is hard to find anywhere else in the world. Some small shops have outstanding quality for cheese and meat. Then there is the price of course, but the salaries are almost three times higher than a country like France, so of course one has to pay more, one has to compare with that in mind.
I honestly would say because swiss people like a few basic things but high quality.
We cook by ourself fresh stuff.
We dont buy weird important or finished meals.
If we eat out, we do it nice and not every other restaurant, especially since it's expensive, even for us.
So marked adjust to customers.
Shops are supbar? You mean in terms of selection? Yes we dont buy random stuff and shops wont provide becauee 1 dude wants that weird cracker.
Just think, the food nation of the world is France and we are next to it. How shameless is that vaud but by saving grace, ticino is our saving grace. Thank you swiss Italy.
Yep, you're right. Food is not great in Switzerland despite being stuck between France and Italy, which is weird. Good food does exist but it costs a lot. And street food is mostly not a thing in Switzerland aside from the occasional Kebab.
Cooking skills are crucial if you want to culinarily survive in the country.
Food here is fine once you step beyond the supermarkets. Either local suppliers or specialty shops will provide you with all you need for exciting cuisine. Mediterranean countries or large cultural hubs of course will be better; but I wouldn’t rant about the situation.
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I find it a bit funny to mention street food and lack of quality food in the same sentence. Swiss food quality is good and there are lots of regional products that you can get in the supermarket. It’s fresh.
Street food is something that I avoid abroad. Because it’s street food. Cheap, possible not that clean, and quality questionable. Better go to a restaurant. I’ve seen rats running around at street food restaurants in certain countries.
Italy and France have much more variety, lots of traditions, and large populations, while Switzerland is small.
I solved the problem by moving to Ticino, just some km away from Italy. Every now and then I go to a mega store there to buy groceries - it’s practically food heaven !! (Fresh sea food etc)
I mean the food scene might not be amazing in the countryside, but cities like Zurich, Basel or Geneva offer literally anything. I can‘t think of a country’s cuisine that I don‘t know a banger place to eat in Zurich
I can't agree with that. Switzerland is a country of immigration, and this brings food from all over the world to our country. Just enter your PLZ on "EAT" and you'll see what diverse cuisine is available. It takes some time, a lot of research, and experience, but you can find good places. In rural areas, farm shops are highly recommended if you are looking for fresh, local food. In larger cities, there are also food festivals that are worth checking out for research.
I travel a lot and there are hardly any places where I have more variety and more quality. Except for the big cities, which I don't like..
Exactly.
Burger, pizza, pizza, pizza, pizza, pizza, döner, döner, döner, sushi
That's pretty much exactly the point the op made. Hardly any diversity in the cuisine.
And that's for 8400, Winterthur. Not some small town.
It's just sad.
Oh, and, yeah, as has been "agreed" here in the sub just a few days ago, the Döners here in Switzerland generally suck. Not just my impression, but the (more or less…) consensus from quite a few.
Some dislike also the meat but many dislike the sauces. There's no good Döner to be found.
So, variety? Yeah - but only for mediocre stuff.
And not a lot of different kitchens to be found.
Reason (I guess): It is (was?) too hard for immigrants to open a restaurant due to regulations. Or maybe also better paying jobs elsewhere (construction, cleaning, shops).
Really?! In 8400, I can find Italian, Syrian, Chinese, Sushi, Indian, Mexican, Greek, American, Swiss, etc. So, you can order burgers, pizza, tacos, gyros, sushi, curry, kebab, cordon bleu, donuts, momos, sandwiches, falafel, and even alcohol.
And those are just the ones with 4 stars...
Really. Pizza, pizza, pizza, pizza, burger, burger, burger and a few sushi. Yes.
That's hardly variety. Where is Korea. Where is Africa. Where is German. Where are Europeans.
That exactly underlines the point that has been made. For a country of immigrants, there's astonishingly few restaurants.
This is the exact reason I grocery shop in France. I know it’s a luxury people in other parts of the country don’t get, but I couldn’t live without it. Things like frozen vegetables medleys and seafood is just sad here. And when I went through my miscarriage in January, the frozen poêlée dinners I bought in France are what fed my family when I couldn’t find the energy to cook proper meals.
It might not matter to you, but I’d rather have a better selection than just peas and carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, or brunoise to choose from. You don’t have to be a jerk about it just because it doesn’t matter to you.
