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Social Profile
Food & Drink: Swiss cuisine is varied. The great speciality is fondue, a delicious concoction of Gruyère and Vacherin cheese, melted and mixed with white wine, flour, Kirsch and a little garlic. Other cheese specialities are Emmental and Tête de Moine. Regional specialities include viande sechée (dried beef or pork) from Valais and the Grisons where it is called Bündnerfleisch. The meat is cut wafer thin and served with pickled spring onions and gherkins. Papet vaudoir is a delicious dish made from leeks and potatoes. Geneva’s great speciality is pieds de porc (pigs feet). Pork sausages or salami come in a variety of local recipes including Landjäger, Beinwurst, Engadinerwurst, Leberwurst (pâté), Kalbsleberwurst (calf’s liver pâté), and Knackerli. Try Rösti (shredded fried potatoes) and Fondue Bourguignonne (cubed meat with various sauces). Cakes and pastries are also varied: Leckerli are Basle specialities (spiced honey cakes topped with icing sugar, decorated in Bern with a white sugar bear); Gugelhopf (a type of sponge cake with a hollow centre), Fasnachtküchli (sugar-dusted pastries eaten during Carnival) and Schaffhausen (cream-filled cakes) are also popular. Although there are many self-service snack bars, table service is normal.
A great variety of Swiss wines are available throughout the country. There are also spirits made from fruit, the most popular being Kirsch, Marc, Pflümli and Williams. Swiss beer of a lager type is also available. Bottled mineral water is an accepted beverage, with local brands including Henniez and Passuger. Bars/cocktail lounges have table and/or counter service.
Nightlife: Most major towns and resorts have nightclubs or discos with music and dancing, sometimes serving food. There are also cinemas and theatres, and some bars and restaurants have local folk entertainment.
Shopping: Special purchases include embroidery and linen, Bernese woodcarving, chocolate, cheese, Swiss army knives and luxury handmade clocks and watches. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1330-1830, Sat 0800-1200 and 1330-1600. Most shops are closed on Monday mornings.
Special Events: For more specific details, contact Switzerland Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of special events celebrated in Switzerland during 2003:
Jan 14-19 2003 20th World Snow Festival, Grindelwald. Jan 22-25 Inferno Race, Mürren. Jan 26-Feb 2 Prix de Lausanne, Palais de Beaulieu (famous dance competition). Feb 1-16 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2003, St Moritz. Mar 10-12 Basle Carnival. Apr 21 Sechselaeuten, (Six Chimes festival, where a straw effigy is burnt to ensure a good summer), Zurich. Apr 22-28 Visions du Réel Festival, (film festival), Nyon. Apr 28-May 24 Berne International Jazz Festival. May 1-5 Europ'art Fair, Geneva. May 30-Jun 2 International Comics Festival, Sierre. Jun 11-16 International Art Fair, Basle. Jul 5-20 Montreux Jazz Festival. Aug 1 Swiss National Day (celebrations countrywide, but particularly in Basle). Aug 1-11 56th Locarno International Film Festival. Oct 26-Nov 10 Hermäss: Basle Autumn Fair Market. Nov 29-Dec 24 International Christmas Market.
Social Conventions: It is customary to give unwrapped flowers to the hostess when invited for a meal. Avoid red roses; never give chrysanthemums or white asters as they are considered funeral flowers. Informal wear is widely acceptable. First-class restaurants, hotel dining rooms and important social occasions may warrant jackets and ties. Black tie is usually specified when required. Tipping: A service charge is included in all hotel, restaurant, cafe, bar, taxi and hairdressing services by law: further gratuities are not usualy required.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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