Friday, May 29, 2009

Spotted by Locals: Merkur Confiserie - Fresh chocolate by the slab

Have you checked out my favorite spots in Zürich yet on Spotted by Locals?

No?

Ok, well I thought as much - so today I am featuring one of those favorites here - the Merkur Confiserie. I like the one on Bahnhofstrasse for a sensory experience - they even have a chocolatier behind the counter that you can watch at work! And I like the one in the Bahnhof for a quick pick-me-up.

But above all, those blocks of chocolate are awesome and make the perfect gift. Ahh... sweet chocolate block... I gotta run. There are a few with my name on them right now!

Read the full write-up on Spotted by Locals Zürich.
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Living and Working in Switzerland, 12th Edition: A Survival Handbook. This is an essential for anyone thinking about living in Switzerland. Buy it now via Amazon UK or pre-order your Amazon.com copy today! Thank you for supporting Swisstory by shopping on Amazon.
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Thursday, May 28, 2009

When buying in bulk is ok in Switzerland...

Ok... so I lied. After I said on Monday that I am totally ruined by Switzerland, and no longer able to buy things in bulk, I realized that only just this last weekend I totally had!

Will you forgive me?

I mean - come on... in some cases, it is a must!

Ps. These little toblerones are so crazy good. They are the perfect size. You can eat one and not feel like a pig, and there are 20 of them for CHF 11.95... at Denner! Go now! Just leave some for me. :)

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Living and Working in Switzerland, 12th Edition: A Survival Handbook. This is an essential for anyone thinking about living in Switzerland. Buy it now via Amazon UK or pre-order your Amazon.com copy today! Thank you for supporting Swisstory by shopping on Amazon.
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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Clever, clever Swiss tourism campaigns...

I got this in the mail yesterday and was about to automatically add it to the recycle pile... but then I saw that it had my name in the headline... and then I realized what it said (We do everything to make your summer vacation perfect...) and suddenly I was laughing in hysterics.

Remember this? Where they were asking for volunteer Swiss mountain cleaners? If you missed it, do watch the youtube video!

Well, I did sign up to be a Swiss mountain cleaner - and I guess from now on I will get little surprises in my post like this - more the merrier, I say. They are hilarious. The back of the post card says to visit MySwitzerland.com/top for special deals and offers for Swiss travel. And hell, go on and visit it. With such a clever ad campaign, I think they deserve a bit of traffic!

And I do hope they are fixing up any broken cowbells! I wouldn't want this to be false advertising now! And I do love those cow bells. :)
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Living and Working in Switzerland, 12th Edition: A Survival Handbook. This is an essential for anyone thinking about living in Switzerland. Buy it now via Amazon UK or pre-Order your Amazon.com copy today! Thank you for supporting Swisstory by shopping on Amazon.
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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Half Maraton Completed (by Jace of course!)

On Sunday, Jace and his mates completed the Wintertour (half) marathon. Put another tick by a personal goal and Jace did it and did it well - especially considering the sweltering heat - 31 degrees C or 87 degrees F on the day! Wowzers!

Above and below are before shots of the happy go lucky pre-half marathoners.

And then almost 22 km later...
... the after shots. I think I looked more shattered than they did, standing in that heat for 2 hours and 20 minutes. They were in great spirits - but wouldn't you be if you completed a 22 km race?! What an achievement. Way to go babe... that is awesome!

After the race...

Here Jace shows his time... not last in his age category! Good work, babe! :)

Ps. Thanks to Rach and Stu for hosting us for the weekend. We had a great time.

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Living and Working in Switzerland, 12th Edition: A Survival Handbook. This is an essential for anyone thinking about living in Switzerland. Buy it now via Amazon.co.uk or
pre-Order your Amazon.com copy today! Thank you for supporting Swisstory by shopping on Amazon.
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Monday, May 25, 2009

Switzerland: Saving you from supermarket histeria

If you asked me a few weeks ago whether or not I missed shopping at the grocery store in the US, I would have said yes. Fo-shore. But after 1.2 seconds at my local grocery store in Brentwood, TN, looking for franks and a can of Bush's vegetarian baked beans to stage a mid-week picnic, I was on the verge of running screaming through the aisles, shouting 'Just show me the beans, dammit!'

I
This seen of abundance is customary to all American shoppers, but after shopping at my local village Migro or Spar, scenes like this make my head spin. Why does one need 1421 types of beans? It is not normal.

