Give Me More! Chocolate Exhibition in Lugano

The main reason we chose Lugano as our weekend getaway destination was because for four days the city would be playing host to the International Chocolate Exhibition, entitled "More Chocolate." You think I love cheese - ha! I haven't told you about my desire for chocolate. It's huge. So, in anticipation of the event I began to envision giant lap pools filled with warm chocolate fondue and other outrageous exhibits. Unfortunately, this year's Eurochocolate event left me wanting, well, more chocolate. I'm not sure if it was the rain, or if every year the exhibits are this small, but I had expected a giant tent with row after row of taste tests, chocolate recipes, and unique chocolate pieces. Instead we found a little cluster of canopies and booths with a mediocre selection of wares. But, in the spirit of "making the most of it," we did what we came to do: we bought and ate chocolate.

We were pretty impressed by these chocolate gears. Other notable pieces: chocolate laptop, deck of cards, batteries, and primitive-style hammers (complete with chocolate "rust").

Why settle for Nutella, when you can have one of these exotic chocolate spreads?

One of the very Italian chocolate vendors must have seen us coming because as soon as we stepped up to his counter he switched on the charm.

"Per tu, bellina, la chiave del tuo cuore. E poi un ferro di cavallo per la fortuna."

He proceeded to place a chocolate key and horseshoe in a plastic bag. Handed me a chocolate nail and said, "Mangia." Then, he politely asked for six francs. How could we say no?

Gelato in the rain

Free mini chocolate fountain tastings

A cioccolata calda before we headed back home...

Some of the goods we brought back with us

Ay, Colomba: For the Love of Lugano

"When we get there we should get a Colomba."

"What's that?"

"It's an Italian cake-y thing that G brought into work for Znüüni one day."

The Colomba wasn't all we got during our weekend getaway to Lugano. First, we got stuck in some bad weather. Leaving sunny St. Gallen on Saturday morning was particularly difficult after consulting the weather forecast for Ticino: rain all day and all night. We kept our fingers crossed for a miracle as we passed through snowy San Bernardino. This is what we were dealing with. Not a good sign.

After reaching our destination, we got lost on its winding roads due to the frustrating lack of street signs. Eventually we parked the car at the main train station and took the funicular down to the piazza in which our hotel was situated.

Then we got lost on foot, circling the same piazza for twenty minutes until we realized the hotel was just steps from the funicular. We got the keys to our room and decided to escape the rain for a bit and warm up. We got a room with a view (of the San Lorenzo Cathedral) and our very own sound machine to lull us to sleep (the rumbling of the funicular).

Next, we got coins to feed the parking meter and got back on the funicular. When we got to the car we got really mad about the rain and almost went back home. But then we got happy again because we decided to practice the fine art of "making the most of it." So, we got back on the funicular, went to Manor, got an umbrella, and proceeded to wander around downtown Lugano. We stumbled upon a small sector of markets and street vendors selling baked goods, cheese, and produce. (That's when we got the Colomba.)

We got chocolate at the International Chocolate Exhibition. (I'll tell you about it tomorrow.) We got dinner at a yummy place called "Trani" and got drunk off of two bottles of wine. (But more on that later.) We somehow got wireless internet connection on Isaiah's iPod touch and sent cryptic status updates to facebook. And, finally, on Sunday we got our cappuccinos at Burger King because we missed the hotel breakfast and nothing else was open.

We have GOT to get a navigation system... and some good rain coats.

The Queso Suizo Project: Churer Alpkäse

If a cheese has the word "Alp" or "Berg" in its name, in my eyes it can do no wrong. Those mountain cheeses sure do make my mouth water, and this lovely one from Chur is no exception. This cheese has a hard almost grainy texture, much like Gruyére. It also has tiny brown specks (of ?) and those darling holes that you might typically associate with Swiss cheese. It's rich in flavor without being potent like Schwägalp-käse. Another plus is that the rind is not as stinky as other mountain cheeses I've tried, but I think that has a lot to do with the fact that I did not buy this cheese pre-packaged like I normally do. (I'm beginning to think that the rinds fester after sitting in those packages, which makes them smellier than normal.) I think from now on I will buy my cheese wedges from the cheese counter, not just to avoid smelly rind, but also for the quality and flavor. The good thing is that even if a pre-packaged cheese is on Aktion, it is also likely to be on Aktion at the cheese counter. Yesss!

