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Zurich Food Tour - Secret Food Tours

Have you always wondered what makes Zurich's culinary scene one of the most underrated in Europe? Whether you're a hardcore foodie or simply a curious traveler excited at the idea of visiting Switzerland, our Zurich secret food tours will open up a whole new world.

Filled with delightful opportunities to have your fill of Swiss chocolate, this city has some local eating experiences that you'll remember forever. Escape from boring tourist traps in favor of behind-the-scenes access to charming kitchens with friendly staff. Of course, you'll have no shortage of options to choose from if you love Swiss cheese.

The quality of Zurich's local eateries are rivaled only by the breathtaking nature of the municipality's many famous buildings. Throughout your tour, you'll also be wowed by the snow-capped mountains in the background.

Combining scenic views with unforgettable tasting experiences, our food tours in Zurich always fill up quickly. Why take a chance on missing out? Make your reservation with us today!

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Culinary Foodie Experiences

Zurich Food Tours: Cheese Fondue and Swiss Chocolate

Last Updated March 4, 2023

As one of the top tourist destinations in Switzerland, Zurich is a relaxing place to visit with many things to do and activities for visitors.

In this guide, I recommend the best Zurich food tours where you can experience cheese fondue, world-renowned chocolate and other Swiss specialties.

Zurich Food Tours

Zurich is an incredibly scenic destination as you’ll discover from the moment you arrive. The city hugs the serene Lake Zurich, where beautiful historic buildings and homes clamour for the best vantage points.

This historic city centre (Altstadt) is wonderfully walkable and ideal for indulging in the city’s culinary delights.

Unfortunately, Zurich doesn’t offer a typical food tour with multiple stops and tastings like you might be hoping to experience.

However, there are a number of popular food-related tours that you might find interesting.

Duration: 4.5 hours. Tastings: 4-course cheese fondue meal including dessert and a drink. Suitable for vegetarians: Yes (advise when booking). Recommended for vegans: Not recommended as the cheese fondue is the main highlight. Allergy-friendly: Possibly (advise when booking). Limited mobility inclusive: No

This popular tour is more of a Swiss food experience rather than a food tour. The guide takes you on a tour of Zurich that includes a quick visit to the Lindt chocolate shop and is followed by a meal at a Swiss restaurant. You’ll arrive at the restaurant via a cable car where you’ll have incredible panoramic views of the surroundings. The 4-course meal includes an appetiser, drink, salad, all-you-can-eat cheese fondue and chocolate cake for dessert.

Pros: An experienced guide will present the main sights in Zurich and a small town outside of the city.

Cons: This isn’t a typical food tour but a Swiss meal with an all you can eat cheese fondue.

Next Best Food Tour

Swiss Cheese Fondue and Wine Tuk-Tuk Tour Duration: 1.5 hours. The Cheese Fondue-Tuk is a 90-minute food tour that offers a scenic view of Zurich while enjoying a delicious cheese fondue. It starts at the central station and takes you through the Old Town and other beautiful parts of the city. The tour also includes a stop at a local partner who values regional products and offers Swiss wine as an alcoholic beverage. Overall, it’s a unique way to experience Zurich’s food and culture.

Best Fondue in Zurich

Good fondue is all about the quality of the ingredients and the balance of flavours. Here are some key elements that make a good fondue:

• Cheese: The cheese is the star of the show, so it’s important to choose a high-quality cheese that melts well and has a strong, distinct flavour. Traditional Swiss cheeses like Gruyere, Emmental, and Appenzeller are commonly used in fondue.
• Wine: Wine is often used to thin out the cheese and add flavour. Dry white wine like Chasselas or Fendant is traditionally used in Swiss fondue.
• Seasonings: Garlic, nutmeg, and white pepper are commonly used to season the fondue and add depth of flavour.
• Accompaniments: Bread cubes are the classic accompaniment to fondue, but potatoes, apples, and other fruits and vegetables can also be used to dip into the cheese.

There are many great options when it comes to finding the best fondue in Zurich. Here are a few of the top places to try:

• Chäsalp: This cozy restaurant in the heart of Zurich is famous for its fondue. They use a blend of Gruyere and Vacherin cheeses and offer a variety of accompaniments like boiled potatoes, pickles, and onions.
• Swiss Chuchi: Located in the historic Hotel Adler, Swiss Chuchi offers a traditional Swiss dining experience, complete with fondue and raclette. Their fondue is made with a blend of Emmental and Gruyere cheeses and served with homemade bread.
• Restaurant Zeughauskeller: This historic restaurant is located in a 15th-century building and offers a range of Swiss specialties, including fondue. Their fondue is made with a blend of Swiss cheeses and served with boiled potatoes and pickles.
• Raclette Factory: Although it’s not strictly a fondue restaurant, Raclette Factory offers a range of melted cheese dishes, including fondue and raclette. Their fondue is made with a blend of Vacherin and Gruyere cheeses and served with bread and potatoes.

These are just a few of the top places to try fondue in Zurich. Be sure to do your research and ask locals for recommendations to find the best fondue experience in the city!

Chocolate Fondue in Zurich

Chocolate fondue is a delicious dessert variation of the traditional savoury cheese fondue.

Instead of cheese and wine, it typically consists of melted chocolate and cream, with various dipping options such as fruit, marshmallows, and cake.

Just like with cheese fondue, the quality of the ingredients is key to making a good chocolate fondue.

High-quality chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa solids and a rich, smooth texture will make for the best fondue.

When it comes to finding the best chocolate fondue in Zurich, there are many great options to choose from. Here are a few:

• Confiserie Sprüngli: This renowned Swiss chocolate shop offers a chocolate fondue made with high-quality Swiss chocolate and served with various dipping options, including fresh fruit and cake.
• Café & Conditorei 1842: This elegant tea room and restaurant in Zurich’s Old Town offers a decadent chocolate fondue made with dark chocolate and served with fruit and marshmallows.
• Max Chocolatier: This boutique chocolate shop offers a chocolate fondue made with single-origin cocoa beans from various regions around the world. It’s served with a variety of dipping options, including homemade marshmallows and shortbread.
• Cafe Felix: This cozy cafe in the trendy Kreis 4 neighbourhood offers a chocolate fondue made with Swiss chocolate and served with fresh fruit and cake.

Whether you’re in the mood for savoury cheese fondue or sweet chocolate fondue, Zurich has plenty of options to satisfy your cravings.

Be sure to try both during your visit to experience the full range of Swiss fondue traditions!

Lindt Chocolate Tour & Museum

Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum Entry Ticket Skip the line ticket: valid for one day. This is not a regular food tour but a ticket allowing you to skip the line at the famous Lindt Chocolate Museum entrance. The factory tour includes unlimited tastings of Lindt chocolate as well as learning about the history of chocolate in Europe.

Location of the Lindt Chocolate Museum

This guide is part of our series on Swiss food and what to eat while in Switzerland.

Traditional Food in Zurich

Zurich is a hub of Swiss cuisine, with a wide variety of dishes that reflect the region’s unique history and cultural influences. Here are some traditional Zurich dishes or dishes from the region that you can explore during your food tour:

• Zürcher Geschnetzeltes: This classic Zurich dish consists of thinly sliced veal in a creamy mushroom sauce served with rösti (a crispy potato pancake) or spätzli (soft egg noodles).
• Rösti: This dish is a Swiss staple made from grated potatoes fried until crispy. It is often served as a side dish or with toppings like bacon, cheese, or eggs.
• Fondue: Fondue is a must-try Swiss dish consisting of melted cheese served in a communal pot heated over a burner. Diners dip bread into the cheese and enjoy the dish with a glass of white wine.
• Raclette: Another Swiss cheese dish, raclette, is made by melting cheese and scraping it onto boiled potatoes, pickles, and other accompaniments.
• Älplermagronen: This hearty dish is a type of macaroni and cheese that is made with cream, potatoes, onions, and grated cheese. It is often served with applesauce or a side of roasted vegetables.
• Zurcher Chäschüechli: These are small, savoury cheese tarts that are made with a buttery pastry crust and a filling of local cheese, cream, and eggs.
• Zuger Kirschtorte: A dessert specialty from the neighbouring canton of Zug, this cake is made with layers of almond meringue, sponge cake, and cherry filling and is flavoured with kirsch (cherry brandy).
• Luxemburgerli: These are small, delicate macarons that were created in Zurich by the confectionery Sprüngli. They come in a variety of flavours, including raspberry, chocolate, and pistachio.

These are just a few of the traditional Zurich dishes or dishes from the region that you can enjoy during your food tour.

Be sure to also try some local Swiss wines or beers to complement your meal.