Another of my favorite guilty pleasure of past was shopping at Sam's club - but alas... it is ruined. I can no longer gleefully buy 87 rolls of toilet paper or 33 mangos or 100 lb. boxes of Tide and wonder at the savings in store. Instead, I feel dirty. I feel a bit wasteful. I feel... too American. Like all the excess is sufficating me. It is an awful feeling really. I wanted to buy those 33 mangos, but I knew I did not need them, nor could I eat them all (in 2 days nonetheless - but the older Jessica, the Sam's Club card toting member... she would have at least tried... I have become so pathetic...)

Oh Switzerland... you tiny, tiny country and your conservative mindful ways... how else have your ruined me forever?! Time will only tell.

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Thursday, May 21, 2009

How does my garden grow, you ask?


My first harvest - radishes!

As promised in my first garden post, here is an update on my little plot, my Swiss garden that I rent annually just 5 minutes from my apartment. What started out as this...

A blank canvas...

Now looks like this!

I have spent a lot of time in the garden since returning back from the States - mostly because I don't want to be that neighbor, the one that is growing weeds and grass instead of plants, the one that brings down the whole allotment and is the talk of the rest of the community. And believe me... these Swiss gardeners talk... I know because I have been privy to a few discussions in which such was said, "That one... see that one over there... (pointing to an allotment)... we have a problem there." I will not be the problem gardener, and that means I had a lot of work to do upon my return! Here I am, weeding away.



What am I growing, you ask? What am I not growing really... actually there is a lot I am not growing (like anything with melon in it because those are just easier to buy, or cauliflower or broccoli - same rules apply - too much work...), but here is what I am growing, and it is a lot...

(not in shot - radishes, giant marigolds, sunflowers,
gourds, herbs, more lettuce, and more flowers)

I have also finally met all of my 'neighbors' - plot neighbors that is. And I was surprised to find out that they are both Swiss - as most of the others I have run into are immigrants like me, Italians and Portuguese that is. While I am still in the minority - most gardeners are retirees or families with children (meaning lots of small hands to pull weeds), I am nevertheless enjoying it immensely. With the great weather we have been having, I have put in all my seedlings that thrived on the balcony and almost 80% of the garden is in (flowers and successional planting will go in the last 20%)... but hell it is a lot of work - especially keeping up with the Jones', or the Webers and Wagners as it might be.


Better shot of the garden from the back

Every time I think I have a good garden, I take a walk and am always awe struck by the beautifully manicured and weed free Swiss/Expat gardens. But I know that as a working girl and a foreigner, I have a bit of a free pass to have a few weeds - right? ;) I am just not going to be announcing that free pass with an American flag on the plot - not yet at least!

My peas

So far, the feedback I have received is good - "Nice sunflowers..." and "Du bist ja fleissig" meaning 'you have been busy!' I asked the one neighbor if I was doing ok, and he said "Ja! Naturlich!" He said the previous owners just grew grass, so I am not sure which standards they are comparing me to, yet. Regardless, he said it makes a difference to have good neighbors - so I take that as a positive remark! (Right? He surely meant me!) Then again, the first time we met he lent me a tool which I immediately broke - so maybe I am no so sure!

A tomato plant.

I am looking forward to the days when I can just do a bit of watering and weeding, when the planting is done... and naturally harvest time! Boo - yah! Until then... I will keep at it, and give you an update again soon... hopefully with the next lot of tucker.

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Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Continued...12 Reasons You Will Hate Me Tomorrow... or how I ate my way through the US

As promised, the rest of my gluttonous trip across the US (part 1 here)... what is it about food that makes us feel so at home? And so full! :)

7. 100% ALL BEEF HOT DOGS! Everyone knows I love a good hot dog (don't read into that...). Whether it is a 99 cent version at Sam's club or one down at the hot dog cafe, like this one was in Nashville, TN, you cannot go wrong with an all beef dog. This one was special with pickles, peppers, cucumber and other bits and pieces and it will remain in my dreams as perfection. This bad boy was also featured here.



8. Real Lemonade. I am not talking powder stuff or Sprite. I mean real lemons with sugar and water. Heaven. This was from the Cracker Barrel and the girl kept those free refills a comin'. At least 4 of those new extra pounds are from liquid indulgence. Oh yeah...
9. A real sandwich. Oh yeah. I believe Chantal talked about the lack of American style sandwiches in Switzerland and boy is she right. I had a hard time choosing which sandwich to get at the deli in Nashville - the turkey rueben, the roast beef with horseradish, or should I go all Thanksgiving on a bun and do turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberries and gravy all in one. Decisions, decisions. In the end, roast beef won out and it was fab. Don't forget the big dill pickle, too, or else I might have to hurt someone.

