A Good Grilled Cheese Sandwich In Switzerland

For several years now I have been yearning to find a good cheese in the land of cheese to make an American favorite. A grilled cheese sandwich.

2 pieces of 'American bread', a slice or two of cheese in the middle, all fried with a little butter in a pan. The problem was that most cheeses in the land of cheese just weren't right. They were too hard, too smelly, the wrong flavor, whatever. In short just not right.

After more than 3 years of experimenting I have found something that I like. Tilsiter cheese fits the bill. As with all replicas of American cooking abroad it isn't perfect, but it's close enough. Tilsiter has the right flavor, much milder than most. It also seems to have the right salt content. Similar to the classic Kraft American Singles processed cheese.

The nice thing about tilsiter is it melts nicely as well. Perfect for a grilled cheese sandwich. I've also used it on hamburgers and happy with the results as well.

Do you have a favorite cheese for grill cheese or a cheese burger? Leave a comment.

Thoughts On Swiss Butter Packaging

I have noticed that our butter in the fridge is always tattered in comparison to what I remember in the U.S. It is as if someone had torn apart the wrapper with, dare I say it, a butter knife.

This would normally not be something I would think of but my wife mentioned that maybe the Swiss packaging is less durable for ecological reasons. The Swiss are after all more concerned about recycling. My beloved foil based butter and margarine wrappers in the U.S. would after all be shunned by the Swiss, even if they are more durable.

For now I will just have to live, knowing full well that every time I butter some toast I will further reduce my butter packaging into something that looks like it was pulled from the garbage by some wandering night animal.

Subway Opens In Baden

Today was my first trip to the new Subway in Baden. I was inspired to stop by after a recent phone call with Mother. After having visited Switzerland twice she has enough experience here to understand about the only 'Americana' you get get here is MacDonald's. So when I told here there was a Subway coming to town she rightly asked, "Why would Baden need a Subway? It is such a small town, I can't imagine why they would spend all that money on public transportation."

So Let me give you my critique. The Subway sits on the south end of the old town. Just a stones throw from the clock tower. I went for lunch today only after another American colleague of mine suggested we check it out for lunch.

The place is just a little bit larger than a University dorm room and has about 4 tables. I guess that suits the lunch crowd well. I had completely forgotten the place was a short walk from the school. Showing up at shortly after 12:00 on a week day was not a good idea as I was competing with the local school kids to get my "Ham und Turkey auf honey oat."

A 15 cm sub (6 inch) will set you back about 6 Swiss Francs ($6). I decided to go with the value meal. That included a 30 cm sub (foot long) a medium drink, and a bag of chips. I was treating so I picked up my friends tab as well. Total cost for two foot long value meals plus a cookie, $36. Yes my American friends, scream in horror, that is about the same price as you would pay in the U.S. to cater an entire Superbowl party using your friend Vito down at the local Italian deli.

The good points, the sub tasted great. It was made on that wonderfully soft and delicious American style bread that the Swiss seem to cringe at. I had my choice of American style sandwich toppings. Things like tomatoes, onion and green pepper. I guess that is hard to understand unless you've tried to order a sandwich in der Schweiz. If you have grown to love the Swiss version of the sub, worry not my young Swerge. You will be offered the option to include slices of hardboiled egg on your sandwich.

The best thing about the Subway by far was the soda fountain. It is the only place in Baden that has a soda fountain. The only downside, no ice machine. Yeah, I know its rough but you gotta roll with the punches sometime and take what you can get.

Hotdogs & Raclette

Raclette Cheese

I definitely do not eat raclette & hotdogs together. But believe it or not they do have something in common. Strangely enough they are my two most popular selling food photos lately on a stock photo website that I contribute too.

Yes, this photo was staged at home just before we gorged ourselves on cheese. I just love the wanderschlumpf shirt (a.k.a. brownies) that my wife found a flea market that we used in this picture. It really makes the photo.

So let the ski season begin and be sure to have a bit of Raclette at the ole' ski hutte.