Bottom line: Nutty, buttery, and yummy in my tummy.

Update: I lied. A so-called Bergkäse can most definitely do wrong - when it is accompanied by the word "halbfett," or half-fat.

The Queso Suizo Project: Processed Cheese

Now, don't freak out. I never claimed to be a cheese purist. Cheese is cheese, processed or fresh. The fact that I am writing about a processed cheese product should not be so alarming. It is all part of my project. I've got to see what's out there and decide whether or not I like it. And really, let's not get carried away here; we're not talking about Kraft cheese slices (you know the ones individually wrapped in plastic). This is Switzerland after all so if they're going to do processed cheese, they're going to do it right. Right?

Well, I have to admit that I still can't bring myself to by the Swiss version of those Kraft cheese slices, but if I am going to eat a processed cheese, it's for the purpose of spreading it on a piece of bread. So, we decided to give this Gerber brand variety pack a try.

I do realize that really yummy fresh cheeses (usually with a fluffy texture) are readily available and can also be spread on bread, but the processed kind that come individually foil wrapped in single serve wedges are thicker and (usually) creamier and oh so convenient. They aren't even in the refrigerated section. In fact, if you want to make these Gerber babies spread, you shouldn't put them in the fridge, at least I don't think so. You see we did put these in the fridge, because I can't bring myself to put cheese in the cupboard, and what I discovered is that the Emmentaler and Appenzeller cheeses just don't spread. The other types more or less spread, but only after you leave them out of the fridge for several minutes. At the end of the day, I am not so thrilled about Gerber's so-called cheese spreads. To be honest, we've been using the French brand cheese spread called "La vache qui rit" for the last six months and I just love it. You can keep it in the fridge and it still spreads!

Bottom line: Flavorful but un-spreadable.

Went to a Show: Electric Six in Switzerland

It's a funny thing to go see a show with English language music in a foreign country. You can't be sure how much the audience really understands the lyrics, as sometimes I don't even understand them. As I mentioned in yesterday's post, we went to see Electric Six (from now on E6, the way some friends have referred to them in print) at a dive bar/music venue called Mariaberg.

The opening band was called Alex Face. Seeing as how the space is tight, we were close enough for Isaiah to ask/shout at them, "Where are you from?" They answered, "Sweden." Later, Dick Valentine (isn't that a great name?), the lead singer of E6, took a poll and asked how many people in the room spoke English. About half of the spectators raised their hands, but I am sure ours were the only two American hands.

At one point, Dick took a stab at a little German while commenting on the abundance of males present that evening, "I see lots of Herren here, but this next one is for the Damen."

E6 was awesome. If you don't know them yet, check them out on iTunes or on "My Swiss Soundtrack" found at the bottom left corner of this blog. My favorite song is "Down at McDonaldz" and when they started that song I just could not stop moving! We danced, we sang along, and mostly we were excited that we could understand what Dick was saying. Everybody cool...

Dick kept waving around this shrink wrapped cucumber during the entire show.

The Swissies slam dance.

Maberg: Music Venue in Eastern Switzerland

While in other contexts it might be considered sacrilegious, something about the blending of Virgin Mary and Marilyn Monroe icons to create the logo for a bar/music venue seems so right.

For a good time, check out Mariaberg. The venue boasts two small but full bars and hosts a variety of bands, including the Americans known as "Electric Six," who gave a great show on Friday (more on the bands later).

The atmosphere is very laid back with a diverse crowd. So diverse, in fact, that I befriended a Mexican-Swiss guy (mom is Mexican, dad is Swiss) and a Peruvian-Swiss girl (mom is Peruvian, dad is Swiss). I never thought I'd go out to a Swiss bar on a Friday night and spend the whole evening speaking Spanish!