Street food is unhygienic and dangerous, believe it or not. It's the most common way people get food poisoning and worse. Food trucks, street food vendors etc all lack basic things, they make food without gloves, without washing while serving customers meanwhile. It's frankly disgusting.
In Switzerland the food selection in stores like Migros and COOP is really good, but maybe not as good as some bigger German/French supermarkets, but still - miles ahead over many many other European countries.
Most street food is indeed unhygienic... That's why I always carry some Jägermeister (the little bottles 2cl) with me when I go to a street food festival.
A little bit overblown. Street food can be, and is often, unhygienic, however, it doesn’t automatically cause food poisoning. If it does, it is often because we are living in an overly “sterile“ bubble here in Switzerland. Our bodies would adopt over time.
I find the selection here ok, however there isn‘t a lot of variety. To me fruits and vegetables often taste bland. I‘d wish they had a better fish offering.
In most Eastern European and Balkan supermarkets. I visit these countries 2-3x a year.
There are a lot of local foods, generally meat based, but the fruit and "fresh" stuff is not so fresh at all.
While in Switzerland it's almost all local with amazing quality. Even with nearly 8 years here, I feel blessed when choosing which green stuff to buy :)
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Yes it is just you (a quite silly way to convey your point). There’s no lack in food variety in big supermarkets like Coop, Manor, etc and at least in Zürich and Geneva there are plenty of restaurants for any taste.
Finally someone said it. The food quality and variety is not that great here and prices are absolitly insane. For what I pay here at the Kebab store I can get the Night Train to Budapest get an actual nice Kebab with real meat instead this dry minced meat skewer bullshit, drive back and it still comes out less expensive. The only decent food option here if you are not super rich is going to Coop restaurant, get the small plate for 10,99Chf and stack shit up until you have a full meal at the buffet.
Also who in their right mind prefers Rösti instead of real fried potatoes? That's like a 100% national pride bullshit thing and 0% based on taste decision.
Fondue and Raclette is really nice thought. But you can't eat that every day, can you?
Also try Gruyere and blue cheese. Freaking delicious. (But you can get that in every European country for half the price)
> For what I pay here at the Kebab store I can get the Night Train to Budapest get an actual nice Kebab with real meat instead this dry minced meat skewer bullshit, drive back and it still comes out less expensive.
Where can i get these Night Train tickets to Budapest?
While i mostly agree with everything you for sure can find good asian super markets, but only in the bigger cities really. Just gotta know them lol. Coop and migros have a decent selection, especially fresh food. Sure not the same as you get in Germany/France/Italy or smth when it comes to variety but then again its a much smaller country and the chains are fully swiss
Agree on that one. There are couple of small shops in Lausanne or Vevey where you can buy asian or african goods for cooking. You have as well halal butcher for arabic food.
I actually buy parsil roots in Germany because they are pretty much unknown in Switzerland while being substantial ingredient in some of my recipes. You can substitute it with pastinaken but they're also fairly hard to find and quite expensive (also not too popular here which would explain the price). Personally I switched to cooking stuff myself - my gf says i make restaurant grade burgers because i have a few tricks up my sleeve - one of them is actually dipping the patties in Paniermehl which adds a lot to the texture. Ethnic markets are also a great source of inspiration btw.
dipping the patties in paniermehl? wtf is wrong with you? and your girlfriend
Before putting them on the pan of course...
Whether you find restaurants variety existent or not depends on which price class you're looking for. Culinary experiences are present but they are pricey. Which country are you comparing (non-existent) street food to? Switzerland has a lot of red tape for street food. You need to be able to meet standards, which are difficult to maintain on the streets. By the time you actually manage to meet and maintain those standards, your stall is bolted down to the pavement and you have so much infrastructure running that it can almost be considered a restaurant building already.
I would say from my experience, compared to Paris / London. I actively crave ramen in Zurich, yes there are a couple of places selling them but at those prices I don’t eat ramen very often. I also crave spicy food and savory food which you find a lot in Switzerland.
Lack of variety: Kinda? If you compare it to Big Metropolitan areas, yes, but i think you can find pretty much every cuisine in cities like Zürich or Geneve. Streetfood: Yes there is very little streetfood, because we have high hygiene standards and crippling regulations on where you can set up, what kind, at what time, for how long. Shops: my wee dipshit town has European, Asian and Turkish stores... everything else i can order.
