It's What's for Dinner

Do you automatically think of the movie "Billy Madison" when you look at the picture? Can you hear it?

Lunch Lady: Have some more sloppy joes. I made 'em extra sloppy for yous. I know how yous kids like 'em sloppy.

Billy Madison: Lady, you're scaring us.

And, the Lunch Lady opens up her mouth to smile and you just see those gray, crooked teeth with spit strings connecting the top row to the bottom. And, that laugh like she's been smoking non-stop for the past 50 years. Gross. And, then that scene makes me think of the creepy lady in "Kingpin". 

Landlady: What is it about good sex that makes me have to crap? You really jarred something loose tiger.

Remember the look on her face? Dude.

Little bit of a tangent there, but I am bringing it all back. Last night, I put on my chef's hat and tried out another recipe with a little twist on an old favorite. Sloppy Joes. I wanted to pass along the recipe and let you know it is worth a try. The addition of onions, celery, green pepper, and mushrooms really make the difference and actually making the sauce instead of just busting out a trusty can of Manwich helps immensely.

Check out the recipe here. Let me know if you try it and what you think.

I swear I should be writing a handbook on how to keep a Hausfrau occupied. Bon appetit!

THE American Pour

Oh, how this phrase needs to be coined over here. You should all know, whether you are an expat or just visiting, that there is a BIG difference between a "Swiss pour" and an "American pour". We learned this lesson early on. After ordering my first glass of wine during our preview trip, a glass with a couple droplets of wine was delivered to our table. I thought, hmmm...maybe there was a language problem. Maybe the server didn't understand what I wanted. I wanted a GLASS of wine. Not a dash, a dribble, a teaser...a glass!

Take note of the picture above. To the left you will see a traditional Swiss pour. On the right...an American pour. Also notice the measurements etched into the glass.

Know that when you order a glass of wine, they will bring you 1 dl. To convert this to our English system, it basically equals a splash of liquid. No joke. The trick is to order however many deci's you want at the beginning. My friend, Stacie has now developed the term "The American Pour". We are hoping it catches on and there won't be those looks of uncertainty in the server's eyes the next time we order "zwei deci". Some day.

For fun: Ask a Swiss-y how many glasses of wine are in a bottle and I guarantee they will say 7.5. Ask an American and you will get a range of answers somewhere between two and four depending on glass size.

Zeughauskeller

Looking for a solid Swiss restaurant to take family and friends to when they are visiting you? A must stop on the Peterthal Zurich tour is dinner at Zeughauskeller, an old armoury turned beer restaurant. Everyone needs a little rösti in their belly before leaving us.

The reason for rösti being on the brain was that this past weekend, Josh and I did a little catching up with the Zeug. We must have been going here at least once a week when all the family was visiting around the holidays. It has taken a couple months, but my stomach has finally given me the go ahead for another round at Zeughauskeller.

Couple of key take home notes about eating here.

• First know that reservations are very handy to have at this restaurant, but not required. We have actually been told they are booked for the night, but to just come in early (around 6pm) and they should be able to squeeze you in. 
• Check out their specialty menu. You really can't go wrong with anything on this list. Still never ventured to get the meter-weiner. Scary. But, I get the Kalbgeschnetzeltes - Zuri style with rösti every time and Josh and my brother have split the Bergermeister Hans Waldmann Sword (steak on a sword).
• You have to try the Zeughauskeller Eidgenoss at least once. This is a flaming beer they make right at the table. The actually have a bottle labeled "Feuerwasser". Who knows what it really is. I wouldn't say it's anything I would order again, but a good story to tell.
• There menu comes in something like 10 languages. Some random trivia for ya.

And, in case you are too chicken to order the Eidgenoss "flaming beer", here's a couple videos detailing my experience. Bon appetit!

Fat Tuesday

Photo by flygraphix.

Good times last night! We finally got to return some of the continuous, over-the-top, generous hospitality given by our friends Stacie and Hanspeter by having them over for dinner last night. My cooking skills are slowly developing, and I was able to pull off a real, adult-like dinner party. The menu included wasabi crusted salmon, roasted asparagus, wild rice, and spring mix salad with cherry tomatoes and red peppers. So incredibly yummy. You would have thought I was hiding a real cook somewhere in the kitchen.

But, my recipes weren't the star of the show of course. Along with Stacie always comes something special. She surprised us with a little Pat O'Brien Hurricane mix in honor of Fat Tuesday. I love this girl. Always thinking out of the box and going the extra mile to be an amazing friend.

I should also mention that along with those lovely hurricanes -- a side of headache was somewhere hidden in the bag.