Street Food in Zurich

Street food is a great way to experience the local cuisine of Zurich. Here are some typical street foods that you can find in Zurich:

• Bratwurst: This is a traditional Swiss sausage that is grilled and served on a bun. It’s often served with mustard or ketchup and is a popular street food in Zurich.
• Langos: This Hungarian street food has become popular in Zurich. It’s a deep-fried flatbread that is topped with sour cream, cheese, and garlic.
• Falafel: Zurich has a vibrant Middle Eastern community, and falafel is a popular street food. It’s typically made with ground chickpeas and spices and served in a pita with salad and hummus.
• Raclette: Although it is more commonly served in restaurants, raclette can also be found as street food in Zurich.
• Swiss chocolate: Zurich is known for its high-quality chocolate, and you can find chocolate shops and street vendors selling chocolate in a variety of forms, such as truffles, bars, and hot chocolate.

These are just a few typical street foods you can find in Zurich. There are many other options, so be sure to explore the city and try new things!

Sustainable Food Tour Tips

If you’re looking for a sustainable food tour in Zurich, there are several things you should look for to ensure that your experience is environmentally and socially responsible.

• Reducing meat and dairy: Look for a food tour that focuses on plant-based and vegetarian options. Switzerland has a rich tradition of vegetarian dishes like Älplermagronen, and there are many vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Zurich that offer delicious and sustainable meals.
• Minimising waste: Choose a food tour that uses reusable or compostable plates, cups, and utensils. Zurich has a robust recycling program, so look for tours that make an effort to recycle and compost as much as possible. Additionally, consider ways to avoid overconsumption of food while still enjoying trying different things.
• Supporting local businesses: Look for tours that support local farmers, producers, and restaurants. Zurich has many farmers’ markets and food cooperatives that offer locally-sourced produce and products.
• Educating about sustainability: Choose a tour that educates guests about sustainable food practices and the local food system. Zurich has many educational resources, such as the Zurich Food Council, which aims to promote sustainable food practices in the city.

By looking for these elements in a food tour, you can ensure that you are having a sustainable and responsible experience in Zurich.

Remember to ask questions and do your research to find a tour that aligns with your values and promotes sustainable practices.

Final Thoughts

Taking a food tour in Zurich can be a great way to explore the city’s rich culinary traditions and experience its vibrant food culture.

Whether you’re interested in traditional Swiss dishes or international cuisine, there is something for everyone in Zurich.

When planning your food tour, consider your dietary preferences and any sustainability goals you may have.

Zurich has a diverse food scene, with plenty of options for vegetarians, vegans, and those with dietary restrictions.

In addition to enjoying delicious food, a food tour in Zurich can also be a great way to learn about the city’s history and culture.

Many tours offer insights into the local food system and food production and consumption’s social and environmental impacts.

Overall, a food tour in Zurich is a unique and memorable experience that can offer a deeper understanding of the city’s food traditions and sustainable practices.

Be sure to bring your appetite and an open mind, and enjoy all Zurich offers!

The Swiss national tourism board is an excellent resource for information on visiting Zurich and the surrounding region. Their website, My Switzerland , is a great place to begin planning your trip.

If you have questions or want to leave a tour review, please do so in the comments.

Recommendations are independently chosen based on personal travel experiences and extensive research. This post contains affiliate links to tours in Zurich, Switzerland. This means I get a small commission from any bookings at no extra cost to you.

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Food tours curated by Andrea Anastasakis PO Box 4049 Fitzroy Vic 3065

Hours: Mon – Thu 9am to 5pm Email: [email protected]

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and work, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and pay respect to their Elders, past and present.

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THE 5 BEST Zurich Food Tours

Food tours in zurich.

• Walking Tours
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• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
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1. Swiss Chocolate Walking Tour of Zurich

2. Culinary Tour from Zurich with Traditional Swiss Cheese Fondue Dinner

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Discover the culinary diversity of Zurich's trendy Zürich-West district on this guided tour. Experience culinary highlights and learn a lot of interesting facts about the Zurich gastronomic scene.

Unfortunately, this offer is not bookable at the moment.

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Zurich Guided Food Tour

About this offer.

Duration: 3 hours

Use your phone or print out the voucher

No booking fees

Streetcar stop Toni Areal, 8005 Zurich

Discount: City Pass

Free cancellation

German, English

3 hour guided tour

Fine appetizers and drinks

• Visit the most popular restaurants in Zurich West
• Explore the vibrant neighborhood in convivial company
• Get to know exciting gastronomy concepts
• Combine enjoyment with lots of interesting facts
• Get insights into the eating and drinking culture of Zurich
• Learn more about the "Zurich Gastro Revolution

Description

Feast on this guided tour through several restaurants in Zurich's trendy Zürich-West district. Experience culinary highlights and learn a lot of interesting facts about the Zurich gastronomic scene.

A 3-hour guided food tour through Zurich awaits you!

Meeting point: Toni Areal streetcar stop.

At 4:00 pm your tour starts at the Toni Areal in Zurich.

You will visit: Zurich West.

"Foodies and connoisseurs will get to know the trendy district of Zürich-West in a culinary way on this guided walking tour. In various restaurants you can taste delicious appetizers and refresh yourself with homemade drinks

You will learn: Exciting about the food culture in Zurich.

You will learn a lot of interesting facts about Zurich's eating and drinking culture, as well as about the origins of this vibrant former industrial quarter. The expert tour guide will also tell you what the "Zurich Gastro Revolution" is all about and will be available to answer all your questions about the culinary arts in Zurich. On this adventure tour, "enjoyment" is the top priority; let yourself be amazed and spoiled!

Practical Information:

• Not suitable for allergy sufferers/vegetarians
• Contains alcoholic beverages
• Arrival by public transport recommended
• Upon request, the tour will be adapted by the guide to accommodate wheelchair users and pushchairs.

Swiss Activities Tip

How about finishing off with a drink in the highest bar in Zurich? Clouds" is located on the 35th floor of the Prime Tower and offers a unique view over Zurich West, the city center, the lake basin - and in the best case even the mountains. The menu features many special cocktails, some of which are even made with the in-house and award-winning gin. Cheers!

Important Information

• If you book a ticket with a Zürich Card discount, you must show the card to the guide on the day of the tour.

Meeting Points

From CHF 85 5.0 ( 1 )

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Published: May 12, 2022 · Updated: Apr 7, 2023 by Joanne

Zurich: A Day of What and Where to Eat

Everyone knows that Switzerland is an expensive place to visit. So when John and I went to Zurich a few weeks ago, we arrived with an open attitude that prices may be higher than anticipated. For the most part, we mentally prepared ourselves to skip out on eating cheap in Zurich. Of course, we still wanted to balance our wallets with seeing the city as much as possible while tasting delicious food in and out of restaurants . I fear missing out on good food, so I would typically make a rigid food itinerary. However, despite having a general list of what and where we wanted to eat in Zurich, I decided to be more flexible. Jump to this section for a TL;DR version!

What to Know as a Traveller in Switzerland

What to eat in zurich, switzerland in a day, bonus: a cool and friendly bar not to miss, groceries: the cheapest eats in zurich, tip for travel in switzerland, what to eat in zurich food guide breakdown.

Before telling you what to eat in Zurich for a day, I want to talk about what we learned as visitors to Switzerland. If you are not familiar with Switzerland, it is a small country. It has a fantastic system of trains that weave in and out of valleys, grazing alongside lakes and lumbering up famous mountains to give you breathtaking views from their panoramic windows. 

The connected railway system speaks to how Switzerland is all about the outdoors. If you are a traveler who prefers to explore one city at a time, you will find it challenging to do that in Switzerland. We were encouraged by locals and our hotel concierge to hop on some form of transportation to see something outside - even if it were just to go to the city's outskirts. Despite only having a few days in the country, we also visited the surrounding mountains of Lucerne and Interlaken. 

Packing Food is Expected

So as much as there are restaurants in the mountains and other popular points of interest, packing food is somewhat expected. We observed that weekend trains are packed with both locals and tourists. But the main thing we noticed was the number of reusable grocery bags filled with food being toted around. People typically eat their breakfast/lunches on the long train rides. I also noted many outdoor areas that allow you to sit on a bench, and there are plenty of spaces to set up a picnic. 

So if you find restaurant food to be expensive as a day-to-day choice, do not fret. You can still find cheap items to eat in Zurich that are still tasty and good quality. Grocery shopping and packing food for a day out are options you can easily do. Moreover, you will look like you know what you are doing among other tourists! Your best bet is to visit a grocery store such as Migros or COOP as soon as you arrive. Stock up on pre-made sandwiches and snacks such as chips, bread, cheese, etc., that could last you two days. Before heading out for sightseeing, pack a simple meal in your daypack. It will save you time looking for food when you are on a mountain or a lake. More to come on this later!

