Thanks to Serve The City Geneva for all the great work they are doing to help feed those in need over the holiday and everyday. They are still looking for volunteers so we thought an article would help reach more people in the area. If you are able to help out in any way, then please go to the website to sign up.
Gary Vannatter wrote this, "Firstly we would like to thank all of you who helped in our kitchen projects at both La Ferme du Budé and Hôtel Bel Esperance over the last 6 months. With your help we have produced over 17,000 nutritious and balanced meals that were distributed to the city’s most vulnerable people.
"With the support of Mater foundation and talented chef Walter el Nager, Serve the City is again looking for volunteers to help in a new kitchen that has been secured at Centre paroissial protestant Servette-Vieusseux, Avenue Wendt 55, 1203 Genève."
With nearly 4000 hectares of vineyards, the canton of Vaud is one of the most important wine-growing regions in Switzerland. Structured into six regions and eight appellations d'origine contrôlée (AOC), it seduces its visitors with a very large variety of grape varieties and wines.
Probably introduced on the shores of Lake Geneva and in the Alps by the Romans, the cultivation of vines was developed by monks throughout the Middle Ages. During the Renaissance, these gave way to winegrowing families whose descendants remain very attached to their traditions. To this day, wine is a strong element in the social, economic and cultural fabric of the canton of Vaud.
With a great diversity of terroirs, the region lends itself to the cultivation of numerous grape varieties. The most emblematic of these is the Chasselas, a tasty golden grape, which produces crystalline white wines that are as much appreciated as an aperitif as they are as an accompaniment to a fillet of féra du lac or a cheese dish. Among the most typical grape varieties to be savored are mondeuse, le plant robert, and pinot gris.
Picture Perfect
The canton of Vaud is made up of six wine-growing regions and eight AOCs: La Côte AOC, Lavaux (with three AOCs: Lavaux AOC, Calamin AOC and Dézaley AOC), Chablais AOC, Vully AOC, Bonvillars AOC, and Les Côtes de l'Orbe AOC. With particularities specific to each area, pictoreseque landscapes are to die for.
Throughout the year, wine lovers can take advantage of a rich oenotouristic choice. It is enhanced throughout the canton by the Vaud Œnotourism label, which guarantees high quality standards. Easily identifiable, wine professionals, restaurant, tourism, and wineries and shops selling local products open their doors to all foodies curious to discover the canton of Vaud through its gastronomy. From wine-tasting at the cellar to a guided walk through the terraced vineyards or a ride on the mini wine train, you'll be sure to find something to suit every palate and style.
© 2019 Regis Colombo
As Geneva's wine-tasting annual event "Caves Ouvertes" cannot take place this year due to COVID-19, the organizers have arranged a new concept the Caves Ouvertes à la Maison! You will still be able to enjoy wine-tasting among your friends, but in your own home or office. The fun will be back next year where wineries open their doors and prepare all sorts of fun events for the whole family.
The way it is set up is more convivial with a smaller group at home. You will find that every vineyard in the area have organized a "tasting pack" consisting of 6 bottles.
Here's how it works:
1. Choose your "tasting" card in a participating winery. See list below. Choose one producer from the list on the website. Ask your neighbours and friends if they would like to order a pack. Receive the wine and have a wine-tasting at home with your friends and neighbors (respecting the imposed social distancing measures).
2. Share info on this order with your entourage and/or your neighborhood in order to centralize all orders.
3. You contact the winery and place the bulk order for the "tasting" boxes (minimum 2 boxes).
4. You collect the forms from your friends and/or neighbors.
5. The cellar delivers all the boxes to you. You pay the total invoice and you take care of the distribution of the boxes to your entourage and/or neighborhood.
6. Send your photos of your event by Messenger on the Genève Terroir Facebook page. They will include them on this page. Attach your address and you will receive small gifts (sommelier corkscrews, card games, etc.).
Here is a form that you can use for ordering.
In light of what this pandemic has imposed on us, one of the first things folks are pinning for (apart from the hairdresser) is a good meal out to celebrate, enjoy the beautiful weather, and socialize with friends and family again. But in the meantime, restaurants are really struggling financially and could do with some pre-paid meals on your behalf. You are going to spend the money at that restaurant anyways, so why not do it now? You can have solidarity with restaurant owners and know that you will be supporting them throughout the shutdown period.
Who started this initiative and why?
#AidonsNosRestaurants is a campaign launched by LaFourchette and Tripadvisor to support the restaurant industry during the COVID-19 crisis.
How can I prepay for a meal at one of my favorite restaurants?
You can "buy a prepaid voucher" on the restaurant page, and choose an amount between Fr. 10.- and Fr. 250.-; all gestures count — from the smallest to the largest.
Is the payment secure?
LaFourchette and Tripadvisor have chosen Stripe, a payment system recognized for supporting secure transactions.
Bastien and Sandra at Plainpalais market on Fridays
When and why did you start The Brown_e?
I started thinking about The Brown_e in 2018. I have always liked baking and, of course, eating homemade desserts. In March last year I realized I could not find what I was looking for when I wanted something sweet and fudgy so I created the concept I would have liked to find myself.
I started The Brown_e website months later and in February 2019 I started at Plainpalais Market. At the end of September 2019 I got a place at the Marché du Leman on Sundays.
What is behind the name?
Finding the brownie recipe I was dreaming of is one of the reasons why I started this project and I wanted it to be the name. As I started as e-commerce only, I wanted to add
the underscore and replace the « i ». The « e » represents the environment. We encourage our customers to reuse our packaging and our paper bags or bring their own
containers. We do not use plastic and ingredients are locally sourced. We do not own a car, and all our orders are delivered by public transport or by bike. One of our long-term
goals is to have a carbon neutral The Brown_e shop.
