Posted by Nancy D. Brown

Nancy's Candy Co. - A Gourmet Delight at San Francisco Fancy Food Show

You’ve heard of the diamond’s four c’s? Color, cut,  clarity and carat are all characteristics that are important to a diamond. Well, I’ve discovered the three c’s and a g at the San Francisco Fancy Food Show. Chocolate, cheese, caramel and granola are important to the quality of my life.

In its 35th year, the Winter Fancy Food Show offers specialty food retailers a peek and a taste into what’s new and what’s next in the ever competitive gourmet food world. I decided to approach this year’s show, January 17-19, 2010, with a look at the regional connection we have with our foods.

While the show isn’t open to the general public, I’ve put together a short video of my three c’s; chocolate, cheese and caramel, with a granola product from Jackson Hole thrown into the mix because I’m headed to Wyoming this year.

Social media fans can find the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

What gourmet foods have you discovered on your travels?

Amano Artisan Chocolate www.amanochocolate.com

The Bunnery www.bunnerynaturalfoods.com

Chocolate Santander www.ourniche.com

Happy Goat Caramel www.happygoatcaramel.com

Nancy’s Candy Co. www.nancyscandycompany.com

Republica del Cacao www.republicadelcacao.com

Posted by Nancy D. Brown

Swiss Countryside photo taken from medieval village Gruyeres. Photo by Nancy D. Brown

My favorite tips and locations for visitors to Gruyere, Switzerland in the canton (district) of Fribourg.

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is to the “Maison du Gruyere” cheese dairy at the foothill of the medieval village of Gruyeres. There you can discover the secrets of the famous Gruyere AOC cheese and see how it is made. Did I mention that they give samples?

When I crave Gruyere cuisine, I turn to Restaurant Le Chalet and enjoy a typical Swiss lunch of salad, “moitie-moite” cheese fondue (half Gruyere cheese and half Vacherin Fribourgeois cheese.) If you have paced yourself, try the Macaroni de chalet.

Switzerland's, Maison du Gruyere Cheese Factory. photo by Nancy D. Brown

To escape work you can drive to Moleson mountain. There you can walk to the summit, about a two hour walk with good shoes, or you can take the funicular and cable car. The panorama takes in Lake Geneva, the Alps and the Jura. Of course you have worked up an appetite for fondue at the summit restaurant. If you take the kids, you will discover a fun park and an alp cheese factory, only open in the summer.

If you come to Gruyere, get your picture taken in the medieval village of Gruyeres. Only 100 people live in the traffic-free village. Look around and you will notice the crane (“grue in French.”) Take your picture in front of the Jester’s House.

Gruyere is my one stop shop for cheese!

Photo opportunties in Gruyere include the Gruyeres Castle, just follow the main street (the only one!) to the top of the small hill. While you are there, be sure to take in the multimedia show, taking you through eight centuries of history and legends. (This is a very well done 18 minute production worth your time.)

HR Giger Museum in Gruyere, Switzerland. photo by Nancy D. Brown

Gruyere’s best museum, or should I say, most controversial with the local citizens, is the HR Giger Museum in the Chateau St.-Germain. Have your picture taken in the bar as the furniture from Alien-inspired movie sets come to life.

The most random thing about Gruyere is the Midsummer Day at the Castle. The castle comes to life with a medieval festival on June 19-20, 2010.

In the summer you should attend National day on the 1st of August with Alphorn music and Swiss folk music.

In the winter you should attend “Once upon a time there was…Christmas.” During the entire month of December the small village is decorated with a holiday theme.

For a great regional treat, try the fresh raspeberries with double cream.

The best way to see Gruyere is by car or train.

Drinking Espresso in Switzerland with Gruyere cream. Photo by Nancy D. Brown

Just 10 minutes by car, outside of Gruyere, you can visit Broc. Maison Cailler is the only milk chocolate factory of Cailler-Nestle in the world. You can see how the good quality of the milk from the La Gruyere region is used in the chocolate. Did I mention that the tour, with plenty of chocolate tasting, is free? The factory is open for tours from April to the end of October. As a confessed-chocoholic, this was my FAVORITE part of the trip.

Where are your favorite places to visit in Gruyere, Switzerland?

Thank you to Laura Braissant of La Gruyere Tourism for assistance with this post.

Photos and YouTube video by Nancy D. Brown

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Posted by Nancy D. Brown

Lake Lugano, Switzerland photo by Nancy D. Brown

My San Francisco post was fortunate to be featured in National Geographic’s Intelligent Travel blog. Since then, I’ve decided to offer my favorite tips and locations for first-time visitors to select regions.

Here are my recommendations for a trip to Lugano, Switzerland in the canton of Ticino.

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is to downtown Lugano and the Parco Ciani. 

When I crave Lugano cuisine, I go to: Grotto Ticinese in Cureglia, five minutes by car; or Grotto Rossi in Castelrotto in the Malcantone region west of Lugano or I turn to the Mendrisotto region south of Lugano to find easy paths among many vinyeards in Ticino where grottos as Grotto Fossati in Tremona offer traditional, affordable meals.

To escape work I hike a nearby mountain.

For complete quite, I can hide away at the Canton Library.

If you come to Lugano, get your picture taken at the top of a mountain.

If you have to order one thing off the menu at Restaurant Olimpia in Plazza Riforma, get the steak tartar.

Laderach Chocolate, Lugano, Switzerland. Photo by Nancy D. Brown

Lugano is my one stop shop for chocolates, watches and fashionable clothes because it can be cheaper to shop here than in Italy. Via Pessina is the gourmet street. Check out the five specialty shops of Lino Gabbani.

When I’m feeling cash-strapped, I go to Migros or the Coop department store for food and clothes.

For a huge splurge, I go to Cristallo Ristorante.

Photo ops in Lugano include Lake Lugano and Mount San Salvatore.

The best vantage points are taken by riding a finicular to the top of Mount San Salvatore and going on the roof of the San Salvatore church.

The most random thing about Lugano is the swim race in mid-August in the lake.

In Lugano, an active day outdoors involves walking, hiking or biking.

My favorite jogging or walking route is the Lugano Gandria Olive Tree Path.

Lugano’s best museum is the Museum of Cultures.

For a night of dancing, go to Madai Disco, Tito’s Place, Laroy or Al Lido.

The Pearl Casino is the spot for late night dining, but be warned ,Lugano is not the place to grab a meal after midnight.

To find out what’s going on at night or on weekends, read Corriere Del Ticino, but only if you can read Italian.

You can tell a lot about Lugano from visiting the rural valley like Monte Bre.

In the spring you should attend walking Lugano.

In the summer you should attend August 1, it’s like our Fourth of July Independence celebration.

In the fall you should attend local harvest festivals.

In the winter you should go to Piu Gusto in December.

A hidden gem in Lugano is Grotto Flora.

For a great breakfast treat or espresso, go to the Grand Cafe Al Porto.

Just outside of Lugano you can visit Morcote, have lunch at the Grotto del Parco and visit the Scherrer Garden.

The best way to see Lugano is to walk.

If you have kids, you won’t want to miss Swiss Miniatur.

Where are your favorite places to visit in Lugano, Switzerland?

Thank you to Guide Marco Mastelli and Ticino Turismo for assistance with this post.

Photos and YouTube video by Nancy D. Brown

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