With Christmas soon upon us, and all the delicious food that the festive season entails, we thought you might be inspired by a new encyclopaedia for chocolate and confectionary that was launched at the Swissôtel Métropole in Geneva earlier this month.
From A to Z, from « abaisse » …. to « ziste », the French edition of the "Encyclopédie du Chocolat et de la Confiserie" brings together all the available knowledge specific to chocolate and sugar confectionery: culinary, cultural, economic, geographical, historical, legal, nutritional, professional, scientific, and technical. Featuring over 3,100 documented and delicious chronicles across 1,248 lavishly illustrated pages, the encyclopaedia is required reading for all chocolate and confectionary lovers, to sharpen one’s gluttony just as much as one’s knowledge.
The "Encyclopédie du Chocolat et de la Confiserie" is the result of over 10 years of work and research on the part of the elected members of the French Academy of Chocolate and Confectionery, under the editorship of tenured University Professor Nikita Harwich.
Here are a few ideas for quick and easy apéritifs, with ingredients sourced from local supermarkets. This year, we've added a couple of new recipes from "Healthy Sweet + Spicy Christmas Recipes", the amazing new eBook from knowitall.ch guest blogger, Hiba Giacoletto.
The common feature of all recipes featured in this list is simplicity – none of us wants to spend hours creating gourmet dishes at this time of year. So read on… and if you have a few ideas of your own, please send them in to us and we will add them to this year's list.
If you still need further inspiration, then why not try out one of the "festive" cookery lessons in the area! Many of the local cookery schools offer classes in the run up to Christmas. Check out page 514 of the current edition of Know-it-all passport to find a local school near you!
Looking for that special restaurant that will whip up that delicious Christmas or New Year's meal? Then look no further. Here are a few suggestions but book now to avoid disappointment. A lot of restaurants in Switzerland and France close over the entire holiday season so don't think you can just walk into a one on the spur of the moment.
Some are open for Christmas Eve, Christmas lunch or dinner, New Year's Eve, or New Year's Day. The cost per person varies but click on the websites here to go straight to their menu options (in most cases). If you have one that you think we should list, please contact us!
by Hiba Giacoletto, Healthwise
If you have tried going gluten-free in Geneva, you might have quickly stumbled upon some difficulties. Difficulties like: Where to eat a decent meal? Where to get bread when you really, really need your fix? And what about dessert?
As a Food Coach who has been gluten-free for the past year, here are seven considerations that will come up - guaranteed - for anyone living gluten-free in Geneva!
1. If only I could enjoy eating out again
You can! In addition to the 7 healthy places I listed in an earlier article that all have gluten-free options, the most important thing is to be clear with your waiter about the ingredients you need to avoid. You might need to ask specific questions about dishes and clearly state what you can and cannot eat as not all waiters know where gluten is found.
Fr. 5.- discount for knowitall.ch readers with their first order
When the Semaine du Goût came to Geneva in September, there was a lot of discussion in the press about the benefits of eating regional, seasonal produce. Geneva, for example, has lots to offer in terms of local delicacies: “longeole”, “cardons”, “lentilles vertes et corail”, and "Almondgy" are just a few of the culinary delights that you can expect to discover after a few months of living here.
Given their uniqueness to this region, have you ever considered what you might discover in other cantons throughout Switzerland? Indeed, each canton has its own particular specialities, many of which are unknown beyond their local borders.
It was this peculiarity of Switzerland's culinary heritage that led Swiss entrepreneur, Florian Corthésy, to come up with the idea for HelvetiBox, a subscription service that allows you to taste each month the unique specialities of a particular Swiss canton.