Meat Love

Nothing quite says "Happy Valentines Day" like heart-shaped cheeseburgers.

Kansas Style Swiss Cooking

I guess someone didn't get enough Swiss cooking when they were visiting. Hard to believe. I got an email last night with these pictures from my brother of their Berner Rösti and Aelpler Magronen. Just like being back in der Schweiz. Where's the Züri Geschnetzeltes?

For recipes, check here.

Santa Delivered

All a Jewish girl could ever ask for on Weihnachten...good health, good friends, AND good food. Marc brought us $80 dollars worth of perfect Rudy's BBQ.

Syabu Syabu

We got a recommendation a while back from a fellow Googler telling us about the best Japanese restaurant in Zurich, Samurai, and how we have to try Syabu Syabu some night. Just from this statement I had a gillion questions (what's new?). 1. Ok, really...a great restaurant in Zurich. Let's just say you don't come here for the food. 2. Japanese? You have perked my interest. 3. Did you just say the name of a whale? Is that what I am supposed to eat there? Even with all the skepticism, we talk our adventurous friends into trying this so called Syabu Syabu in celebration of our anniversary.

All I knew going into this meal was that you had to call the restaurant prior to the meal and let them know you were being dare devils for the night and that it was a bit pricey (but usual Swiss dining standards). Also knew it had something to do with a big bowl of boiling water and something about having to cook your own meat. Sounds good enough, right?


We asked for some initial instructions. Before you start playing, they drop a bunch of veggies in the water to cook. Gave you a couple dipping sauces and a plate of raw meat. You grab some meat with your chopsticks, put it in the water til it browns, dip it in a sauce, and eat. Add veggies and rice if you prefer. I love foods that are hands on. Very simple. Very healthy.

By the end of the meal, all the meat was gone, veggies were bought and cooked multiple times, and my tummy was full. Add a couple Sapporos, good friends, a Mom, a wonderful husband, and it makes for a great anniversary night.

Ladies that Lunch in Rapperswil

My friends from Austin joke about my life out here. How will I spend my days? Will I turn into one of those "ladies that lunch" in Europe? I hate to admit it...actually, I love to admit it...I have been known to occasionally be a lady that lunches. Since I am such a giver and my mom is out here for the month of November wanting to experience all that the hausfrau life has to offer, I figure she needed to have this experience too.

After a few days of playing hausfrau, we decide to venture out and do some sightseeing in Rapperswil -- of course having lunch while we are there. It is at the southern edge of the Zurichsee about a 40-minute train ride away.

Mind you that we haven't done any research about what to do in Rapperswil. I had read one short blog post on my one-stop Swiss travel blog, Swisstory about the city, but we were basically going in with our eyes closed. Another fun thing to do when living here. Just jump on a train and go. Mom is really getting the full experience.

The day couldn't have been better.

Sun shining. Alps on one side, water on the other, castle in the middle. We literally stepped off the train, crossed the street and were in the heart of the Altstadt (old city). We could hear the latte macchiatos calling our names.

We grabbed a relaxing lunch along the shore (which I ordered all in Deutsch). Soaked in some rays and then set off to explore the city a bit. We took in the usual Swiss city sites including a castle, a church, and some cobblestone streets. But, more importantly we had our ladies that lunch in Europe day. I have a feeling there might be a few more of these in our future.

*Dad, I hope you know Mom is getting pretty used to this lifestyle. Not sure she is coming back home.

Gobble, Gobble

Uh huh. That says 104.50 CHF (about the same in dollars) for 5.806 kg (12.7 lbs) of bird. How much without the giblets?

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire

The street vendors are smart here. Right when the weather starts to change and become colder, the ice cream carts suddenly changed into "Heisse Marroni" stands overnight. The gelato stands are only a faint memory now. It seems like on every corner there is this cute, little stand with one man in charge of cooking the nuts and the other taking care of the crowds. You would think they were giving away gold at these places, but no...just "hot chestnuts".

I have been telling myself, "I have to try these. I have to try these. Next time I see a stand, I will grab a quick 100 grams just to try them". It's just something you should do when living here, right? I have read other blogs talking about their love of the Marroni and all the different forms it comes in. If just the nuts weren't enough for you, a lot of restaurants have these strange-looking desserts with chestnut spaghetti noodle thingys on top of a pie crust or just served up in a bowl like a sundae, even with the whipped cream on top.

