http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Last weekend my friend John invited me to spend the day at his chalet in the Swiss Alps. We sledged down the fearsome 5-miles-long run and finished with cheese fondue. en-usSun, 15 Mar 2026 17:51:59 GMTFXcuisine.com5 I have to say you are very lucky in going to Switzerland.  I was raised ther in Berne for 4 years brofee going to the United States.  My father was a diplomat.  I have been back often to visit friends and just reexplore with my son and wife.  I have to say that of all the cities mentioned the least favorite would be Zurich.  While it is a nice city it is not really what people think of Switzerland. I am biased toward Berne since I lived there, but I must say that it is a great city to explore.  It is truly a beautiful city if you like old buildings, good food and excellent beer.  On the down side though,  in the past several years Berne has become more of a city with its increase in trash and graffiti.Last time we went ot switzerland we ventured out to a place called Kandersteg.  It was wonderful and we hiked and walked everywhere.  It was very old fashioned small town Switzerland.  (the best)  Food was excellent and the train runs in and out almost every hour.  We stayed ata chalet called the Chalet Favorita which had 3 bedrooms, fully equiped kitchen, 2 bathrooms and a dining/ living room.  What a wonderful place.  I found it on .   Another great site would be .  Many Swiss cities and towns have there own web sites to help you through.  If you go for any length of time consider renting a house or chalet.  It is much cheaper and more enjoyable.  Chalet Favorita was about 900.00 dollars for 10 days.  Geneva is also a beautiful city although different that the German side of Switzerland.  There are many wonderful site there to see not the least is the fountain.  If oyu do not speak much french the people of Geneva certainly speak english well. A word of advice.  Try to learn at least the basic Please, thank you and good day in the language.  It will get you a much bigger smile and probably more help.  I really hope you enjoy.http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Tue, 9 Apr 2013 02:48:49 GMT Francois,viewed this swiss fondu many times-question,is there any reason that the cheeses are grated?Should I grate the gruyer and vacherin that I"m buying here in USA?http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:51:58 GMT Physalia, thanks for visiting and I hope you"ll get to eat another fondue in Les Diablerets before your time is up!http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:29:47 GMT My cousin took me to Les Diablerets and fed me tonnes of fondue. Now I"ve gone all nostalgic and the fondue photos aren"t helping. Oh, how I miss it. I hope to make my own now!http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:55:42 GMT Dolly thanks for visiting and glad this led you on the Swiss part of your Memory Lane!http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:15:20 GMT Magnificent article - love the photos. Was lucky enough to spend three years in Germany and visited Switzerland a few times (my favorite place - so beautiful). Made me "homesick". Thanks. http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:38:14 GMT Luci, thanks for visiting and hope you can make it to the Swiss Alps. They rent the luge out for the day and in the summer there is no lack of things to do either!http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:37:34 GMT Hi - this post made my mouth water and now, I"m planning a trip to the Swiss Alps!!  Thank you thank you thank you for this post!!!- Toronto, Canadahttp://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Sun, 9 Mar 2008 23:14:18 GMT Funny, they call it Maizena in Venezuela too, hmmmmmmmmmm?http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:36:33 GMT Lyra, thanks for visiting! I am sure there are tons of nice things to do in DC too - the Alps is just one of many nice things on this earth.http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Sat, 23 Feb 2008 04:07:51 GMT Thanks Ariun, I got a little carried away with my fisheye but am glad you liked the shots! I"ll look into the gingerbread, it is not particularly good but is a nice looking Bernese specialty.http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:59:50 GMT Thanks Alys, you are right, although white wine is as cold as the soft drink you cannot safely drink with the fondue, the alcohol somehow makes it work fine. How that is, I don"t know, but if you try otherwise you"ll be badly sick. I"m not surprised cider works fine.http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:58:43 GMT Wow, yet another great post. I envy you the excursions that you go on...around here public transport to get out of the city is not so easy, and between that and my light pocketbook, well, no lugeing in the alps for me! Someday I hope to make it there, in the meantime I have your wonderful blog to turn to!http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:14:00 GMT Oooh!! Droolsome! Cravings galore! Can you make "bear"nese gingerbread, FX? I grovel for a blogpost on it. Btw, I actually like the fisheye shots, since they give a view of the kitchen.http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:37:29 GMT Nice story and recipe - thanks!Not everyone thinks that you should avoid cold drinks.Ralf Kuettel, NY Restauranteur has a place, Trestle on Tenth was asked "what about that ban on cold liquids?""That"s what people always say, but then, most people drink fairly cold white wine with fondue, so it"s a dish that"s full of contradictions," he said, adding that he never encountered any intestinal distress from the combination.Personally, I like cider.  :-)http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:40:32 GMT Johan, thanks for visiting! Yes you are quite right that indoor fisheye shots are a bit hard on the eyes. But wait until you see close up fisheye portraits!http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:09:09 GMT Beatrice, I think the carbohydrate was safely in check, at least in comparison with the huge amount of fat that was spread around the table on that day! "Baernese" was a pun to try and convey the bearish origin of Bern. The city is named after its favorite animal and symbol, the bear (Bär in German).http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:07:49 GMT Farmer, no need to be jealous if you consider the marvellous Oregon truffles!http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:06:11 GMT Clive, this is really a fun sledge run! I"m told there is an even longer one up there in Saas Grund. You should have told me you were in town!http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:05:14 GMT Adriana, thanks for your comment. The fondue was indeed amazing and so was the panettone! As for the sledge, you can proceed very carefully if you choose to, although it"s difficult not to get carried away and then really hard to brake!http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:04:23 GMT Very nice, but the fisheye lens in the indoor shots made me a bit seasick. :)http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:03:11 GMT Oh dear!  Bread, a Bernese (correct spelling) cake *and* panettone?  You must be in a carbohydrate high!  I leave the fondue making to He Who Must Be Obeyed...and I carve the bread.  We have fondue once a week in winter when we are in the snow.  I have to say that our cholesterol and blood pressure are low; maybe because of the wine and great outdoor exercise in the Alps.  Yum!   http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:01:33 GMT This makes me very jealous.  Here in Oregon, I have the mountains, plenty of deep white snow, lots of good food to bring along, but am missing the luge course and the chalet to return to.  Oh well...- Farmerhttp://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:05:24 GMT Hi FX. I"ve done that run  many times with my kids, and sometimes coming off worse for wear, but it was always a blast! And I even know Le Petit Diable... I"m getting all nostalgic. As it happens I was in Villars unexpectedly the same weekend. Like ships in the night...http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:46:34 GMT Wow, I would have loved to have been part of this excursion! The fondue looks amazing, and the gingerbread and panettone look great too! The only thing I wouldn"t have indulged in was the luge, I"m a big chicken!http://FXcuisine.com/default.asp?Display=149Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:59:38 GMT