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courgegeantsuisse
Beni Meier and his 2013 champion pumpkin weighing 1,053 kg             © Keystone

OK, we don't expect you to find one this big! A new 2013 Swiss record was broken this year with a pumpkin weighing in at 1,053kg! The farmer responsible for this beast is again Beni Meier, from Zurich, who has beaten his own record for 3 consectutive years now.

If you love the colors and selections of pumpkins that are avaiable today, then wait no longer! You can buy a great assortment and even make it to a festival as well. Most restaurants will be serving pumpkin soup around this time of year but see bottom of page for Lisa's recipe. 

1001 Courges

Familles Jean-Mairet-Favre

Rte de Chavornay 1

1372 Bavois, VD

024 441 41 74

079 241 19 68

www.1001courges.ch

Pumpkin-tasting and meal and all things pumpkin as well as huge sale. They are having a festival with tasting and food the weekend of 6-7 October, 2012.

 

Schilliger

Rte Suisse 40

1196 Gland, VD

022 354 44 44

www.schilliger.com

20,000m2 garden center and boutique, see photo above for their extensive selection of pumpkins. Weekdays 9h-18h30, Saturday 8h-18h. Check-out the pumpkin-carving workshop on October 27, 2012.

 

Famille Claude et Carine Jaquier

Rte d'Eclagnens 7

1376 Goumoens-la-Ville, VD

021 882 20 02

079 380 10 40

www.lagrangeauxcourges.ch

Open from September through mid-December from 8h30-19h in self-service choice and honor box payment system.

 

Ferme Courtois

Rte de la Branvaude 13
1290 Versoix, GE
022 755 43 16

www.fermecourtois.ch

Pumpkins, apples (15 varieties), fresh apple juice, flowers, and more. Open Monday and Tuesday 9h-12h and 13h30-18h, Friday 9h-18h, Saturday 9h-17h.

 

Verger St. Loup

54, rte de St. Loup

1290 Versoix, GE

022 755 60 10

www.pomme.ch

Apples (15 varieties), fresh apple and pear juices, apple cider (hard), honey, a few pumpkins, and more. Open Tuesday to Friday 15h-18h, Saturday 9h-17h.

 

Ferme Perroud

Rte de Rombuet 148

1616 Attalens

www.selffruitsperroud.ch

The selection of pumpkins is incredible. Open daily.

 

Fête de la Courge

Ouchy, VD

27 October, 2013

www.cpo-ouchy.ch

14h-17h workshops for kids

18h-19h30 open to the public

Free bowl of freshly-made pumpkin soup for all! There will be a parade of kids in Halloween costumes.

 

COOP

Geneva Rhône-Fusterie and Lausanne Au Centre's Coops

14h30-17h30

Wednesday 30 October, 2013

www.coop.ch

Thanks to Lausanne Mom for pointing out that Coop is getting in on the fun with face-painting and pumpkin decorating.

 

Villa Romaine de Pully, VD

14h-17h

Wednesday 30 October, 2013

021 721 38 00 (reservations required)

www.patrimoine.vd.ch

Halloween treats and scientific analysis of bones for those that dare (age 7-12)! Fr. 10.-/child.

 

 

annemiekepumpkins

© Photo taken at the Ferme Perroud by Annemieke De Koster 2013

 

Au P’tit Bonheur Restaurant

4, ch. des Cornillons

1292 Chambésy, GE

022 758 08 48

www.auptitbonheur.ch 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

** HALLOWEEN SUNDAY BRUNCH

20 and 27 October, 2013

Their traditional Halloween Sunday Brunch and Pumpkin Carving Workshop between 11h-14h. Come join the fun - children and adults alike – or bring a pumpkin that your child can carve (under the supervision of an adult) so that you, the parent, can enjoy a relaxing Sunday Brunch.

If you would like to reserve a pumpkin for your child to carve, please let them know in advance. If you have a large group with kids and would enjoy coming earlier or later, let them know, they can always try to accommodate.  Make your reservations now! Limited places available.

 

** ALL-ABOUT-PUMPKIN MENU

 31 October, 2013

Join them for Halloween to savor their “All-About-Pumpkin Menu”, to forget the cold and to enjoy the different original and sweet pumpkin flavours of the fall. Au P’tit Bonheur was featured last year in the Tribune de Genève for its creative Menu. 

 

Self Service pumpkins

On the road to Chavannes Centre near Commugny (as of 26-10-2013 they are all gone). Pick the one you want and put the money in the honor box.

 

Manor, Migros, Coop, Carrefour, LeClerc, outdoor farmer's markets

Also have a selection of pumpkins for carving or for cooking. Try to get the green skinned pumpkin (a chunk not the whole thing) and using a mandolin cutter, slice as thin as you can and serve raw on salad. It is really delicious!

pumpkins2

Halloween
October 31st. This ancient celebration has now become very popular in Switzerland. In October, you’ll find everything from costumes (page 371 of the current Know-it-all passport ® 2013/2014) to candy on sale in the shops. Traditionally, kids ring the doorbell and you give them some candy/sweets. Pumpkins can be bought at supermarkets, garden centers, or outdoor markets. Most kids will only ring the bell of houses or appartments that have some kind of Halloween decoration.

Lisa's recipe for the best pumpkin soup

  • Any combination of pumpkin, butternut squash, sweet potato, etc.
  • Cut into even size pieces and coat with olive oil and salt.
  • Roast in hot oven 200°C for about 1 hour.
  • Heat a little olive oil, onions, garlic, celery leaves (if you have some) on your stovetop in a deep pan with lid. 
  • Add salt and pepper to taste
  • Take cooked pumpkin pieces and add to pan.
  • Cover with boiling water.
  • Add as much whole chorizo sausage (peel skin first) as you like and let cook for about 20 minutes.
  • Remove sausage.
  • Add some cream to soup.
  • Purée soup.
  • Chop chorizo into bite size pieces and return to soup.
  • Serve and enjoy with a thick piece of toasted crusty bread and a dollop of cream.