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. If you want to see the largest pumpkin in Switzerland 2011, then click on this article to see Beni Meier of Zurich's 702kg monster!
1001 Courges
Familles Jean-Mairet-Favre
Rte de Chavornay 1
1372 Bavois (VD)
024 441 41 74
079 241 19 68
Pumpkin tasting and meal and all things pumpkin as well as huge sale. Click here for more information. They are having a festival with tasting and food the weekend of 8-9 October, 2011.
Schilliger
Rte Suisse 40
1196 Gland
022 354 44 44
20,000m2 garden center and boutique, see photo above for their extensive selection of pumpkins. Weekdays 9h-18h30, Saturday 8h-18h.
Famille Claude et Carine Jaquier
Rte d'Eclagnens 7
1376 Goumoens-la-Ville
021 882 20 02
079 380 10 40
Ferme Courtois
Rte de la Branvaude 13
1290 Versoix
022 755 43 16
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
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.
Potirons à la Fête
Ornex, France
Salle René Lavergne
http://www.ornex.fr/manifestation.php
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Pumpkin festival with activities, food, and more.
Self Service pumpkins
On the road to Chavanne Centre near Commugny. 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!
** CANADIAN THANKSGIVING **
If you are in the mood for some pumpkin pie and other North American foods then join the Canada Club on Sunday, October 9, 2011, for their traditional Thanksgiving brunch at the Hotel Crowne Plaza. You must reserve in advance and this event is open to all whether you are Canadian or not. Click here for more details and full list of menu items on the brunch table.
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 ® 2011/2012) 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.
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.