Tip Note that 'cheap' is a relative term when it comes to Switzerland! We found grocery store pre-made food cheaper than the prices of dishes at restaurants.

I created this food itinerary from my experience during our time in Zurich, letting you try some restaurants while making the most of your time in the city. We did spend a lot of time visiting many outdoor sites so we had to pack food we purchased at grocery stores for most of our visit. Buying tasty pre-made items at the grocery stores quickly taught us that it was the cheapest way to eat in Zurich and the rest of Switzerland. Let me take you through a day of what we ate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner when we did stay in Zurich.

Since we stayed in Niederdorfstrasse in Zurich, we wanted to get to know the area and walk through the cobblestone streets. Our first stop was Café & Conditorei 1842, and at about ten in the morning, we found the bakery/restaurant was only half full. There were empty chairs and tables out front, so we requested to sit there. Other seated options include sitting in the restaurant gallery or in the garden. 

We ordered a slice of their spinach quiche. When they say spinach quiche, they really mean it! It was loaded with greens, and I could barely distinguish any eggs in it. For something sweet, we also ordered a croissant with jam to share.

We heard that their hot chocolate is a popular item, but we love our coffee in the morning too much to try it. John ordered the kaffee mélange (coffee topped with whipped cream), and I ordered the doppio espresso. If you prefer to eat at this Zurich cafe on the cheaper side, I recommend trying a basic hot chocolate and a plain pastry such as the croissant.

Places of Interest Between Breakfast and Lunch

It was drizzling a bit when we arrived at Café & Conditorei 1842, making us nervous for the rest of our day. But maybe the universe heard us because the clouds slowly thinned out during breakfast, and by the time we finished, the sun was beaming down on us.

We spent some time walking the streets of Niederdorf taking photos of alleyways and buildings that made you feel like you were on a movie set. At the southern end of the area is Grossmünster, which is on the way to Bürkliplatz, where our next destination was located. The church's structure is overwhelming as you crane your neck to the sky to take it all in. We didn't enter the cathedral, but if you are interested, there is a tower you can visit that gives you a view of Zurich. 

By the time it was 12PM, we had reached Quaibrücke (Quay Bridge) and walked its length to get to Bürkliplatz, a town square next to the lake that is also a landing dock for boats. We followed some other tourists to the platforms, and there we asked some workers where we could take a boat cruise. Since we had the Swiss Travel Pass , he told us to choose between the ninety-minute or the four-hour ferries that were arriving soon. As much as we wanted to make the most of our Swiss Travel Pass, we decided on the ninety-minute cruise around Lake Zurich. 

Eating on a Boat

The boat arrived, and once we got on board, we quickly shuffled towards the back of the ferry and claimed a bench outside. Shortly after we left the dock, a waiter came by to take food and drink orders while checking tickets. Since we planned on eating cheap during our cruise on Lake Zurich, we visited COOP the night before to load up on lunch items. We ordered Aperol spritzes from the bartender and while he made our drinks, we unpacked the sandwiches and chips we purchased the night before. We had a picnic lunch on the boat with our spritzes and sandwiches while enjoying views on the lake.

If you didn't pack a lunch, don't worry! The ferries typically have a restaurant with menus featuring simple cold and hot food. However, it's far from being considered cheap eats in Zurich so prepare to pay quite a premium for the dishes. 

Cost of the Lake Cruise

If you are not using a Swiss Travel Pass or a discount card, the ninety-minute cruise loop will cost you about 8.80CHF. Please note that this boat cruise is also a commuter route that takes people to different points on the lake. So expect to stop at several ports as the ferry lets commuters get on and off.

Get a View of the River

After the lake cruise, we headed to Aldstadt (Old Town) towards Lindenhof to see a view of the Limmat river from above. We walked north and meandered through the streets of Aldstadt until we found ourselves on top of Lindenhof. Lindenhof is on the site of an old Roman castle, and it is now a park filled with trees and benches. You could take a seat on top of the ledges overlooking the river. We didn't want to risk falling over, especially after drinking a few spritzes! Instead, we chose to sit on a bench facing the river.  

You can check off your list two other places of interest when walking from Bürkliplatz to Lindenhof. Along the way, you can stop to see St. Peter's Church and Fraumünster Church. Note that Aldstadt is hilly, and these sites are also on hills. Walking closest to the river will provide a more straightforward way to Lindenhof. Though you'd still need to go up a hill to the park!

After going up and down hills, we made our descent from Lindenhof and walked back to Niederdorf. We walked to Swiss Chuchi, where we had a reservation for dinner which are essential for many establishments. Once seated, we ordered two essential dishes: raclette, and fondue. We also squeezed in an order of a traditional Swiss appetizer named capuns. 

Capuns  is spätzle dough with bits of meat rolled inside leaves of chard, and our particular dish was served in a cheese cream sauce.

Following that, our raclette and fondue arrived. The raclette comes in two parts, the first being a machine where you melt individual pieces of cheese. The second is the tasting plate that includes selections of things to be grilled or melted on the device. Raclette means "melting cheese" and the type of cheese is selected by the restaurant which they then consider raclette cheese - cheese to be melted!

We ordered the fondue with morel mushrooms along a side order of vegetables to dip. We had various items to dip in the fondue such as bread, potatoes, and vegetables!

Since we wanted to keep the party of drinks going later that night, we strolled through the streets looking for a cocktail bar. We saw a sign on the main road for Hotel Bourbon, which read, "I followed my heart. It led me to the bar." Intrigued by the signage, we walked up a narrow alley that led to a small square with a fountain. 

A wave of pop music from the early 2000s and a smiling bartender warmly greeted us as soon as we walked through the glass-paneled door. We were seated for drinks and handed a menu that told us Hotel Bourbon is not a hotel but a contemporary restaurant and bar. The cocktail menu is innovative and experimental. But we were also invited to order traditional cocktails from the bartender. I ordered a martini and a drink called Englishman in New York from their menu. Both drinks were sublime and crafted well! The prices are far from what you consider cheap in Switzerland, but they are worth splurging on.

Our favorite part of our time at Hotel Bourbon was the relaxed mood of the service and the environment despite a setup that looked almost intimidatingly hip. This was our favorite bar on our trip to Zurich!

I hope this itinerary helped you create something interesting for your own trip to Zurich. Packing a bag of food while you enjoy the sites is the cheapest way to eat in Zurich and anywhere else in Switzerland. Of the places I mentioned today, I highly recommend a boat picnic around Lake Zurich on a bright and sunny day with things purchased from a local grocery store. If not for the gigantic red flag on the back of the ship waving within your periphery, the view of the mountains and the lake will really make you feel like you are in Switzerland!

We purchased a Swiss Travel Pass that allows you to board as many trains, boats, cable cars, and funiculars - pretty much all transportation under the SBB umbrella - throughout the country. Depending on your ticket and the number of days you selected for your travel pass, you can see as much as the allotted days allow. The cost of the Swiss Travel Pass was a definite splurge for us. But I did some serious planning to ensure that the total value of rides we took to visit Swiss destinations exceeded the pass price.

It's up to you how you justify the price of a Swiss Travel Pass. One of the advantages we had included hopping on different modes of transportation without worrying about price differences. We also never had to stop at a ticket booth which saved us time from standing in line. Our schedule was also open for flexibility since we didn't have to book tickets ahead of time. We did avoid points of interest that were not free on our passes, but since it was our first time in Switzerland, we justified it by knowing to visit those other areas next time.

Breakfast :   Café & Conditorei 1842

Recommended:

• Spinatquiche (spinach quiche)
• Croissant with konfi (jam)
• Kaffee Melange (coffee topped with whipped cream)
• Heisse Schokolade mit Schlagrahm (hot chocolate with whipped cream)

Lunch:  Lake Zurich Cruise

💡 There are supermarkets nearby where you can pick up some ready-made meals before boarding a ferry. Check out  Migros  and  COOP , which are both located across the bridge from Bürkliplatz.

Tips on Chocolate  Get some chocolate as dessert after your boat lunch in Zurich lake! Do not miss the chocolate aisle at the grocery store. There are hundreds of options to choose from at decent prices which let you try various styles and brands. The chocolate in the grocery store will also cost less than those purchased at standalone confectionaries. 

Look out for these Swiss chocolate brands:

• Camille Bloch

Dinner:  Swiss Chuchi Restaurant

• Fondue mit Morcheln (fondue with morel mushrooms )
• Raclette Nature mit Rind Kalb und Poulet (Plain raclette with beef, veal, and chicken)
• Capuns in Rahmsauce und mit Käse (Capuns - chard dumplings)

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this blog post and did not receive a complimentary Swiss Travel Pass. This post is solely based on my own experience and I do not guarantee you will receive the same experience. All opinions written on this post are my own.

