The flavours of the land
Malakoff cheese fritters (made with cheese, egg, white wine and Kirsch) are one of the highlights of the local cuisine. Together with a number of pork delicacies – ham, sausage specialities such as atriaux and boutefas – they’re an important part of the culinary heritage of the Lake Geneva Region. One of the most typical dishes is saucisse aux choux (pork and cabbage-filled sausage), which is served with the famous papet vaudois (leeks and potatoes). Further temptations appear on the cheese platter in the form of Tomme from Vaud, Vacherin Mont-d’Or, L’Etivaz mountain cheese made from raw milk, Maréchal, Délice de Maître Rodolphe: even with a small selection it’s difficult to choose.Culinary delights
From the celebrated restaurants starred and listed by the gourmet guides – there are a conspicuously large number – to smart country inns, the gastronomic map of this corner of the country is exceptionally enticing. For every appetite, occasion and budget, there is a restaurant to suit.The vines that flourish on the terraces above Lake Geneva and on the sunny slopes above Lake Neuchâtel have a firm place in the hearts of locals. With their changing colours, they mark the passage of the seasons. As you explore these vine-covered landscapes, you stumble across picturesque villages: houses decorated with window boxes full of flowers and shaded by giant roofs, monumental fountains and narrow alleyways. And, framing it all, the breathtaking sight of the Alps or the Jura mountains, rising on the horizon.
Local wine
In the Lake Geneva Region there are 28 controlled appellations, which are grouped into four geographical areas. When you taste a white wine, it will probably be a Chasselas, the main grape variety cultivated here. If you are drinking red, it will probably be a Gamay, Pinot noir or a Salvagnin.In the winegrowing regions of La Côte, the Lavaux, Chablais, Bonvillars, Côtes de l’Orbe and Vully, most of the villages have a caveau, a cellar where you can taste local wines. You will also meet the winegrowers, whose passion for their craft and whose hospitality make this a region well worth visiting.
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