The only downside of the evening is figuring out how to get home, since I imagine anything outside of Zürich City is quite the opposite of urban living and urban conveniences. Mariaberg is located several towns away from ours in Rorschach, St. Gallen. It's a quick drive by car, but tricky to manage with public transportation. We scratched our initial plan to take the S-Bahn train because it stopped running at midnight and I think Electric Six went on after eleven. On the other hand, the night buses run until around 2:30, but it's easy to lose track of time. Even though the bands stop playing, the party continues. With everyone drinking, the safest bet is a taxi.

P.S. What the heck is black vodka? Ordering a drink went a little something like this:

Me: Vodka Tonic, please.
Girl Behind Bar: (all in German) What kind? We have bla bla bla, Schwarz, bla bla, etc.
Me: (thinking "Schwarz" refers to a brand not a color and seems to be the only of my choices I could remember how to repeat) Schwarz, please.
What I got was a rather tasty, albeit black-colored, drink. Strange, but good.

The entrance

My dates having a beer before going inside.

Somehow, photos of me dancing always make it look like I am trying to sniff my armpit.

The stage and dance floor. Yep, that's it.

Just in Case: Sonnenbräu Beer Brewed in Rebstein, Switzerland

Unlike my pal Mrs. Tina, I am not really a beer drinker. Back in San Diego when we'd go to this pub called Triple Crown, I'd get a pear cider. (And would tell Isaiah when he brought me my drink, "Um, I didn't ask for a water." Every time! Yeah, it's that translucent.)

Here, we haven't really gone to any pubs together. We drink wine with dinner. I was, however, feeling a little frisky the other day and surprised mein Mann with this suggestion, "Why don't we stop by Coop and buy a couple of those beers you like?"

I had to clarify that I meant one for me and one for him, not two for him.

What resulted was a purchase of not two, but twenty bottles of beer. I don't mind, really. It's nice to have a case, or a large crate, of beer on hand, you know -- just in case friends stop by for a spontaneous visit or whatever. Also, I feel like I'm contributing to the local economy, as this beer is brewed in Rebstein, just a couple of towns away from Au.

Oh, yeah, and it's very tasty. And we have to return the crate and all twenty bottles if we want our CHF 15 deposit back (5 for the crate and .50 per bottle).

Toy Box

Ludothek, oh Ludothek, where have you been all my life? I could have really used one of you when I was a kid.

A bit of etymology: "ludo" derives from the Latin word "ludus," which means game or toy, and "thek" comes from the Greek word "théke" meaning box or chest. So, a Ludothek is just a giant toy box! The concept of a Ludothek can be explained by this simple analogy (translated from a Spanish webpage): The Ludothek is to the toy what Bibliothek (library) is to the book.

In other words, i.e. SAT format, Ludothek: toy :: Bibliothek: book

If you are unfamiliar with Ludotheken, allow me to give you a little background information. Although I did not grow up with a local Ludothek, my home state of California founded the first "toy library," as they are called in English, in Los Angeles around the time of the Great Depression. Families were unable to afford to buy new toys for their children, so they would borrow toys from the toy library. Similar programs popped up around the country, even in San Diego, but many of the programs didn't last. However, the concept really took off in Europe and other parts of the world. Fortunately, the organization that started the first toy library in Los Angeles is still thriving and something like 40 toy libraries in LA county are in operation today.

I recently went with my Chefin, Little L, and Al to the Ludothek of Schaffhausen (located on the top floor of the book library) and was excited to see toys available for children of all ages. That afternoon we came home with giant plastic building blocks and a board game. Borrowing teaches the kids to take special care of these toys so that other children can also enjoy them later. They keep these toys separate from their own personal toys and are careful not to lose any pieces. Back when these toy libraries first began, a big part of the program was teaching children responsibility and rewarding them for cleaning the toys and returning them in good condition. Wouldn't children today benefit from this as well? (Get with it San Diego - maybe when I move back I'll look into starting one up.)

If you or anyone you know would like to find out about the Ludotheken in your area of Switzerland, please click on this link.