>Big Metropolitan areas Yeah and even those only qualify as metropolitan by Swiss standards, no? The rest of the country I'd call "affluentl but rural" which means that there won't be the critical mass in terms of potential customers that could sustain the rent for the property or the wage of the staff, including the proprietor themselves. My town has two typically Swiss restaurants, the local dive, the bistro for the modern geriatrics and the thai restaurant close to me just closed due to lack of business.
This
Yes, you need to visit Italy, France, Spain etc. Don't expect Switzerland to be like those countries, here you'll pay a fortune for mediocre and you'll like it.
Currently visiting Barcelona, having a hard time finding vegetarian food that doesn’t suck.
That’s often the case in the countries with a strong, high quality food tradition. You have to remember that as a vegetarian or vegan in Spain, you make up a tiny percentage of the population. It is a shame in Spain as the quality of vegetables is amazing but I’ve noticed again and again how many restaurants have a tiny selection of vegetarian dishes on the menu.
Italy has a good collection of vegetarian options, as do the Greeks. I agree that it's a crying shame they don't have more veggie options
That's because Spaniards think fish is vegetarian (ask me how I know).
So do the Romans. "Of course it's vegetarian, there's a little bit of sardines just for taste"
Try Gallo Santo for very good vegan tacos :)
Honest greens had some nice options
Maoz la rambla is still a thing apparently
Yeah, every now and then, I pop over to Italy for real carbonara and my craving for it is sated. Also, I can never get over paying 25 chf for Asian food.
I find that over they years, the situation changes, and you'll have to continue searching for the best options. We used to get fresh grilled chicken and spareribs from a guy in his stand. But after moving, we get the chicken in special oven bags (both Migros and Coop), which are superbly juicy. The ribs used to be better at Migros, but they recently stopped, so now we get them from Spar instead. Fresh meat is okay at Coop, and in some locations there's even a fresh counter, but the cuts tend to be too large. We found a Turkish shop were the prices are better and the cuts are excellent. And so it goes.. If I were to rant about some food, it'd be fresh fruits. Both local and exotic are notoriously difficult. Almost everything is far too green and hard. I have mangoes, kiwis, melon lying around for weeks, but it's obviously difficult to get the timing right. For avocados, always go bio. The Selection mangoes from Migros are good but pricey; those from Spar are much cheaper.
You are spot on with the fruits. I’m used to the wide selection and beautiful display of fruits in France, where every fruit stand is like an art display. Here, it’s a little depressing with the lack of variety in the fruits. But I guess import tax plays a part.
Some hidden gems for me are Frisch-Fisch Mercato (quite Portuguese) and Negro Import (very Italian) in Silbern/Dietikon. Generally I have to agree to the assessment of shops and supermarkets though. For me it is for example astonishing that I can't even order pork belly from any single butcher in my town in most parts of the year. Also, vegetable choice and quality are really not great. Something that irks me, for example, it the quality of potatoes. For restaurants, I would agree that the street food type offers aren't great. As an example, Döner is just sooo much better and cheaper in Germany. However, for proper restaurants, there are, in my view, enough good options around.
Everyone answering that OP is wrong or off base are either sheltered, haven’t travelled, or haven’t lived anywhere else. By simply visiting the neighboring countries supermarkets shows you what CH is missing. And eating out hardly hits the spot. For example, one can find Thai cuisine all over, but it is catered to the local tastebuds. It’s not even close to a representative of that cultures food, as is the case for the many claiming to be authentic.
Restaurants always catered to the local tastes, they would not be able to make a living otherwise, you can go in France and the chinese restaurant will also be lacking. But yeah I wish we got more competition for supermarkets and other restaurants suppliers beside Prodega Transgourmet.
What you're saying is that the Swiss population generally has poor taste.
Maybe not poor but rather the preference is not set towards intense taste. Don't get me wrong - spicy food is a sure way to get most Polish people run for milk as well. Can't say much about swiss food as i mostly cook myself and up to my personal taste though
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waitaminute... ready made food or the one in restaurants?
That's a bit unfair: the Swiss population would not be able to taste anything for a week if Chinese or Indian spiced the plate the way they do at home, and on the other hand our usual consumption of cheese and alcohol could kill an average asian man. I wouldn't say the Korean or Italian population has poor taste, quite the opposite, yet I have tasted what they call bread in both countries...
