Swiss Watching: Inside the Land of Milk and Money

by Diccon Bewes

Equally shocking, no doubt, is having to watch visitors break the three cardinal rules of eating fondue: Firstly, and most importantly, your fork should never touch your tongue, teeth or lips as you eat, purely because it has to go back into the pot every time. Secondly, don’t drink anything fizzy, especially sparkling water, as you eat, otherwise what is anyway a fairly indigestible meal will turn to lead. It’s more normal to drink white wine or black tea, by which the Swiss mean tea that isn’t green or herbal; in English, we just call it tea. Lastly, once all the fondue has gone, the bottom of the pot is encrusted with a layer of cheese hardened to a crisp by being closer to the heat. Never leave la religieuse uneaten, but don’t take it all for yourself. For most Swiss it’s the best part of the meal and is there to be shared.