Curious for More Food Guides?

Check these out 😎.

• Wirtschaft Degenried: A Hidden Gem Restaurant in Zurich
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Tried Some of These Places?

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The Best Dishes to Eat in Zürich, Switzerland

Zürich , Switzerland , is the ideal place to try well-known Swiss food, with dishes from across the country’s 26 cantons on offer, including raclette and birchermüesli . But there are also lesser-known local options, such as zuger kirschtorte (a super-sweet cake) and a veggie tartare. Here’s our mouthwatering pick of the best.

Cheese fondue.

Cheese fondue is a must when visiting Switzerland. The first recipe dates back to 1699, in a cookbook published in Zürich, so it would be a shame not to try out the famous Swiss dish here. Basically, it’s a whole lot of melted cheese – the type can vary, but it’s usually gruyère or emmental – mixed with different ingredients of your choice, including mushrooms, herbs and tomatoes. It’s always served with bread and washed down with some white wine.

In Zürich, you are well past the Röstigraben, an imaginary line that separates the Swiss-French cantons from the Swiss-German ones. Rösti is a national dish and steeped in the farming tradition. Grated potatoes are formed into thick pancake shapes before being fried in oil, leaving them crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. You can add bacon or apple into the mixture for extra flavour.

The Swiss sure do love their melted cheese, and raclette is no exception. It offers a bit more variety than fondue, as it comes with potatoes, pickled onions, gherkins and dried meat. Your host will often keep topping up your plate with everything until you tell them to stop. If you’re famished from a day of exploring, this is probably the most filling food Zürich offers.

Zürcher geschnetzeltes

Zürcher geschnetzeltes is one of the quintessential dishes found in Zürich; it translates as “meat cut Zürich-style”. Don’t be put off by the long name – zürcher geschnetzeltes is quite simple, consisting of veal cooked with mushrooms, cream, onions and wine. It’s often served with rösti , rice or noodles.

Birchermüesli

Zürich is the birthplace of muesli , the well-loved breakfast meal. Dr Maximilian Bircher-Benner started feeding patients at a Zürich hospital a nutritious diet of cereals and fruits, and it soon became a hit, both inside the sanatorium and out. Steiner Flughafebeck, a cafe with outlets across the city, is one place to find a good bowl of Swiss-style muesli.

Zürcher eintopf

On a cold winter’s day, there’s nothing better than something warm and comforting. Zürcher eintopf (Zürich stew) is a hearty mix of pork, onions, cabbage, potatoes and carrots cooked in white wine.

Zuger kirschtorte

Perfect for those with a sweet tooth, zuger kirschtorte is a cake layered with nut-infused meringue, sponge and buttercream. Adding to the sweetness is cherry brandy. Be sure to look out for this one on the dessert menus.

Bündnerfleisch

In eastern Switzerland, meat, usually beef, is cured in wine and seasoning and dried in the Alpine air for several weeks. Traditionally from the canton of Graubünden, this delicacy is available all over the country, and you’ll find it in butchers across Zürich. It’s often served as part of raclette and in soups and casseroles.

Zopf is easily recognisable among the many types of bread on offer in Switzerland. Its name means “braid”, and it’s not difficult to see why. Before baking, the dough (made with milk, eggs, butter, yeast and flour) is coated with egg yolk, giving it a rich, golden shine. Traditionally, the bread is eaten on Sunday mornings, but it’s available throughout the week in most bakeries.

Bündner gerstensuppe

Another fine dish to warm the bones during winter is bündner gerstensuppe , a Swiss barley soup. Traditionally eaten by farmers in the Alps to keep warm in cold weather, this soup is the most popular one in Switzerland and supposedly has more than 150 variations. It’s also one that you can easily make for your friends at home.

1. Hiltl tartare at Haus Hiltl

Restaurant, European, Vegetarian, Mediterranean, Salad Bar

Swiss dishes can be rather heavy on meat and dairy, so if you want a break, visit Haus Hiltl, the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world. Here, try the speciality tartare made with okara (tofu dregs), aubergine and spices. It’s so rich in taste that you probably won’t even realise there’s no meat in it.

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FOOD ZURICH - MORE THAN A FESTIVAL

Curtains up for the 9th edition of FOOD ZURICH! The third-largest food festival in Europe will take place from June 6 to 16, 2024, and will captivate visitors with a vibrant kaleidoscope of over 100 forward-thinking events and a bustling festival center in the heart of the city. FOOD ZURICH brings people together, allowing them to indulge, discover new things, and learn with enthusiasm.This year's festival program is once again themed «Culinary Future» and offers a rich menu of groundbreaking and diverse events. Together, we will tackle the pressing questions of our time. What does a sustainable diet look like? What is sustainable and what is healthy? The questions are simple, but the answers are complex, filled with exciting potential solutions.The city along the Limmat River becomes a stage for culinary visions: it's bubbling with good ideas, thanks to bold innovators, surprising gastronomic projects, and promising start-ups. The 9th edition of the FOOD ZURICH culinary festival provides a platform for all of these for eleven days.

Whether it's culinary events, workshops, markets, food tours, or talks, we look forward to seeing you there!

Food zuirch Opening im Jelmoli

THE GRAND OPENING BASH 2024

Three, two, one, and we're off with our spectacular opening party at the legendary Jelmoli Food Market!

Culinary Future

The festival from June 6 to June 16, 2024, will once again be dedicated to the 'Culinary Future,' with a particular focus on the core themes of Innovation & Trends, Upcoming Stars, and Swiss Products. Here's a brief overview of our strategy and core themes.

Focus Topics

What does our culinary future look like? Definitely complex but also full of exciting solutions. What we put on our plates should be healthy for people, animals, and the environment. Since this topic is so comprehensive, we've divided it into the following ten focus areas.

At the table with Austria

Austrian excellence at its finest: star chefs, creative minds, and master bakers—we've got them all! Hubert Wallner explores Alpe Adria cuisine, while Vitus Winkler and Simeon Nikolov bring alpine flavors to the table. Enjoy fresh «Buchteln», natural wines, and a «Klimt Kisses Rosé» painting and tasting experience. Austria at its most delightful.

Soil to Soul

Soil to Soul is committed to sustainable nutrition and healthy soils! At the Producer Arena, food producers and gastronomers connect. The Food Report 2025 presents the latest gastronomy trends. At the 'Master of Cheese' gourmet film evening, you'll enjoy film and culinary delights, and the Soil to Soul Talk sheds light on sustainable agriculture and kitchen innovations.

Kitchen Jam Session

FOOBY LIVE!

From the elegant omelette with salmon and dill to the vegan green creation—at the FOOBY Omelette Atelier, there are no limits, just endless possibilities. Fill, fold, and enjoy—just the way you like. And the best part? No registration, no costs: Just drop in, grab a whisk, get started, and enjoy.

From June 6 to 16, FOOD ZURICH events will take place at Zurich Airport for the third time. Embark on a culinary journey at the gateway to the world.

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One Day In Zurich Travel Guide For A Zurich City Break

Luxurious financial capital of switzerland with a cultural flare.

Z urich is a beautiful city that offers plenty of attractions and activities for solo travelers. It is a city filled with art, history, the amazing shopping, as well as close to nature. Everyone can find something to suit their taste in this Swiss metropolis. Here are some ideas on how to spend 24 hours in Zurich as a solo traveler.

The city has long been known as the financial capital of Europe, but it also has rich history since the Roman times. Zurich, like Geneva Switzerland, is two of the most expensive cities in the world. While Zurich may not be known as a cultural city with a decent nightlife scene, it actually is undercover really cool. It shouldn’t be missed even if you only have 24 hours to spare. 

One way to do this is to make this a one-night stopover on your trip. Arrive early, take a bus or free walking tour in the morning. Keep your schedule flexible, but you may want to make reservations for two hot items on the visit, namely a visit to the Lindt Chocolate Factory or a great food tour with some Swiss Fondue as well as some other foodie hot spots. Below are some suggestions for all budgets visiting Zurich for 24 hours.A day or two in Zurich can give you a great introduction to the German speaking area of Switzerland. 

A Brief History of Zurich 

Zurich dates back to 15 BC and was founded by the Romans. It was part of a route that permitted trade to travel over the Alps. While we know it has Zurich, the Romans called it Turicum. If you tour the city some ruins remain under parts of the city. The city prospered in the 11th and 12th centuries, helped by the Fraumunster, which as a convent attracted many rich European princesses. 