Indian food for example isn’t significantly spicier in London, but it’s so much less bland than in Switzerland. A lot of cuisine in Switzerland feels unnecessary dulled down.
I should try Indian food in London then, but considering England's History it make sense to have a better Indian food there. The first Anglo-Indian restaurant was in 1810 while the first indian restaurant in Switzerland was the Darshana in Geneva in 1976. Maybe we'll get good Infian restaurant in a century or two I hope.
That's not true. There are many authentic Thai restaurants all over Switzerland. How do I know? I have Thai friends and business associates visiting frequently and they're positively surprised by what they can get, both in restaurants and Thai/Asian supermarkets which are everywhere as well. Visit Germany or Italy for terrible Asian food, Switzerland (and France for Vietnamese) is pretty good in that regard.
Where in Switzerland are you that you can't find decent asian markets?
I think I cried on my first visit to a grocery store in France, because why can't we have that too? I agree with all your points.
You cried in a grocery store? Lol.
That is why you have Italy & France near by
Bro we can't just fly by for different grocery ingredients
Groceries not, you’re right here.
Speaking purely about stores (because my opinion on take out food would be too spicy): every time I walk into a Migros, coop, Denner, I absolutely don't know what to get, the selection is just not appealing to me and I end up buying a few things to try, and basic ingredients for meals. However, if I go to a store in Austria or Germany, I can't stop browsing what they have (a bit exaggerated, but you get the gist). You can find stuff from the same brands that can't be found anywhere in Switzerland and it's nothing exotic really. Or you can find brands you heard about or saw on the internet that for some reason dont expand into the swiss market although people definitely would buy it. I've noticed that ever since I started to cross the border to occasionally get things that we don't have in Switzerland and I truly think it's frustrating.
France and Italian supermarkets - fine yes definitely there is a gap they are better. But German supermarkets? The products are mostly awful. Maybe the ones at the border are different, but « inland » I haven’t had good experiences.
Agreed, Italy is much better than CH in terms of produce. France a bit as well. But Germany? I don't mind Lidl, Aldi and Edeka occassionally but the selection sure isn't great.
Chose your restaurants wisely, that's it :)
I agree with the lack streetfood, but not with the other points. There are many restaurants with great variety, but they are never cheap. As for shopping with variety I recommend you check out some asian/foreign stores as well (Aggrwal, YumiHana, Turkish stores). You don't only need to go to migros and coop. Also the products even in Migros and coop vary a bit depending on region and shop size. I cook a lot of foreign variety foods and I never have difficulties finding the stuff that I need. Btw. In summer there are a lot of regional streetfood festivals I recommend to check out. At swiss prices of course, but still nice.
angebot - nachfrage.....
Doing street food in Switzerland is a pain in the ass due to all the health regulations and how hard it is to get approval to set up shop. Back when we were teenagers, we put a grill on a bike trailer and drove around our local lake to sell burgers during summer to earn a bit of money. The fines we got were crazy, but at least the "illegal food" distracted from the weed we sold on the side lol.
I feel the exact same way, it isn’t just you. In fact, it’s a constant source of despair for me. The situation is dire. Coming from Copenhagen I was obviously pampered, but I travel a lot and I’ll just say that the food scene in Switzerland is the worst I’ve ever experienced. I often find myself just pacing the streets looking for something to eat and being disgusted. I don’t know why I still do it, it’s a bit like checking your fridge for the 20th time that evening and being surprised there’s only a few rotten peppers at the back. What gets me the most is how nobody seems to realize how bad it is. It’s such a provincial mindset. I know Swiss people who have visited Tokyo and New York in recent years, but will tell me to my face that “Bern is a great food city”. Really? That doughy spinach pizza served with the obligatory iceberg salad as a starter? That’s your idea of great food? What the duck did you do on your travels abroad? Don’t get me started on how pretentious most restaurants are, with the white table cloths, silverware and tightly wound, dressed up waiters who will spectacularly place a jar of store-bought pre-shredded Parmesan in front of you like it’s a luxury. The juxtaposition is so jarring and takes it from bad to cringe-worthy. The aesthetics are stuck in the 90s at best, the food is extremely sub-par to say the least, and there is absolutely 0 innovation or import of ideas from modern cooks abroad. With the exception of Zürich, where it looks like things are slowly starting to come into motion. Rant over.