TV auf Englisch

Since buying our big-ass TV back in November, I have been spending a lot of time with Ralitsa Vassileva and Rosemary Church. These ladies are my friends from CNN International, the only English language TV channel we get, which is part of the basic TV programming that comes with our building. After several months of hanging out with these people on a regular basis, I feel like I know them. A little creepy? Maybe. Pathetic? For sure. Anyway, all that is about to change because we just found out that some channels have this Dual 1/Dual 2 feature that allows you to CHANGE the language of a particular program. (Are we the last ones to find out about this?) One such station is Eurosport. Good thing for Isaiah because Formula 1 season is around the corner and he was dreading having to listen to German announcers, i.e. background noise. All we have to do is press the "Tools" button on our remote control and scroll down to change the setting from Dual 1 to Dual 2. The indecipherable German is instantly replaced by the welcomed voices of British announcers (which can sometimes be a little incomprehensible to "Amrrcan" ears, but that's another story). Also, many Swiss channels play American films dubbed in German, French, or Italian. Now we can use the Dual 1/Dual 2 feature to enjoy many of these movies in their original version. Just this past weekend we watched "Daddy Day Care" auf Englisch. Heck yeah!

How do we know that a particular station offers this feature? Well, when we channel surf, we look at the display in the upper left corner, which will flash Stereo/Mono/Dual 1. Whenever we see the Dual 1, we give it a try in Dual 2. Watch out for the Euro News stations, though, because sometimes when Dual 1 is in German, Dual 2 is in French, not English.

All hail the Heilsarmee

I'd like to introduce you to my new friend. Her name is "Hercules," named after her manufacturer (easier this way since the name is already painted on her frame). Isn't she a beauty? I know Hercules is a boy's name, but it's kind of like a boy named "Sue" only in reverse.

We found her at the local Heilsarmee Brocki (Salvation Army Second-hand Shop). There she was in the rooftop section for garden furniture: leaning up against a pillar, her tires limp, but her spirit strong. We had originally gone there to look for a glass vase, but instead we brought her home. After pumping some air in her tires, Isaiah took her for a spin to determine if we needed to make any adjustments or pick anything up for her at the local bike shop (Radsport Frei). I watched as he rode Hercules around the parking lot, and she looked like she was so pumped to finally be in use again. I think she may have been gathering dust in someone's garage for over ten years, as her last Velovignette dates back to 1998 and, for being an older bike, she is in perfect condition, rust-free and everything. Isaiah determined that everything was working properly and suggested that as soon as he finished making adjustments to his own bike we could go off for a ride that afternoon!

Hercules couldn't be more perfect. She feels just like a new bike, but for a fraction of the cost. New Hercules City bikes go for at LEAST 500 Euros, and we got my girl for a mere CHF 140!

On Sunday, despite the scattered rain showers, we took a ride across the border to Austria. The best part is we were not alone. With spring in the air, the gray skies didn't stop these people from enjoying their Sunday stroll along the Rhein. Just bring an umbrella or a rain poncho and the problem is solved!

By the way, we found some geese and I decided to pose with them. It's a novelty, really, for me to pose with geese, since the only goose I have ever seen is Mother Goose. I'm serious!

UPDATE: Prompted by Chantal's comment below, I googled the "Slow Up" event and found this website: http://www.slowup.ch/d/events.html

Nützliche Ausdrücke

a.k.a. "Useful Phrases"

I have decided that my German textbooks and Swiss guidebooks are completely inadequate and out of touch with the modern foreign language learner, quite simply because they have failed to provide me with a couple of today's most essential phrases for survival. So, I asked my Swiss Chefin for some help, and she has delivered the goods.

Situation #1:

I am at Starbucks ordering a Coffee of the Day (because it's the cheapest thing on the menu and sometimes I just need a Starbucks fix). Asking for the drink itself is easy because the menu items are in English and the sizes (Tall, Grande, Venti) are the same as in the States.

If I'd rather not take my coffee black and need a little "room for milk," here's what I can say, "Bitte, lassen Sie Platz für Milch." Or I can say, "Bitte, nicht ganz auffüllen," which means, "Please, don't fill it all the way."

Situation #2:

I am window shopping and a very attentive salesperson is offering to help me find something ("Kann ich Ihnen helfen?") or show me something ("Kann ich Ihnen etwas zeigen?"). Something I could say here in Switzerland, but not necessarily in Germany (where they use the reflexive verb sich umsehen rather than schauen), is, "Nein, danke. Ich schaue nur," which means, "No, thanks. I am only looking." If I want to be a bit more polite, I could say, "Nein, danke. Ich möchte bitte nur schauen," which means, "No, thanks. I would only like to have a look."