In 1351, Zurich joined the Swiss Federation and during the 14th and 15th centuries, its territory was exclusively established for trade and money lending. Until the end of the Old Zurich War (1436-1450), it swayed between remaining with the Swiss Federation and Austria. Switzerland became an independent country in 1815, with its 1848 constitution not permitting them to enter any wars. Zurich remains the country’s largest city, with the largest airport in the country (with fantastic shopping), and its financial capital. 

Zurich Itinerary For One Day In Zurich 

The city is well-located in Central Switzerland and they say, is the heart of Europe with its beautiful city. Notably, you can get to Zurich by car, bus, train, or airplane with many airlines offering services. I arrived by plane to allow both visiting times that day, with a night stay, to allow a full day to make a 24-hour trip, although some may want to add a day depending on your interests.

Next, I looked into my top choices to visit in case they required a reservation. Lindt Chocolate is so popular it was sold out for a few days, so make sure you make reservations if you are a chocolate lover like me! (Luckily I did make it on a tour to get my supply of chocolates for my trip.) Also, it may depend on your budget, but various things are free like walking through the old town or around the lake, It also ma    

How to Get to Zurich Switzerland and “Where is Zurich”? 

Zurich is in Central Europe and a hub for many modes of transportation, making it a great and easy place to visit.

• Main Zurich Train Station: You may find yourself coming to Zurich Hauptbahnhof (also called Zurich HB); it is the largest train station in Switzerland. It is about 6 miles from the airport in Zurich. Most local trains come through this station. I chose to buy a 24-hour transportation card called the Zurich Card City Pass. Notably, it can be purchased for a 24 or 72-hour timeframe and entitles you to travel on an unlimited 2nd class basis on any public transportation. You can buy it via the Zurich City Guide app or at the station. The price is reasonable and it does cover you on the river/boat, public transportation on the lake, as well as the funiculars like the Polybahn. The Polybahn connects the central square with the Polyterrasse via its historic red funicular originally built in 1889. It is only a short ride of a few minutes but is free and you can get the best views of Zurich. Check online for train hours since it is closed on holidays and Sundays. 
• Zurich Airport (ZRH) is the major international airport in Switzerland and home to Swiss International Airlines. This is how I made it to Zurich, I also loved the airport with all its upscale stores and some great places to eat. The airport is a short 15-minute train ride from the City Centre. Notably, the city is pretty compact, especially the historic old town, so it is easy to see, 

Best Place To Stay In Zurich For All Budgets 

I arrived in Zurich and planned to stay overnight so I can see more of this historic city. Being one of the most expensive cities in Europe, I am showing a few options below, but there are also some large chains here. 

• FIVE Zurich Hotel – Luxury city resort @fivezurich 

www.zurich.fivehotelsandresorts.com

Hotel Hirschen: This 4-star hotel has a quaint charming ambiance while offering helpful amenities. It dates back to the 14th century and is one of the oldest hotels in the city. It is also well-located within a ½ mile from the Swiss National Museum. 

• Motel One Zurich – This 3-star hotel offers a breakfast buffet, etc.

@motel_one  www.motel-one.com

• CitizenM Zurich: CitizenM is a hip boutique hotel located in the business district of Zurich. @citizenM   www.citizenM.com
• For a fun and hip hotel check out 25Hours Hotel Zurich Langstrasse is located close to the train station, and its’ decorations are inspired by the contrast between capitalism and the redlight district. The designer Werner Aisslinger created an artistic and fun hotel close to everything and perfect for a 24-hour stay in Zurich. If you aren’t staying there check out the NENI restaurant with an eclectic menu of Mediterranean cuisine. 
• Old Town Otter Hostel: This former hotel is now a hostel. There are 45 beds in 9 dorms and 5 private rooms and it is well-located near the Old Town and Lake. It does have free coffee/tea and a small breakfast like toast and muesli.  www.oldtownzurich.com
• By the Airport I also stayed at the Capsule Hotel. Check out the video below

Besides these options, there are the hotels including Marriott, Hilton, etc, as well as AirBnB, VRBO, etc.

Things to Do in Zurich Switzerland

Although it is known as an expensive city, there are various things to do in Zurich for all budget levels.

• Swiss Food Tour: This was a fantastic food tour and this company offers lunchtime and evening tours. If you plan to take a tour, I would make a reservation, since some do sell out.  www.swissfoodtours.com  If you want to experience an elevated foodie experience there are two options a private food tour like I took or an option for those looking to experience the food scene on a small group tour. My guide took me to places I would never have found on my own and also shared a range of both local cuisine and fun cocktail spots. The private tours can be catered to your interests and had a few special surprises. However, you will have to subscribe to my Youtube channel so you don’t miss the Swiss travel adventures. 
• Archeological Windows Zurich- If you want to satisfy your inner Indiana Jones, check out the Archeological windows where you can get a key from the city in order to see the ancient roman ruins underground. I learned about this and got to try it out thanks to my amazing tour guide at Swiss Food Tours on the private tour. 

Take A Chocolate Tour

• Lindt Home of Chocolate Tour: This self-guided tour takes about 2 hours. It was awesome, but I almost missed it so make sure you reserve in advance. I particularly loved the all-you-can-drink chocolate, learning about the history of chocolate in Switzerland, as well as getting to take home plenty of samples. They also have the world’s largest retail Lindt store. This is a must if you are a chocolate lover! If you go on the self guided tour it is about $16 USD plus the cost of taking public transit. However, there is also a sweet small group tour that includes a tour, boat trip on Lake Zurich, and transportation if you don’t feel like going solo.

Explore the History, Culture Art of Zurich, Switzerland

• Walking Tours: There are both free tours (Free Walking Tours Zurich) and paid tours. It’s a great way to learn more about the area, especially the history and culture of the city. Also, this is the perfect activity if you are solo traveling to meet other travelers.  www.freewalk.ch
• What is Dada? It is an art form that formed during the First world war, and its main purpose was to challenge social norms of society and make art that would shock, confuse or outrage people. Dadaism’s main purpose was to challenge the social norms of society, and purposefully make art that would shock, confuse, or outrage people. Here you can explore the largest collection of DADA art in the world.

Explore Old Town Zurich

• Zurich’s Old Town known as Altstadt: Stroll the streets of historic Zurich and its lovely buildings, stores, and restaurants. It is along both sides of the Limmat River and it’s free to stroll the area. This area encompasses everything built in Zurich before 1893. 
• Roman Ruins: In, under, and around Zurich are some old Roman ruins since it was once inhabited by the Romans. There is one free site called the Archeological Window in the Lindenhof cellar. While it is free through the Town Hall, you need to leave a credit card as a deposit so they get back the key to it. There are also other locations like the opera house. It just depends on your time and level of interest.
• River Transport or Boat at Lake Zurich: If you have a Zurich Card pass, you can use public transport on the river or the lake. Zurich’s Old town hugs the Limmet river on both sides, and is something to witness by water. Luckily it is included in your day pass for public transit!  www.zuerich.com

More Things To Do In One Day In Zurich

• Ride on the Polybahn (Funclaire): For a great view of the city, go up the furnclair. It goes up to have a great view of the city. It is located near the universities and you can have a drink or food up there, or make your own picnic..  www.polybarn.ch
• Swiss National Museum: This unique building was constructed in 1898 similar to a French Renaissance chateau. Check opening hours, but is generally open from 10 am-5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, although it is open until 7 pm on Thursday. It costs ten Swiss francs. Although it’s free for kids under 16 and Zurich Card holders.  www.landesmuseum.ch
• Zurich Opera House: The opera house is a lovely building, housing the Zurich Opera since 1891 and It is also home to the Zurich Ballet. So you may enjoy a performance or just see this grand building.  www.opernhaus.c om
• Retail Therapy – walk the Bahnhofstrasse: This is the most exclusive avenue for luxury shopping. Stroll the avenue.

   The Four Churches of Zurich Old Town

• Grossmunster Church: This twin-tower romanesque protestant church is an icon in the city. It is free to go in but there is a cost to climb the tower, 
• Fraumunster Church: Another iconic church with a copper-topped spire. The church does have a crypt museum and stained glass by Marc Chagall. 
• St.Peter’s Church: This protestant church is one of the four main churches in the Old Town area of Zurich, This church was consecrated in 1706, the bells date back to the 1880s, and the church was restored in the 1970s. Oddly the church steeple is owned by Zurich, while the rest is owned by the parish. The church’s clock is very large, having the largest face in all of Europe.
• Predigerkirche Church: Explore the 4th oldest church in Zurich’s Old Town. Predigerkirche is known for it’s high steeple and being the highest edifice in Zurich.

My advice is to plan out your route saving the locations on Google Maps so you maximize the use of your time. 