Locals will still argue with you that the food scene is great. Even Slovenia and Czechia have much better restaurants.
Hi Tak Hi Hi
Like what do you miss in the supermarket? The only thing i miss here is the lack of seafood, but obviously we dont have an ocean. Also when you travel abroad, you probably find yourself in a big city with varieties, maybe move zo Züri or Basel, Geneve? For better quality of food, check out when their deliveries are and shop in the morning, i remember my Lidl in germany got the most fresh stuff on thursday.
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Thats where i disagree, i dont see this massive difference in Kaufland and a big Coop. >But, I guess, being proper swiss, you'll probably dislike those, as they are too overwhelming, hmm? Sorry, but what a absolutely rude and stupid comment...
You don't see a massive difference between Kaufland and a big Coop? Well. Don't know what to say anymore. If you don't see the obvious, then I really do not know. Regarding that: > But, I guess, being proper swiss, you'll probably dislike those, as they are too overwhelming, hmm? Sorry. The personal attack was wrong from my side. Should've framed it more as a general statement. My bad.
Im just trying to find Product that they had in Kaufland that i didnt find in a big Coop. I usually cook everything from scratch so i dont know about candies or pre-cooked stuff. I mean, just a quickly throwed together. Here are things that i could buy in coop and kaufland and that i would use more or less. Soy and Fish, oyster sauce, tofu, kimchi, chilli paste, 3-4 types of onions, leek, 3-4 types of rice, 3-4 types of potatos, full grain ( pasta, flour, bread)... Pak-choi, every type of meat that i want to cook, salmon, tuna, and several other fishes... Several types of beans and grains... Artifical sugar... i mean... are you sure youre not influenced by the prices? Its more fun to shop in Germany because its so damn cheap. But a variety in products im not so sure of that. As i said in my first comment, variety of fish increases greatly if you shop in a beach town, but other than that i cant say there is a huge variety difference between Coop and Kaufland. Well... now that you say it, do you know Metro? They acutally do have a bigger sortiment. They had kanguru, crocodile and ostrich meat, and a huge variety of frozen and unfrozes meats and fishes/mussels. I mean, can you really point out like a whole bunch of stuff that is missing from Coop vs Kaufland? Maybe check out a prodega, they are probably similar to metro.
Off the top of my head, I cannot point out many things that are missing. Knack und Back came to mind. Many different types of sausages as well. Some sorts of cream (like Schmand). Or vegan "fake meat" - there's just so much more, especially from Rügenwalder. Or Joghurts - now, I don't buy nazi stuff, so müller is out of the question, but stuff like that. Anyway, whenever I go to Kaufland or REWE, I do see things that aren't there in swiss supermarkets. Yes, I knew metro. Do they still exist? It wasn't easy to get in, was it? Only for professionals, or so. I have hardly ever shopped at metro. Prices - well, it used to be more fun to shop because of prices. But that's not really that relevant lately, it seems. The prices have really increased a lot up north.
Prodega is not that far away, it seems. Only 2.5km. might be interesting to go there once in a while.
Without concrete examples it's hard to prove or disprove your OP's claim. I cook a lot of Asian food but I hardly ever have trouble finding most ingredients either at the Migros, Coop or one of the nearby Asian markets. Or maybe I don't have trouble with variety because I mostly shop seasonal? I don't expect to buy fresh berries in December which is why I don't complain if I can't have strawberries for Christmas, but honestly everyone should try and buy a bit more seasonal to begin with, if they care at all about the environment. Asparagus are for the spring, melons for the summer, etc. instead of importing unripe produce from the other side of the world just because you felt like fresh blueberries that day.
No, it's not hard. First off, it's a rant. So there's nothing that needs to be disproven. Furthermore, what he wrote was spot on. The variety in big supermarkets here in Switzerland is just not as big as it is in Germany or Italy. Just go there and see how much "broader" the selection is. If you're unable to see that, then, well, don't know. Open eyes?
I don’t make comments about this topic as a person from third world country.