I have to tell you, the Marroni is not for me. I was out and about with my mom the other day. We stumble upon one of these stands. We are both so excited to actually taste these things. We order our hundert grams, peel off the shell, and take a bite. It has sort of this mushy texture, not really a nut flavor or any real flavor for that matter. There was just not much going on with these nuts. Plenty of other things I would rather be spending my time eating for sure. People here do say it is an acquired taste and that it grows on you. I think you start liking them when you have stopped remembering how good bbq and queso taste. And, believe me...I am not there yet.

Yodel-yea-hee-MOO

Yesterday was a day of many firsts. We joined a couple friends out in the east side of Switzerland to witness the yearly celebration of the Alpabfahrt. This is the time of year with the herders bring in their cows from the upper mountains. You would just be driving along and all of sudden there were be men dressed up in traditional Swiss gear and a pack of cows strolling down the street. So very Swiss. I would say it was worth getting up at 6:30am on a Saturday to see.

Cows with massive bells attached to their necks. Swiss men wearing funny hats and smoking cigars. You don't get to see this every day.


When most people think of Switzerland, this is probably what they picture.

Along with seeing the Alpabfahrt, we had been invited to experience some real Swiss hiking. We were being taken up to Wasserauen in the Alpstein (foothills of the Alps), being told that this was an easy hike. I think they even said, "Oh, this is one of the easiest hikes in all of Switzerland. It will be a piece of cake". You should be aware that when a Swiss person says something is easy, it will be a challenge. I went in with the assumption I would be gasping for air the entire way up and our Swiss friend would end up carrying me a third of the way to the top. Somehow we made it one piece, but I wouldn't say it was easy.

Notice how our friend isn't even sweating. This is after an hour and a half uphill to Äscher. Just a Saturday stroll for HansPeter. My motivation came from knowing there would be Rösti and beer at the top of this mountain.

Rösti goodness with some Käse und zwei Eier. Good to the last bite.


If the day couldn't get any more Swiss, these ladies busted out some true yodeling while we ate overlooking the Alpstein. Such a beautiful area in Switzerland. So much to see and nothing like we had experienced before. Next trip maybe we check out the Seeaplsee or even get crazy and do a multi-day hike up to the peak, Säntis.

College Football Night in Zurich

The REAL football season has started back in the States and Josh and I are scrambling trying to figure out our best option for watching games. This might just be the hardest, and most important, problem we have faced so far. Luckily, our ex-pat friends from Atlanta are also feeling the pain and went the extra mile tracking down American bars that would be showing a game or two.

So far it looks like there are only two bars brave enough to broadcast some ESPN here. However, Swiss soccer trumps all other forms of sports. Wow. My true colors are showing. Did I really just say soccer when referring to EU fussball? Good thing only ex-pats and family read this blog.

Are you chomping at the bit in anticipation of where we went? I don't know if I can even bring myself to tell you. I blame it all on Switzerland. There is no way we would have gone here if we were back in the States. It is so embarrassing...but, so necessary. We even had to make a reservation.

Ok. I am just going to say it. We went to HOOTERS. And, more surprisingly the place with packed. Look what Switzerland is forcing me to become -- the things I will do for a little football. Kristi and I had to be the only girls in there that weren't wearing tiny white tanks, teeny orange shorts, and 80's legwarmer-looking socks.

Hopefully you are getting a feel for the beautiful ambiance. After the soccer game ended (the Swiss won if you were curious) and David's cries for Georgia football were finally answered, we got to watch a little ball. It almost felt like our own bar. The rest of the bar filtered out and only a few stayed but weren't paying any attention to the screens anymore. What a weird sensation. College football without an entire bar grunting and groaning in unison. We got loud and obnoxious, cheering and booing, enjoying every minute of our time at the H.

Here's David doing a little Bulldog cheer or more making fun of me doing his "woof woof" chant.

And, Kristi sporting the Georgia black and red in true Bulldog fashion. Needless to say, good times were had by all. We did only get to see about half of the game since we had to catch the last bus at midnight. But, for all the effort spent researching where we could watch the game, calling for reservations, and taking one for the team by ordering scary hot wings...we thank you Kristi and David. Let's not go here again!

SICK 'EM, WOOF! WOOF!

Interlaken - Tag Eins

To satisfy our need to explore the Alps, we took a short weekend trip to Interlaken. We boarded the earliest train we could bare this past Saturday leaving at 8am. Ate our yummy Nutella croissant breakfast and tapped our feet in anticipation for the two hour train ride through Bern, arriving at Interlaken West.

During the train ride, I just kept praying that the rain would stop and the clouds would break up just as we rolled into town. Can't you picture it? A ray of light shining directly over Interlaken, maybe even some humming in the background. But, it wasn't looking good. We got off the train and immediately were trying to figure out where to buy cheap...wait, nothing is cheap in Switzerland...I mean, where to buy less expensive water-resistant jackets. First things first though, we had to check in to our quaint Bed and Breakfast. Drop off our bags and figure out how the rain was going to effect our semi-planned day of hiking and exploring.

