A Little Bit of Switzerland in Thailand

We had our first Swiss meal in Thailand last night. In fact, it was my first Swiss meal ever I believe. I didn't really know what to expect - what is Swiss food anyway? The Swiss are hardly known for their cuisine, other than, of course, the biggest food phenomenon to hit the 80s - fondue. And yes, fondue can still be found in modern Swiss menus. Our friend Michelle (of the Christmas tree - see festive post) picked the meat fondue, which is basically like the Swiss version of an Asian hot pot. You stick your strips of meat in a big vat of soupy liquid until it's cooked, then dip it in a variety of sauces. It was actually quite yummy, though I've always tended to spurn those kind of dishes - like Korean BBQ and Japanese and Chinese hot pots - for being a little too much like hard work. After all, I go to a restaurant so I don't have to cook!

We were warmly welcomed at the entrance by the owner, who happens to work with The Father-In-Law, alongside running a Swiss restaurant. He is, funnily enough, Swiss, and took us through all the dishes on the menu, recommending a few for a group of 8 to try. I now know that Swiss food basically consists of meat and potatoes, but they were all very good meat and potatoes! At the end of the meal Robert, the owner, produced a round of pear Schnapps on the house, which was surprisingly nice. After that, plus the two or three glasses of wine I'd had with the meal, the urge to sing The Lonely Goatherd was irresistible. It was definitely time to leave.