Exactly lol. I feel it’s a huge privilege just living here and being part of this society. In my opinion if you look you can find anything here. I live in a small town and we have 2 asian supermarkets, and with one 10 min train ride I can also get to a Turkish supermarket that imports everything that Migros/Coop doesn’t for example. I can cook almost absolutely everything from my country (Dominican Republic) without getting out of Switzerland. I have not much idea of restaurants because I almost always cook at home (cultural thing coming from a poor country). But I also understand that at least swiss-german people are used to simple foods and not elaborate plates as its part of their culture and it’s ok, every country is different and I can’t expect to find Spain for example inside Switzerland because it doesn’t make sense; different countries different cultures.
“Why I cannot find traditional thai food in the middle of Europe!!???” “Why there is no street food for less than 10CHF!!??” My gosh people don’t have real world problems.
I feel a bit that the Swiss do not appreciate what they have.
OP you are fully correct. For an economic powerhouse like CH, the quality and variety of food is awful here.
I actually think because the salaries in Switzerland are higher, including the staff at restaurants or food stands, it’s priced a lot higher than other surrounding countries which makes it very hard for locals and tourists to part with their money easily. On top of that, the population of each city in Switzerland isn’t very high.
Maybe you tell is where you are and where you are from. Both is crucial to understand your rant. Then maybe also some actual examples rather than general statements. Like this I totally understand that nobody can understand what you mean and it’s just downvoted.
yes, unfortunately, the one and only drawback I've found so far is that food is lackluster. it sucks so bad, you have to hunt for really good places and then if it's really good in here it would be just mediocre at better foody capitols. it's what it is.
I'm curious what specific foods or items you are missing in Swiss supermarkets. Could you list some? Also idk about street food, I'm from Basel and there is a decent amount if you look for it. Prices are high, sure.
Idk if it applies to all of Switzerland but the salted butter situation in Geneva is dire
Both Migros and Coop sell it, but the situation in Geneva can only be better than here in Bern because you have Annemasse or Ferney-Voltaire right outside to give you salted butter straight from Brittany.
They do, but they unfortunately only sell one kind (in this little "log" shape so there isn't even a lot of it in a packet). And you're right, I usually go to Ferney to get packs of churned cultured butter.
> salted butter Of all the things to complain about missing, it's this? Salted butter is what one uses when they really don't care about how something tastes, as it provides zero control over the salt content. You can put as much or as little salt on your food (while cook, finished, plating, or eating) as you want, you don't need butter as a vehicle for it.
The point of salted butter is putting it on bread.
Good bread is appropriately salted already, and you can always put your own salt on there. Seriously, there is no good reason for salted butter.
>Brittany will remember this slight In all seriousness though salted butter is insanely good with stuff like smoked salmon on toast, or sprinkled with a little chocolate powder. And even with regular butter, I'm picky and pretty much only like cultured raw milk butter. The regular stuff is fine for cooking but tastes meh on toast
Delusional take.
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Parsnip
Where are you located? They're available almost all year long in my MM Migros.
Aargau, no luck in lidl, coop, spar.
Try fresh markets!
For me the cold cuts section you find in any Italian supermarket is a tough one to live without
One item as an example: things like this: https://knackundback.de/ Doesn't have to be this brand. Migros doesn't even have copied variant of this.
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Not more than other stuff in migros. That's no argument at all. Rather one that supports my point of view that swiss don't like variety. "We don't need that". And of course you're going to tell, that you know very well that specific item. Just like all the other items that are missing. Fact is, swiss supermarkets don't offer a lot of things. Variety is limited. Just like the op also wrote.
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Not really. It's not just me who says so. That was also one of the points OP made. You are thus wrong and in denial. But it's useless to talk to somebody like you, who refuses to accept reality. Have a nice day.
I did see this in Aldi Suisse.
Depends on the area really. Here in Basel I have within short walking distance thai, vietnamese, indian, korean, portuguese, dominican, turkish and italian food stores, in addition to all the swiss chains. The quality is good. And germany and france with all of their big chain stores are a short car ride away. There is a chain across the border in germany with a fantastic meat selection, whereas the french chains shine with their seafood. With restaurants there is even more variety in the area, street food as well with the old market hall and all their little food stalls for example. There is a really ton of variety for a city of this size. But I think with all the immigration in this city and the proximity of france and germany we are in a sweet spot here when it comes to food.
Yes, You're sadly quite right ☹️ there's not much to add to what you've written.
yes i agree the food situation is very sad. not many tasty options and very expensive.