I am looking forward to using these phrases, as I am quite sick of smiling at salespeople, pointing to my eyes with my index and middle finger, gesturing to the merchandise around me, and saying in English, "Just looking."

Bunny Breeding

Recent visits to Migros and Coop supermarkets have revealed that chocolate bunnies in Switzerland breed just like cartoon bunnies! I can't remember what the chocolate Easter bunny section was like last year at the supermarkets I frequented in San Diego, but I doubt it was anything like what I have been witnessing lately. I'm not talking about just a proliferation of white, milk, dark, and speckled chocolate rabbits - the sizes and prices tags are also outrageous! (I swear, one was about as tall as a preschooler, and one of the larger Lindt bunnies cost CHF 49.95!) Is this a traditional Swiss celebration of Easter or an excuse for chocolatiers to pump up their revenue?

Coupon Queen

I don't really miss a whole lot of "American stuff" (mostly people), but one thing I do miss is coupons from the Sunday paper! For me, there is something so relaxing and therapeutic about plopping myself in front of the television with a pair of scissors and the glossy coupon booklets and snipping away at deals on pasta sauce and deodorant sticks. The best part, of course, was taking my carefully organized coupons to the Vons supermarket and watching them redeem DOUBLE the value of each coupon. (Yes, instead of $1.00 off string cheese, Vons gives you $2.00 off.)

It's not that they don't have coupons here, but they are far and few between. Not only that, I have yet to find manufacturers' coupons. All I've come across are ones exclusive to a certain shop. However, the coupons I recently received in the mail are better than any coupon I've ever encountered in the Sunday paper. People, I am talking about the coupons you earn from presenting the Cumulus Card every time you shop at Migros. Several weeks ago, Jessica from Swisstory wrote a helpful post about how the program works, but I had yet to see the fruit of my shopping labor. Now it has all finally paid off! As you see from the photo - we've just earned CHF 30 in free stuff from Migros. For our current status of 2,000 points (1,000 rolled over from previous earning period and/or bonus points and 1,000 points for CHF 1,000 total purchases at all Migros shops and affiliates in current period) we earned CHF 20 in free stuff. Additionally, for spending at least CHF 1,000 within the current two-month earning period (which you'll recall was already included in our point status), we earned an extra CHF 10 in merchandise.

Yes, I realize that we're earning back a meager 1% of what we spend, but I prefer not to think about that too much. COUPONS!!

The Queso Suizo Project: Aktion!

Our local Migros supermarket has been on a roll for the past couple of weeks: The cheese section has been featuring a wider-than-usual variety of cheeses on Aktion (special offer).

One such cheese that I am already familiar with is called Emmental. In fact, I was familiar with this cheese before I moved to Switzerland and I didn't even know it! Apparently, Emmental is what friends in the U.S. have come to call simply "Swiss cheese." To be honest, I have never been a huge fan of "Swiss cheese," except when it's melted in a sandwich or something. (Um, can someone please deep freeze a Bennigan's Monte Cristo sandwich with a mix of Swiss and American cheeses and send it to me Global Express?) I've always thought "Swiss cheese" was too bitter for my taste sensibilities, but this Emmental we got wasn't half bad. Emmental is considered a hard cheese, but the one we got wasn't as hard as Parmesan or Gruyére. Also, the Mittelreif variety offers a much mellower flavor than the "Swiss cheese" that I am used to. We enjoyed it, non-melted, in some Silserwiches (mini sandwiches I prepare with Silserkranz rolls).

Bottom line: Glad I tried it, but it is not one of my favorites.

Next up is a mountain cheese called "Bündner," which is a semi-hard cheese produced at Käserei Sedrun in canton Graubünden. Isaiah is a big fan of this cheese, and it isn't difficult to figure out why. What's great about "Bündner" is that it's packed with flavor without being overpowering like the Schwägalp-Käse.

Bottom line: Makes for a reliably satisfying cheese experience.