The receptionist at Hotel Lötschberg was amazing. She pointed us over to the Migros for jackets and helped us make decisions for how our day should flow based on the weather.

We headed back to the train station to make our way to Lauterbrunnen.

There we boarded a cable car to Grütschalp and skipped this part of the hike because the trail would be too slick. We actually lucked out because this would have been the most challenging part of the hike. Thank you rain!

Once in Grütschalp, we started hiking towards Winteregg and then on to Mürren. About an hour and a half trip for most, but with Josh and I shooting a bizzillion pictures and leisurely taking in all the sites, it was more like two and a half hours. It was beautiful, and the rain just added to it. We were surrounded by waterfalls, wild flowers, and snow-covered mountains in the background.

In Mürren, we stopped for lunch to dry off and have a beer. We sat next to a large picture window and watched the fog roll in around the mountains enjoying every minute of the day. Next stop took a hike over to Stechelberg, a cable car ride to Gimmelwald, and then a bus ending at Trümmelbach Falls. Gold star for the recommendation by the hotel receptionist.

Trümmelbach Falls was like nothing I had ever seen (I feel like I have keep saying this throughout my blog posts...oh well. It's a good thing, right?). You pay 10 CHF with your Interlaken discount card and take an elevator up to top of this mountain. The door opens up and you follow the trail into the mountain. We had no idea what to expect. We were still a little pissed that we had to pay for this tourist stop. We had already seen a ton of waterfalls throughout the day. What could make this one better? We were so wrong. This is a must see if you are going to Interlaken and 10 CHF is a deal. Back to the story...the doors open, you enter the mountain and BOOM giant waterfall. There aren't words to describe it. I think we all forget how powerful water can be. You could feel the vibration of the falls, hear the rush of water, and feel the spray across your face. I get chills just writing about it.

After following the trails in and around Trümmelbach Falls, we boarded the bus and headed back to Lauterbrunnen and then on to Interlaken. I don't think I stopped smiling the whole day. Well, maybe just to pick my mouth up from hitting the floor every time I turned a corner. This is the place people dream about going to...and we are here. How did I ever get so lucky?

We made it back to the hotel just in time for my tummy to start growling and my blood sugar to drop. I needed food NOW. We walked over to a nearby local joint (also recommended by the receptionist) for some true Swiss food. I think it was called Baron's Grill and was just off the main drag on the other side of the lake.

We ate rösti and fondue til our hearts content. And, of course had to wash it down with some Swiss Wein and Grand Marnier to warm us up from the inside out.

As we rolled ourselves back to the Bed and Breakfast, the sun was just setting (probably around 10pm) and the Alps were almost highlighted in the sky. What could have made this day any better? I would have said nothing, but when we got back to the hotel and crawled in to our bed, we heard something that sounded like fireworks. No...couldn't be. We both looked up and out of our attic window, and no kidding, there were fireworks going off over one of the lakes. We slept well that night in anticipation for the next day.

Betty Crocker - Eat Your Heart Out

With the upcoming trip to Interlaken looming, I decided to try out my skills in the kitchen and surprise Josh with a tasty treat for the early morning train tomorrow.

Nutella croissant, anyone? Thanks to my mom for the many demonstrations of this craft during her visit to Zurich.

Caliente

Switzerland meets Latin, Brazilian, and Caribbean cultures. This annual festival draws out a crowd for its live music, dance stages, traditional foods, and the half-naked attendees. With the 'rents in town, I couldn't think of a better way to experience true Switzerland, but with a Latin American festival!

Located in the "red-light district" of Zurich, near Helvetiaplatz.

My focus was pretty much zoned in on the amazing amounts of food and my mission of finding the biggest margarita possible.

Too many choices. Everything was delicious. Even some Stubb's BBQ to represent. You know these vendors have to be hiding somewhere in Zurich. That gives me hope that we will find great food like this again.

And, the margarita search was on...

Found. A 2-liter yard glass for only 68 chf with a 5 chf deposit on the glass ($67). Needless to say, I only ended up with the 1-liter yard glass with strawberry margarita for 38 chf. I know. I paid for the experience...and boy, was it worth it.

Along with all the food and drinks, you had your choice of sexy lingerie to buy. I think this was my mom's favorite. Who can resist a hooker-red, holter top dress? This was your one-stop shop.

Half-naked people seen.

Margarita gone. It was time to go home. Can't wait for next year.