10. Chinese a la PF Changs. Something is magical about this place. Perhaps it is the fact that a lot of their meals are 14562 calories per serving? Na... that is not it. Either way, I love Chinese food here. Nuf said. My brother's favorite is the Dan Dan Noodles. Oh man is it good. Not pictured, but good. This is mongolian beef. (In Zurich, if you want Asian, I recommend Tiffins Asian Kitchen in Seefeld... read my write up about it on Spotted by Locals.)



11. Hot fudge sundae at Sonic. I know you can get hot fudge sundaes here, at McDonald's, but there is a wonderful Americana about this - the vanilla, the chocolate, the single cherry... nuts? No I am not.. oh you mean, do I want nuts? No thanks, but it is entirely up to you.

12. Finally, let's end this right with some Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. Altogether now... YUM! I like the original... I went all out and had it with strawberries and it was also delish. Now this is real cheesecake, not this stuff...

Now if you'll excuse me... I have to go run a half-marathon and work all this off... then again, I'll leave that up to Jace. He is running one in Wintertur this Sunday!
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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

12 Reasons You Will Hate Me Tomorrow... or how I ate my way through the US

A colleague asked me today how my trip went, and after I told them how great it was to see friends and family and visit home, I also mentioned that I ate my way across the US. After a bit of explaining, he got it, but it wasn't until I checked out my photos tonight that I realized that might have been an understatement.

I think I literally gorged myself across the US... but boy it felt good.

So without further ado... here are 12 reasons you will hate me tomorrow - or a list of those must eat American food items that you should devour should you find yourself on a short stint home, away from Switzerland, back on red, white and blue soil:

1. Steak and Shake burger... and vanilla milk shake. This is my kind of place. There is only one size for the milkshake - HUGE. And I ate it all. And that steak burger still makes my mouth water along with the shoe string fries. Be still my heart...


2. Real sushi... seriously good, seriously fresh, seriously CHEAP sushi. And if it comes to you on a conveyor belt, brownie points for you!

3. Barbecue.... or BBQ... or an entire sampler. I seriously could have eaten this alone. This is from Famous Dave's and on Tuesday's the plate for 2 is just $19.99... Lordy.

4. Pancakes - a stack of them at least a meter high, with chocolate chips. Only in America. I know. I have tried to order this elsewhere.
5. Meat and three and ICED TEA - this is a Southern thing but I am going to adopt it as a personal tradition... hell we already do, Jace calls it Meat and Two Veg, but I like it when there are 3 veggies, especially if one is creamed corn. Don't forget those cornbread muffins either. Just to give you a virtual heart attack - the fried chicken here was delectable and the mac and cheese was smooth and creamy... free refill on all of it please!

6. Southern salad - there is a place called Puffy Muffin in Brentwood, TN and I can't pull myself away from it sometimes... can you say tuna salad, chicken salad, pimento salad, almond poppyseed bread, frozen strawberry salad and and endless glass of ginger iced tea? I can. I said it TWICE. ;)

6 more tomorrow... I thought I better space it out just in case you really, really hate me now. ;) See you then.
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Sunday, May 17, 2009

Back from the US of A

Did you miss me?! I missed you all, and although I am suffering from some good old jet lag at the moment, having issues typing let alone putting together sentences, I thought I would just write a quick 'hello' nonetheless.

I made it - back in Urdorf safe and sound, with a few more pounds and a lot more baggage, both physically and emotionally. It is always hard to go back home - briefly seeing the friends and family you miss, the lifestyle you know that was once so familiar, that you grew up with, now serving as a momentary holiday. But I am glad I went back. It was a great trip, and this week I will highlight some of the highlights of an expat's return to her homeland... so stay tuned. And expect a lot of headshots until I get this pancake, donut, hot fudge sundae with moosetracks and magic shell, 5123 glasses of iced tea, spare ribs with cornbread and a side of creamed corn poundage worked off. It may take awhile, but I've got some new hiking shoes that just might do the trick. ;)
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Spotted by Me! Zurich now on Spotted by Locals

Exciting news! I am officially a spotter on the Spotted by Locals travel site. This site is great because it gives you the perspective from locals on your favorite cities in Europe - and that now includes Zurich!

Check it out and you can read about 20 of my favorite locations in Zurich - as well as a bunch of others from the other Zurich spotters... I will highlight some of my favorites over the coming weeks and I look forward to your comments and feedback on the Spotted by Locals site. Enjoy! ;)

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