Finally, we have a Thurgauer Rahmkäse, a semi-soft cheese that's pretty forgettable. The scent isn't particularly fowl, and it has a nice creamy texture, but this cheese didn't grab my attention. I think I prefer a cheese to assault me with flavor. It's not that this Rahmkäse is flavorless. I mean, it's good, but not that good. (So eloquently put, right?)

Bottom line: Not enough bang for my buck.

Flohmarkt

Graffiti art is welcome at Zürich's Rote Fabrik (or "Red Factory"). Well, at least that's the impression I got when we stopped by for a Velo-Teile-Flohmarkt on Sunday. Ads referred to the event as a "Teilchenbeschleuniger" - say that 5 times fast - the ultimate Bike Parts Flea Market.

The Rote Fabrik is a cultural center housed in, you guessed it, an old red factory. Wandering around the grounds before the 10 a.m. event, I noticed a restaurant, a theater, and a sailing school.

For those of you interested in the flea market, the vendor who sold Isaiah a crank set told me that the event happens once a year, usually around the same time every year. If you want to check it out for yourself next year, pay a visit to the Velozüri website.

As you can see from the photo (left), I was unable to document the event with my camera, but just imagine tables and tables of parts for mountain, racing, and road bikes as well as whole bikes and cycling gear - all in a hall that also hosts late-night concerts and parties.

Gurtis

With the desire to squeeze in a few more runs before spring arrives, Isaiah and I crossed the border into Voralberg, Austria, and popped into a little village called Gurtis. We arrived a little before noon, just as the sun began to peer through the clouds. It was so warm that we even contemplated snowboarding in just our thermal tops, but decided against it since our lift passes were attached to our coats (little flimsy paper things with plastic fasteners - definitely not the fancy credit card types you get at big resorts). Not that it would have mattered, as I am sure the lift attendant would have recognized us among the handful of other skiers and snowboarders present that Saturday.

This particular slope is a glorified bunny slope, perfect for when you don't want to be bothered with crowds and need space to practice. Isaiah, F, and R have all given me new tips and suggestions, but I rarely have an opportunity to practice them, as I am usually skidding down steep slopes on my heels trying to catch up with everyone else. At EUR 15 for a day pass or 12 for a half day pass, it's a great alternative to high capacity slopes.



The photo below is a shot I took from "the very top" of the lift. As you can see, the grade of the slope is minimal, so I didn't get too freaked out by my speed to try out what my friends have taught me.


Oh yeah, one more thing: This slope employs a platter lift, which is 100% more comfortable that the T-bar. Yay!


I'm happy to report that each time we hit the slopes I feel more and more comfortable on the board. I feel like I'm starting to get the hang of this sport and a taste of why people love it so much!

Something to do on a Sunday

Isaiah and I had been eying the sledding trails along the Appenzeller Bahnen for a couple of months now. A week ago we decided to give it a go. After all, it was Sunday, so everything else around here was closed. By car, it was quite easy to get started. We drove to the train station in Altstätten City and parked the car in the Migros lot. (You can also access this stop by taking the bus from the Altstätten main station or switch to the AB in Gais.) Inside the "Mercato Shop Altstätten" (stocked with souvenirs, snacks, and sleds-for-hire), we purchased our one-way rail tickets to Stoss (AR) - CHF 4.00 per person, full price. Within a few minutes we boarded the cog train and began our ascent. Check out the detail shot I took of the "teeth" on this railway, which made for a noisy trip, but it was exciting to be riding on such a steep slope, even if for just ten minutes.



At our stop, we unloaded our plastic sleds, breathed in a fresh cow-manure stench, and secured our gloves. The trail follows the railway, but also takes you through the countryside. Riding down was mostly bumpy and the melting snow revealed mud and patches of grass.


We did, however, appreciate the intermittent signs letting us know which way to go to continue on the designated sledding slopes:


At the end, the trail abruptly delivered us to a large field, after which we set out on foot back to the car park/train station. (Convenient signs pointing to the Bahnhof and Zentrum sent us in the right direction.) If you happen to be in this area sometime during the winter (or plan to come visit us in the future - Jamon and Dill), you should not pass up this activity. Our only complaint was that the slopes hadn't been groomed in a while, probably since the last snowfall two weeks prior, so I recommend going as soon as possible after a snowfall for a snowier, smoother ride.