Food in Zurich, Switzerland – Restaurants, Cafes, and Cheap Eats In Zurich

Given I had a fantastic food tour that takes 3-4 hours of your day. I decided to eat some smaller meals in cafes too. The Swiss Food Tour I mentioned above was superb. There are also so many restaurants and cafes to try, including many with Michelin stars. You can’t forget to try the Cheese Fondue and Rosti (fried potato pancake), Here are some suggestions of places to try:  

• Cafe & Conditorei 1842: This cafe offers great homemade chocolate and pastries, and is a cozy baroque setting. There is also a terrace depending on the weather, (Hint: I had the best hot chocolate here, it’s a bit more but I enjoyed it. www.cafe1842.ch Do yourself a favor and get the hot chocolate here!
• Raphael’s: Raphael’s has great handmade chocolates, coffee, and ice cream. So many great options.  www.raphaels1989.com  I am a coffee fanatic, so I loved recharging my energy with a great latte here.
• Le Dezeley for Fondue! I was lucky to find this place on the Swiss food tour and this place rivaled the fondue spot I found in Geneva. 
• Best View and cocktails (or mocktails): Jules Verne Panorama Bar is great for creative cocktails or cocktails and has the best view of the city all year round. It is located in an old observatory, which makes the experience extra special.
• Best Bakery: Bäckerei Vohdin is the oldest bakery in Zurich selling traditional sweets and baked goods. It is cash only. I was lucky to try it thanks to the kindness of a stranger who bought me two sweets to try before I left on the plane. It is also really close to Old Town Otter Hostel so perfect for budget-friendly breakfast or lunch!

Recommendation

Zurich Switzerland is a culturally rich city, and not just the banking capital of Switzerland. Many tourists skip Zurich to see other picturesque Swiss towns or head to the Swiss Alps, but it is definitely worth at least 24 hours. Being one of the major hubs in Europe, it is very easy to reach and explore in a one or two-day stopover. Zurich maybe expensive, but there are still things to do in a day in Zurich for all budgets as well as solo travelers. While planning your trip, remember you may want to make reservations ahead of time, especially for the Lindt Chocolate Museum and food tours. 

If you are visiting for a short amount of time just use your card because Switzerland uses a different currency from the rest of Europe. Switzerland uses the Swiss franc.

In conclusion, there are many things to enjoy in Zurich from food and nightlife to cultural experiences and museums. It may be one of the most expensive cities in Europe, but there are plenty of things to do in Zurich for all budgets and it is a place you should not skip if it is close to your other European adventures. 

Fun Zurich Fact

There are over 1,200 fountains in Zurich. Bring a reusable water bottle because the water is drinkable.

Also, there are four official languages in Switzerland including Swiss German, French, and Italian, and about 60,000 people speak Romansch. Zurich is located in the Swiss German section of Switzerland so be sure to brush up on a few phrases although most people speak English in the city center. 

What would you not miss in Zurich if you only had 24 hours? Save this for later to help plan your trip!

Other Resources:  

www.VisitZurich.com

www.Travelsofsarahfay.co m

Check out some of my other blog posts on Switzerland:

Zermatt Winter Travel Guide

Skiing In Switzerland On A Budget For Digital Nomads

Geneva Winter Travel Guide

All Rights Reserved by Sarah Errafay

Save This For Later!

The post One Day In Zurich Travel Guide For A Zurich City Break appeared first on Travels of Sarah Fay .

5 dead in Kentucky after tornadoes, severe weather. Here's what we know

At least five people have died across Kentucky following two tornadoes and other severe weather on Sunday that damaged property and left tens of thousands without power.

At 12:12 a.m. Monday, Gov. Andy Beshear issued a state of emergency for the commonwealth. This declaration allows the state to bring in additional resources such as the National Guard.

Gov. Andy Beshear held an 11 a.m. press conference Monday — Memorial Day, to address the ongoing weather situation and provide an update on storm damage along with the state’s response plan.

"Last night many families and communities were not safe," Beshear said. "We had devastating storms that hit almost the entire state."

At least two confirmed F-1 tornadoes touched down in Kentucky, according to preliminary survey results from the National Weather Service in Louisville. One tornado with 90 mph winds hit eastern Meade and northern Hardin counties. A second tornado touched down in Butler and northern Warren counties with 85 mph winds.

In Louisville and other parts of the state there were tornado watches and severe thunderstorms that brought down trees and caused property damage.

The Memorial Day weekend storms weren't the state's first run in with tornadoes and storms this year. In April storms moved through Louisville and Southern Indiana leaving destruction, and in March three tornadoes that caused structural damage were confirmed in the area .

Now following yet another series of severe weather in Kentucky, here's what we know:

What part of the state was hit hardest?

Beshear said one tornado in Western Kentucky continued for about 40 miles. This tornado barely missed the prison in Eddyville and barely missed Mayfield, the site of the destructive 2021 tornadoes that the area is still recovering from .

"At least one family who lost their home in the 2021 tornado lost their home again last night," Beshear said.

He noted there were several other tornadoes that "spun down then spun back up." The state is still waiting for the National Weather Service to confirm the total number of tornadoes.

Kentucky Secretary of Transportation Jim Gray said it appears that Western Kentucky was hit the hardest by the storms, noting damages across state highways and roads.

Beshear said not only did the storms take out power for thousands of people, but many roads and interstates were temporarily closed due to the storms. Many businesses and residential areas also suffered "massive damage." Beshear urged individuals to report any and all levels of damage to the emergency management agencies in their county to help the state qualify for FEMA assistance and other resources.

"But like we always see after severe weather events, first responders and everyday Kentuckians rally to help each other in those toughest moments," Beshear said.

Were there any fatalities from the storms?

In the press conference, the governor confirmed at least four people have died and one individual is "fighting for their life" as a result of the Sunday storms.

In a statement sent on X just before 5 p.m. Monday, Beshear confirmed that a fifth person has died related to the severe weather.

"I’m sad to share we have another reported death as a result of yesterday’s storms," read the post. "A 54-year-old man died from a heart attack while cutting fallen trees in Caldwell County. His loved ones are in our prayers during this difficult time."

Confirmed fatalities also include a 67-year-old woman from Mercer County, a 62-year-old woman in Hardin County, a 48-year-old woman in Hopkins County and a 34-year-old man in Jefferson County who was hit by a tree.

Beshear said he is not aware of any unaccounted for Kentuckians.

How many people are without power?

Statewide, there were roughly 175,000 customers without power across the state, Beshear said. While large cities should expect to see power restored Monday, the governor said counties like Trigg and Todd may be without power for several days since there was significant destruction to the power infrastructure in the area.

How many states of emergency have been declared?

Across the state, 14 counties and five cities have declared states of emergency alongside the governors declaration.

Is there a storm shelter set up?

The Red Cross has opened a shelter in Clay County.

Beshear also said Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park will be opened up as a shelter for those in need of rooms. This site is where victims of the 2021 tornado were sheltered.

Are there any environmental concerns from the storm?

On Dale Hollow Lake, a dock broke away, which was believed to have caused a significant fuel spill. The Energy and Environment Cabinet are in the area with a hazmat team but currently no further information is available regarding this potential environmental impact resulting from the storms.

"It's one of the most significant impacts of these storms," Beshear said.

Can I travel currently?

Gray said if you see water in the roads, "turn around, don't drown."

He also expressed other safety notes for people who need to travel in the midst of storm damage including:

• Don't drive over downed power lines.
• Don't touch live wires or downed power lines.
• Beware of debris on roadways.
• If traffic lights are out, treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

Contact business reporter Olivia Evans at [email protected] or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter at @oliviamevans_ .

Copilot for Telegram

Meet your new everyday AI companion: Copilot, powered by GPT, now on Telegram. Engage in seamless conversations, access information, and enjoy a smarter chat experience, all within Telegram.

Tips and tricks

Gaming Glory

Ready to level up? Ask Copilot for the latest game releases, cheat codes, and walkthroughs. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a hardcore enthusiast, let’s play and conquer the gaming world! 🎮👾 

Screen Magic

Movie buff or series binger? Let Copilot be your guide to the latest blockbusters, timeless classics, and must-watch TV shows. Grab your popcorn and let the show begin!🎶🎬 

Romance Refined

Dive into the dating scene with confidence! Copilot brings you savvy advice on making connections, sparking conversations, and creating lasting impressions. Just type ‘Dating Tips’ for your cupid’s guide!” 💡❤️ 

Food for Thought

Craving something delicious? Let Copilot be your culinary sidekick! From exploring new recipes to healthy eating habits, we’ve got the scoop. let’s get munching! 🍽️🥗 

Sports Central

Game on! Whether you’re a casual fan or a stats geek, Copilot has all the sports action you need. Scores, schedules, and more—dive into the excitement! 🏋️‍♂️🏀 

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Planning a trip abroad or a short weekend getaway with friends. Just ask Copilot to get personalized travel itineraries, recommended local attractions and so much more. Let the journey begin! 🌍✈️

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Get fit, feel great! Let Copilot be your personal trainer. From home workouts to gym routines, we’re here to pump you up. let’s get moving! 💪🏋️‍♀️ 

Frequently asked questions

Copilot is a personal generative AI assistant powered by GPT model and Bing Search, available within Telegram. Copilot for Telegram uses natural language to provide responses on a range of topics, from seeking knowledge to travel tips to sports updates to movie recommendations. Let Copilot enhance your Telegram experience with its quick-witted assistance and endless curiosity. 

