Dimitri Burkhard
The United States has July 4. France has 14 juillet. And Switzerland celebrates the National Day on August 1.
The idea of going on a shopping spree to find unmissable foods for the festivities started with an Instagram post and a question for our community:
"What shall we pack for the 1. August Swiss National Holiday?"
Now, I am considered a typical Migros Child. I cannot deny it but I loved store brand products ever since I left that cradle... When I recently spotted the new tote for Swiss National Day, I fell in love and simply had to share it on social media.
It did not take long before our community started to contribute their advice.
With the kind permission from Migros to take photographs, we went aisle by aisle looking for those Swiss treasures... These days, there was barely a POS display without a Swiss cross on it:
Trying all kinds of new foods is not necessarily on the top of the list for Newly Swissed arrivals. However, what better opportunity than Switzerland's birthday to walk the Migros aisles and pick up some new products?
To help you smooth into the local culinary world, we have compiled a Newly Swissed list of unmissable Swiss foods you should try on Swiss National Day!
1. Augustweggli Buns
No doubt that Switzerland is a land of bread. Especially for Swiss National Day, bakeries across Switzerland are decking their shelves with cutesy bread buns sporting tiny Swiss flags. Slightly on the sweet side, these 1. Augustweggli work best for a patriotic breakfast first thing on August 1!
Honey from Ticino
The taste of a honey depends much from its origin and composition. We picked up a pot of honey from Ticino, hoping that the warmth of the southern sun will make its way onto our 1. Augustweggli bun!
Flower Petal Cheese by Heidi
As if Swiss cheese was not enough by itself, how about Swiss cheese containing colorful dried flower petals? The Heidi Blütenkäse from Grisons looks like an Alpine pasture thanks to its marigold and cornflower petals!
Rösti featuring Gruyère Cheese
Listen up, dear American expats: If you miss hashbrowns, Rösti might become your new comfort food! Besides raclette and fondue, Rösti is practically a third national dish. Since the store kind is quick and easy to prepare, it pays to keep a pack in your pantry...
Just in time for August 1, we have discovered a Rösti with a kick: it contains natural Gruyère cheese! Yumm...
Swiss Style Cheese Spread
Still more cheese, this one a classic: The packaging for "Swiss Style" cheese spread has not changed in decades - and neither has its taste! Since each spread has a different flavor, the most unpopular one is always left in the end... In my family, "meat" flavor was a regular looser!
Patriotic Boiled Eggs
They may not taste better, but these patriotic Swiss eggs are sure to create a scene! A limited edition only available during July, these boiled eggs simply cannot be missed on a Newly Swissed brunch table!
Cervelat Sausage
The cervelat is Switzerland's national sausage. 160 million are produced each year to still the Swiss appetite. Do the math, and this will average to about 25 per person, annually! We like cervelats BBQ'ed on a firepit, but Mamiko figured out a way to sauté them in a frying pan!
And in a country with so many dialects, there are numerous names: Cervelas (French), Klöpfer (Basel), or Servela (Zürich). What do you call it in English?
Rivella Soda
Rivella has been Switzerland's unofficial soda since 1952. A myth among newly arrived expats is that Rivella contains milk, when in fact it is made of milk whey.
Be courageous and give it a try! Maybe you will soon count yourself to generations of Swiss who love their Rivella... If you do not care for the traditional Rivella rot, the diet blue or the green tea kind, try one of their newest flavors such as peach or rhubarb...
Patriotic Swiss Donuts
Just when you thought you have seen it all comes another product with cult status... And we kid you not: 2014 has set the stage for Swissness donuts! These American donuts are covered with red icing and sprinkled with tiny Swiss crosses.
Definitively an eye catcher for your Swiss National Day party...
(For the purpose of this post, Migros has generously offered a complimentary selection of their products.)
Mamiko
Bill Harby
Christian
ME WANT THAT TOTE!
What a fun post! I wish you a very happy Swiss National Holiday!
We bought the eggs and I found a very patriotic Swiss brie wearing traditional red ;) Btw have you ever tried Migros’ Urdinkel bread? It is to die for tasty!
I miss Migros! Loved doing my weekly shop there ☺️
[…] sure we would have watched fireworks somewhere since I understand they are everywhere. Which of these traditional foods would I have enjoyed? What parade would I want to […]