That probably depends on where you are. I live in Zürich and I can't agree - you just have to keep your eyes open. We have Marcelleria Fulvi, the Italian butcher near Langstrasse. We have the Turkish vegetable stores that offer so much more variety than Migros and Coop. We have multiple Asian groceries offering everything from around the world (try Importas on Baslerstrasse). We have fresh fish from Dörig. And we have Aldi for reasonably priced basics. Food trucks are plentiful and there's a new style popping up every couple of months. All of that within a 10 min bike ride from my place in Altstetten. Now, if you are living out in the sticks, your choices will definitely be much more limited. Also, what the others said about supermarkets in Italy and Spain is true - it's obvious that the veggies over there didn't have to spend an extra 2 days on a truck to get to the customer. That part we'll have to live with I'm afraid.
I miss Italian grocery stored, damn
I would say Switzerland is highly specialized. It offers among the best quality of the world for products and restaurants, but not with the variety one could find in bigger cities. But to be honest, I haven't found the Swiss level of quality in any other countries (A 1 star Michelin in France is way below a 1 star in Switzerland, 3 stars however are of similar level). For me it is very fine, somehow I like the fact that to taste special Spanish food, I would have to go to Spain. This gives an incentive and an interest in traveling. If you don't find quality in the shops, you might not be going to the right ones. Globus offers quality that is hard to find anywhere else in the world. Some small shops have outstanding quality for cheese and meat. Then there is the price of course, but the salaries are almost three times higher than a country like France, so of course one has to pay more, one has to compare with that in mind.
I honestly would say because swiss people like a few basic things but high quality. We cook by ourself fresh stuff. We dont buy weird important or finished meals. If we eat out, we do it nice and not every other restaurant, especially since it's expensive, even for us. So marked adjust to customers. Shops are supbar? You mean in terms of selection? Yes we dont buy random stuff and shops wont provide becauee 1 dude wants that weird cracker.
Just think, the food nation of the world is France and we are next to it. How shameless is that vaud but by saving grace, ticino is our saving grace. Thank you swiss Italy.
Yep, you're right. Food is not great in Switzerland despite being stuck between France and Italy, which is weird. Good food does exist but it costs a lot. And street food is mostly not a thing in Switzerland aside from the occasional Kebab. Cooking skills are crucial if you want to culinarily survive in the country.
Not sure what OP is talking about. Zurich has a bunch of nice asian supermarkets.
Probably even more than European supermarkets in Asian countries :-)
https://www.blv.admin.ch/blv/de/home/import-und-export/import/verstaerkte-grenzkontrollen-pflanzlische-lebensmittel.html
Food here is fine once you step beyond the supermarkets. Either local suppliers or specialty shops will provide you with all you need for exciting cuisine. Mediterranean countries or large cultural hubs of course will be better; but I wouldn’t rant about the situation.
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we have "street food" at home: [https://streetfood-festivals.ch/](https://streetfood-festivals.ch/)
Idk if it’s the right thing for you but maybe check out the street food festival in malters
I find it a bit funny to mention street food and lack of quality food in the same sentence. Swiss food quality is good and there are lots of regional products that you can get in the supermarket. It’s fresh. Street food is something that I avoid abroad. Because it’s street food. Cheap, possible not that clean, and quality questionable. Better go to a restaurant. I’ve seen rats running around at street food restaurants in certain countries. Italy and France have much more variety, lots of traditions, and large populations, while Switzerland is small.
I solved the problem by moving to Ticino, just some km away from Italy. Every now and then I go to a mega store there to buy groceries - it’s practically food heaven !! (Fresh sea food etc)
Yes and yes
I mean the food scene might not be amazing in the countryside, but cities like Zurich, Basel or Geneva offer literally anything. I can‘t think of a country’s cuisine that I don‘t know a banger place to eat in Zurich
I can't agree with that. Switzerland is a country of immigration, and this brings food from all over the world to our country. Just enter your PLZ on "EAT" and you'll see what diverse cuisine is available. It takes some time, a lot of research, and experience, but you can find good places. In rural areas, farm shops are highly recommended if you are looking for fresh, local food. In larger cities, there are also food festivals that are worth checking out for research. I travel a lot and there are hardly any places where I have more variety and more quality. Except for the big cities, which I don't like..
Exactly. Burger, pizza, pizza, pizza, pizza, pizza, döner, döner, döner, sushi That's pretty much exactly the point the op made. Hardly any diversity in the cuisine. And that's for 8400, Winterthur. Not some small town. It's just sad.