* Please note that Telegram is not a Microsoft product.  

You can use Copilot on Telegram desktop & mobile app or on Telegram web. 

If you already have Telegram app on your device or are already signed into Telegram web on your browser, click on this link to start interacting with Copilot. You can download & sign into Telegram app or sign into your Telegram web account and then click on this link to start interacting with Copilot. 

Alternatively, you can search for Copilot by typing @CopilotOfficialBot in the search bar within Telegram. 

Yes, Copilot for Telegram is currently in beta and free for all users.  

Copilot for Telegram is designed to work within the Telegram app available on various platforms including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. If you have the Telegram app installed on your device, you should be able to use Copilot on any of these operating systems. You can use the web browser on your device to interact with Copilot on Telegram web.  

Copilot enhances your Telegram experience by unlocking the power of internet and AI. Here are some examples: 

• Information Search: Ask Copilot, to get comprehensive answers on quick facts or detailed research powered by Bing Search. 
• Travel Planning: Dreaming of your next vacation? Copilot can suggest destinations and even help plan your itinerary. 
• Fitness Guidance: Want to start a new workout routine? Copilot can provide fitness tips and exercise plans. 
• Entertainment Updates: Curious about the latest movies or music? Copilot keeps you in the loop with entertainment news and recommendations. 
• Leisure & Laughs: Need a quick chuckle or a way to relax? Copilot can tell you a joke, share a funny gif, or suggest a casual game to unwind. 
• Copilot beta for Telegram currently supports only text chat requests. 

Simply type in your question, instruction or thought like you would do in any 1-1 chat, and let Copilot provide you with answers, suggestions, and more. 

Copilot generates content based on language patterns it has found throughout the internet. Sometimes its results will be very similar to existing internet content or Copilot might generate the same or very similar content for multiple people who are prompting Copilot in the same way. 

For example, everyone who instructs Copilot to create a "recipe for apple pie" is likely to wind up with identical or nearly identical content. 

Copilot on Telegram relies on the same safety infrastructure as the Microsoft Copilot experience, which was developed in accordance with Microsoft’s AI Principles, Microsoft’s Responsible AI Standard, and in partnership with responsible AI experts across the company. 

Responsible Artificial Intelligence (Responsible AI) is an approach to developing, assessing, and deploying AI systems in a safe, trustworthy, and ethical way. AI systems are the product of many decisions made by those who develop and deploy them. From system purpose to how people interact with AI systems, Responsible AI can help proactively guide these decisions toward more beneficial and equitable outcomes. That means keeping people and their goals at the center of system design decisions and respecting enduring values like fairness, reliability, and transparency. 

Microsoft developed a Responsible AI Standard . It's a framework for building AI systems according to six principles: fairness, reliability and safety, privacy and security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability. For Microsoft, these principles are the cornerstone of a responsible and trustworthy approach to AI, especially as intelligent technology becomes more prevalent in products and services that people use every day. 

For more information visit our Responsible AI site . 

Copilot is built on Microsoft's comprehensive approach to security, compliance, and privacy. For more information about privacy, please visit: Privacy Statement . 

Copilot is like having a research assistant, personal planner, and creative partner at your side whenever you search the web. With this set of AI-powered features, you can: 

• Ask your actual question. When you ask complex questions, Bing gives you detailed replies.  
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With the Copilot experience, you can also ask follow-up questions such as, “can you explain that in simpler terms,” or, “give me more options” to get different and even more detailed answers in your search. However, in Copilot, each conversation will have a limited number of interactions, to keep the interactions grounded in search. 

Copilot builds on the existing Bing experience to provide you with a new type of search.   

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Copilot can be used as a creative tool. It can help you write poems, stories, or even share ideas for a project. 

While Copilot works to avoid sharing unexpected offensive content in search results and has taken steps to prevent its Copilot features from engaging on potentially harmful topics, you may still see unexpected results. We’re constantly working to improve our technology in preventing harmful content.   

If you encounter harmful or inappropriate content, please provide feedback, or report a concern by sending /feedback in the chat window of Copilot on Telegram. You can also report your concern here: https://www.microsoft.com/concern/bing   

We will continue working with user feedback to provide a safe experience for all. 

Copilot aims to base all its responses on reliable sources - but AI can make mistakes, and third-party content on the internet may not always be accurate or reliable. Copilot will sometimes misrepresent the information it finds, and you may see responses that sound convincing but are incomplete, inaccurate, or inappropriate. Use your own judgment and double check the facts before making decisions or taking action based on Copilot’s responses. 

To share your feedback or report a concern, refer to the previous FAQ. 

• * Feature availability and functionality may vary by device type, market, and browser version.

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• Eater Travel

On the Thailand-Malaysia Border, Food Defies Nations

The governments of Thailand and Malaysia proudly promote national cuisines, but people along the border cook dishes that elude tidy patriotism, part of a larger struggle to maintain their identities

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If national borders were decided by dietary preferences, a line might run north to south along the Sankalakhiri and Titiwangsa mountains. The range forms the backbone of the Malay Peninsula, stretching from southern Thailand to the middle of Malaysia, splitting the thin band of land and the communities that inhabit it. On the western side, warm spices and hot chiles turn up dishes like khao mok gai (chicken and rice) and gaeng som (fiery fish soup). To the east, the food turns sweeter and more fermented in items like khao yum (herb-packed rice salad) and budu (long-fermented fish sauce).

Contrary to the divisions of dietary preferences, the political border — established in 1909 between Siam and British Malaya — runs west to east. The partition, which hopscotches between various mountains and rivers, separates fluid communities into a number of Thai provinces (Satun, Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani) and Malaysian states (Perlis, Kedah, and Kelantan).

“I have a Thai passport, as does my mother-in-law, but my husband is a Malaysian citizen. We all need passports to visit each other during the holidays,” says Dawan Sarin, the proprietor of Dawan Thai Kitchen, a Thai Muslim restaurant on the island of Langkawi, Malaysia, which is close enough to see Thailand even on a cloudy day. “I often miss my own mother’s cooking,” Sarin says wistfully.

Along the historically porous border, though, people’s lives and pantry staples cannot easily be neatly divided. Different languages describe the same dishes, like the Thai name “khao yum” and the Malay “nasi kerabu” for the same rice salad. In Langkawi, neighborhood children from Thai families attend Malaysian schools but speak Thai at home, and spicy homestyle Thai stir-fries like pad prik and phat phet fill dinner tables. Like the majority-Muslim community in Malaysia and southern Thailand, Sarin cooks halal food, combining versions of Thailand’s greatest hits like pad kaprao and pad thai with southern Thai favorites gaeng som and grilled prawns; the menu attracts a crowd of borderland locals, but it might not make much sense to someone from Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok.

In the 20th century, as Siam became Thailand and Malaya became Malaysia, both countries used food as a tool to establish modern national identities. Far from the border, government ministries and capital residents began to distinguish their food cultures from their Southeast Asian neighbors. Two purportedly distinct food identities emerged, contained by a set of unique national dishes like pad thai and nasi lemak, even though the countries grew similar produce and shared pantry ingredients.

Yet people in southern Thailand and northern Malaysia continued cooking foods that defy this sort of tidy nationalization, part of a larger, ongoing — sometimes violent — struggle to maintain identities along the border.

For a roadmap to borderland cuisine, check the street carts in southern Thailand. In the morning, they serve khao mok gai, nicknamed Thai-style chicken biryani by residents. The foundations for the dish were laid by Arab and Indian merchants, who arrived on the west coast from the 13th to the 17th century. Along with Islam, which they spread throughout Malaysia and southern Thailand , they also brought densely layered rice dishes like biryani. Similar to the Indian version for which it’s nicknamed, khao mok gai combines chicken, rice, and spices like cumin, coriander, and cinnamon, except local chefs use jasmine rice instead of the basmati common in biryani and they add a spicy-tangy dipping sauce made with local bird’s-eye chile and mint.

