Switzerland
Our Swiss breakfast plate brought together petit pain au lait, a milk bread enjoyed across Switzerland; rösti, shredded potatoes pan-fried into a crisp cake; delicately seasoned Bündnerfleisch, an air-dried beef; Emmental cheese; and muesli, the cereal dish developed in Switzerland more than a century ago. We also offered Swiss sides, desserts and drinks, including a classic sausage salad and a carrot cake with distinctive decorations.
Switzerland is celebrated for the natural beauty of the Alps, a landscape that may remind Japanese visitors of Heidi. It is also one of the world’s wealthiest countries, with strong manufacturing and financial industries. Its four languages—German, French, Italian and Romansh—reflect a diverse food culture shaped by its neighbors. The expression “Röstigraben,” or “rösti divide,” refers to the boundary between German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland. Rösti, the potato dish featured in our breakfast, is a staple of the German-speaking region but is less commonly eaten in the French-speaking region.
With thanks to Switzerland Tourism and Nathalie Lo Bue.