Specialities
Appenzeller cheese, with its world-renowned and unique spicy
flavour, is the most famous gastronomic product from the canton
of Appenzell – but it is not the only one. There is Alpenbitter,
for example, a digestive liqueur made with 42 different
mountain herbs. The Olma-Bratwurst is the pride of the butchers
of St. Gallen: a sausage with milky-white flesh and a crispy
skin, it was grilled for the first time in 1438, patented 300 years
later, and still tastes delicious. Appenzell and St. Gallen Biber,
which anyone with a sweet tooth will find hard to resist, are
gingerbread specialities with a nut filling, artfully decorated with
marzipan or wafers. When it comes to wine, we have Professor
Hermann Müller from Thurgau to thank for the Müller-Thurgau
grape variety. The mild and fruity cross of Sylvaner and Chasselas
is cultivated in the winegrowing areas of canton Thurgau,
from the southern shores of Lake Constance all the way to the
banks of the Rhine downstream. The adjacent Klettgau region
is the realm of the Schaffhauser Blauburgunder (Pinot noir)
grape. In the largest connected winegrowing area of Germanspeaking
Switzerland, this king among red wines accounts for
one third of all grapes grown. Truly aristocratic wines flourish in
the vineyards of the Hofkellerei des Fürsten von Liechtenstein,
which are warmed by the Föhn winds. These are the court wine
cellars of the Prince of Liechtenstein. Outstanding wines,
including some great rarities, have given the princely estate an
excellent reputation.
Culinary treats
The gastronomic landscape has something to tempt every
palate. Of course, the cuisine changes from one area to another.
In Appenzell you could be eating Vesperplättli (an afternoon
snack plate) with Mostbröckli (cider-cured smoked beef) and
Birnbrot (a rustic loaf made with dried pears). In the Principality
of Liechtenstein you might be experiencing the unusual combination
of flavours in Käsknöpfle mit Apfelmus – a dish of tiny
cheese dumplings served with applesauce. During the grape
harvest, the winegrowing villages of the Pinot noir region host
the Schaffhauser Herbstsonntagen – the Schaffhausen autumn
Sundays, and throw open the doors of their cellars to the public.
Meanwhile Canton Thurgau, known for its juicy apples,
becomes one vast farmers’ market during the harvest – while
surprising visitors with the number of its culinary establishments
listed by GaultMillau: 19 in all.
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