Another map of sorts wafts up from budu, a thick, cloudy fish sauce made by fermenting local anchovies for about a year, resulting in a salty, inimitable brine. Historically, the Malay community used budu as a dip alongside raw vegetables and grilled fish. But when waves of Chinese migrants , fleeing unrest and searching for work, arrived on the east side of the peninsula in the mid-19th century, they reinterpreted budu; dishes like budu bak (stir-fried pork with budu) use the fish sauce as an umami-boosting seasoning instead of a dip and combine it with pork, which local Muslims don’t eat.

These dishes have become ingrained along the border, but they also differentiate cooking in these communities from foodways elsewhere in both countries. Along the west coast, for instance, deep, fatty curries are the norm, informed by dishes brought from what is now Indonesia by migrants who started arriving in the 14th century .

“Many of the people here are originally from Sumatra and Java, who migrated to Malaya, and eventually traveled up north into southern Thailand,” says Abdul Waris Haji Ahmad, mayor of Che Bilang, a coastal town not too far across the border from Langkawi in the Thai province of Satun. Those heavy curries noticeably differ from lighter, aromatic curries found elsewhere in Thailand today.

Similarly, over on the east coast, chef Hisham Abdullah of Kantan in Melbourne, Australia, says his family in Terengganu, Malaysia, cooks with a lot of palm sugar, torch ginger, lime leaves, lemongrass, and toasted coconut, while people elsewhere in Malaysia center dishes more on bay leaves, tomato, onions, and shallots.

Take gaeng som. In central Thailand, the soup is reddish and sweet-and-sour. But Sarin’s electric, sweat-inducing version is totally different: spicy with dried chile paste (influenced by Indonesia), tinged yellow by turmeric (adopted from Indian traders), and girded with fermented shrimp (drawn from preservation practices in Southeast Asia). The contrast in Malaysia is even greater.

“When I mention gaeng som to friends from Kuala Lumpur, they don’t know about it,” Hisham says. “Growing up, I thought the Malay community was homogenous. Later I realized we are different because our backgrounds are influenced by different cultures, like Indonesian or Thai.”

At the opening of the 20th century, northern Malaysia was nominally a protectorate of the British, who had arrived in the late 18th century. “Britain and Siam wanted clear demarcation,” explains professor Thanet Aphornsuvan, author of Rebellion in Southern Thailand: Contending Histories . “It was agreed that the British would control Perlis, Kedah, and Kelantan, and they recognised Siam’s claim over Pattani.” That treaty, signed in 1909, defines the countries’ borders today.

After Siam became Thailand in 1939 and Malaysia gained independence in 1957, politicians got busy nation-building. Both countries established ministries of culture, arts, and tourism, which were dedicated in part to preserving and promoting Thai and Malaysian food, especially to foreign visitors. Through school textbooks, tourism events, culinary origin stories , and other forums, the modern nations supported distinctive understandings of their food cultures (though proud residents also helped reinforce these narratives from the bottom up), with little patience for cultural gray zones along the border.

“In Thailand, you are Thai first. You are no longer Chinese or Malay,” says Bernard Keo, a historian at the Geneva Graduate Institute. “National identity is not just what you are. It is also what you are not.”

This thinking makes it difficult for dishes from blended border cultures to gain recognition, and border food has been relegated as a “regional” cuisine, without much hope of breaking into the “mainstream.”

“There is no hyphenated food in Thailand,” says Richard Poole of Tai , a southern Thai restaurant in London. He says that’s a shame because Laotian, Malaysian, and other influences “actually show how [Thai cuisine] is receptive and adaptive to other cultures.” He points to pad see ew, which is inspired by Chinese flat noodles but now known squarely as a Thai dish.

“To be considered national food, it must cater to everyone’s taste or it has to be in Bangkok,” professor Aphornsuvan says. “You need support from the media and government [to popularize a regional dish].”

Items can break through in Bangkok, like som tum (papaya salad) from northeastern Isan. But the south, where many residents are Muslim (like most people in Malaysia), has the added challenge of religious difference in Buddhist-majority Thailand. Aphornsuvan says tension has built in the area over decades, as Bangkok has introduced programs to promote central Thai culture, make Thai the official language of schools and government offices, and gradually replace pondoks (Muslim religious schools) with modern Thai schools (which do still teach Islamic subjects).

Division is especially clear in Pattani on the east coast, once an autonomous state ruled by a Malay sultan. Malay Muslim separatist groups have called for independence since 1948, and the insurgency movement has only intensified. More than 7,000 people have died in the conflict since 2004, as separatists carry out attacks and accuse the Thai government of extrajudicial killings.

“[They] see the past Pattani kingdom as their lost Muslim kingdom,” says anthropology professor Wanni W. Anderson of Brown University. “The creation of modern Malaysia changed the political orientation.”

Though violent resistance has occupied the spotlight, people along the border region push back against Thai hegemony in quieter ways. Abdul Waris proudly says Che Bilang teaches Malay in public schools and encourages Malay Muslims to wear festive outfits during special occasions like weddings and Eid.

The forces of hegemony aren’t as clear-cut in Malaysia, which defines itself as a multicultural nation with influences from all over Asia. The government (and residents) acknowledges historical influences from geographically far-off China or India, but it largely minimizes influences from Indonesia and Thailand because Malaysia has spent decades distinguishing itself from these immediate neighbors. Outside of major cities, xenophobic residents tend to other dishes with names that aren’t immediately obvious as Malay. Even in restaurants that serve nasi kerabu, there is rarely a mention of its Thai twin.

This official programming also shows up outside of the region. Since 2002, the Thai government has specifically popularized dishes from the central region around Bangkok.

“Thailand used gastro-diplomacy to build its brand. It doesn’t matter where you go in the world, you will find a Thai restaurant selling tom yum and pad thai,” Keo says. Foods from other regions and cultures don’t make appearances. And the focus on Bangkok affects seemingly independent chefs too.

“A lot of Thai people in London, especially the older generation, were enticed to go to the U.K. to be chefs. And the food they promoted was central Thai food or the ‘greatest hits’ like pad thai or green curry,” Poole says.

Leela Punyaratabandhu, a Thai American food writer and cookbook author, has a related theory.

“Bangkok has always welcomed the highest number of international visitors, and these are the same dishes that are staples on the menus of hotels, resorts, and higher-end restaurants where most international visitors go,” she says. “Given the financial risk of opening a Thai restaurant as an immigrant, it’s logical for early Thai restaurateurs in the West to choose these ‘safe’ dishes over lesser-known, regional ones.”

While the Malaysian government has a more hands-off approach to gastro-tourism, dishes with Indian or Chinese influences, like roti canai (flaky flatbread served with curry) and Nyonya kuih (colorful desserts) respectively, tend to get top billing.

Despite what their governments prefer, borderland locals will go on eating khao mok gai and budu. Most people don’t care how their food is presented outside their region.

For chefs who have encountered the disconnect, though, there are signs the culture is shifting. In the last 20 years, Punyaratabandhu has seen customers in the diaspora become increasingly keen to try lesser-known Thai dishes. Hisham has also found greater reception to lesser-known Malaysian dishes in Australia.

At home too, khao yum/nasi kerabu has shown potential to become one of those breakthrough dishes that sheds its regional status. It has gained mass appeal in both Thailand and Malaysia thanks in part to its bright blue rice, dyed by butterfly pea flowers.

“It looks very appealing,” Hisham says. “Whenever people from Kelantan move to Kuala Lumpur and start food businesses, they specialize in nasi kerabu, so now it has become the signature dish.”

Perhaps fiery, yellow gaeng som, umami-packed budu bak, and other dishes will spread as well. But most borderland cuisine is still tangled in a mess of national identities. For dishes to truly thrive beyond this narrow strip of land, chefs will need time and space to define their cuisine in their own words, unencumbered by language barriers, official messaging, or arbitrary lines on a map drawn by old colonizers and kings.

Alia Ali is a translator, cook, and co-founder of the Malaysian food website Periuk . She is based in Langkawi, Malaysia. Annie Hariharan is a Malaysian Australian feature writer who focuses on food, food history, and pop culture. She is based in Melbourne, Australia. Michelle Yip works in photography, performing arts, education, and social entrepreneurship. Her photography can be found on @mylightchaser .

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Street Food Festival Zürich

There is admittedly a certain charm to fast food stands. Just a few years ago, they were still what cool street food was all about. In terms of health and style, though, they have reached the end of the road. Now, in place of kebab, sausages, and fries, the Street Food Festival serves up real culinary delicacies. Burgers, dumplings, tacos, sushi, ceviche, oysters, raclette, chocolates, or cupcakes – over 150 food sellers at the Street Food Festival in Zurich have a lot to offer.

This year, the festival will take place at two different locations.

Venues: May 11 – June 8, 2024 Werft Zürich Wollishofen

June 1 – July 14, 2024 Hardturmbrache Zürich

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