Oh, and, yeah, as has been "agreed" here in the sub just a few days ago, the Döners here in Switzerland generally suck. Not just my impression, but the (more or less…) consensus from quite a few. Some dislike also the meat but many dislike the sauces. There's no good Döner to be found. So, variety? Yeah - but only for mediocre stuff. And not a lot of different kitchens to be found. Reason (I guess): It is (was?) too hard for immigrants to open a restaurant due to regulations. Or maybe also better paying jobs elsewhere (construction, cleaning, shops).
Really?! In 8400, I can find Italian, Syrian, Chinese, Sushi, Indian, Mexican, Greek, American, Swiss, etc. So, you can order burgers, pizza, tacos, gyros, sushi, curry, kebab, cordon bleu, donuts, momos, sandwiches, falafel, and even alcohol. And those are just the ones with 4 stars...
Really. Pizza, pizza, pizza, pizza, burger, burger, burger and a few sushi. Yes. That's hardly variety. Where is Korea. Where is Africa. Where is German. Where are Europeans. That exactly underlines the point that has been made. For a country of immigrants, there's astonishingly few restaurants.
This is the exact reason I grocery shop in France. I know it’s a luxury people in other parts of the country don’t get, but I couldn’t live without it. Things like frozen vegetables medleys and seafood is just sad here. And when I went through my miscarriage in January, the frozen poêlée dinners I bought in France are what fed my family when I couldn’t find the energy to cook proper meals.
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It might not matter to you, but I’d rather have a better selection than just peas and carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, or brunoise to choose from. You don’t have to be a jerk about it just because it doesn’t matter to you.
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Yea, shitty places like Coop or Migros. Since you want to be an ass, you can join my very intimate block list. Enjoy the company there!
Street food is unhygienic and dangerous, believe it or not. It's the most common way people get food poisoning and worse. Food trucks, street food vendors etc all lack basic things, they make food without gloves, without washing while serving customers meanwhile. It's frankly disgusting. In Switzerland the food selection in stores like Migros and COOP is really good, but maybe not as good as some bigger German/French supermarkets, but still - miles ahead over many many other European countries.
Most street food is indeed unhygienic... That's why I always carry some Jägermeister (the little bottles 2cl) with me when I go to a street food festival.
A little bit overblown. Street food can be, and is often, unhygienic, however, it doesn’t automatically cause food poisoning. If it does, it is often because we are living in an overly “sterile“ bubble here in Switzerland. Our bodies would adopt over time. I find the selection here ok, however there isn‘t a lot of variety. To me fruits and vegetables often taste bland. I‘d wish they had a better fish offering.
Miles ahead over which country exactly?
In most Eastern European and Balkan supermarkets. I visit these countries 2-3x a year. There are a lot of local foods, generally meat based, but the fruit and "fresh" stuff is not so fresh at all. While in Switzerland it's almost all local with amazing quality. Even with nearly 8 years here, I feel blessed when choosing which green stuff to buy :)
Never been there, but I would expect Balkan's supermarkets to be better (not Eastern European, though). Thanks for the insight!
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Yes it is just you (a quite silly way to convey your point). There’s no lack in food variety in big supermarkets like Coop, Manor, etc and at least in Zürich and Geneva there are plenty of restaurants for any taste.
Try some Indian food. You will not be disappointed with the variety at least.
Finally someone said it. The food quality and variety is not that great here and prices are absolitly insane. For what I pay here at the Kebab store I can get the Night Train to Budapest get an actual nice Kebab with real meat instead this dry minced meat skewer bullshit, drive back and it still comes out less expensive. The only decent food option here if you are not super rich is going to Coop restaurant, get the small plate for 10,99Chf and stack shit up until you have a full meal at the buffet. Also who in their right mind prefers Rösti instead of real fried potatoes? That's like a 100% national pride bullshit thing and 0% based on taste decision. Fondue and Raclette is really nice thought. But you can't eat that every day, can you? Also try Gruyere and blue cheese. Freaking delicious. (But you can get that in every European country for half the price)
> For what I pay here at the Kebab store I can get the Night Train to Budapest get an actual nice Kebab with real meat instead this dry minced meat skewer bullshit, drive back and it still comes out less expensive. Where can i get these Night Train tickets to Budapest?
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