Thanks for your answer Jack. Is this veg Romanesco only grown in Switzerland? I do not recall seeing it for sale outside the country, never seen it in Kent UK amongst the apples and hops!

I don't know about the UK, but it is certainly popular in Italy and in certain parts of France...

enjoy,
Jack

Ah, the joys of Climate Change .

Ah! So that's a Romanesco! For about a year before I moved here from the UK last year I started visiting Farmer's Markets (food miles and all that), and saw those beauties. I thought they were young cauliflowers. I steamed them like caulis anyway. They're OK raw, if in small pieces, in a salad.

Slightly off topic, but has anyone here harvested rosehips in Switzerland? Because some have turned quite red already but they are still hard, and I am not sure when to harvest them . Does one wait until they are soft? I am referring to true Rosa Canina by the way. PS. The elderberries are on their way out, only trees in shaded areas still seem to have ripe ones.

I will try these Romanescos too

Hi Muze,

I personally have not harvested rose hips because they are a bit of a hassle to process, and it is really quite simple to purchase the pulp from the market, which should start showing up around the end of September (perhaps earlier this year). Rose Hips are always harvested before the first frost, but I think it is still a bit early right now. More on rose hips at Swiss markets...

Jack

Ok - this may sound like a stupid question so I apologize in advance...

For the past two summers we have not been here the last half of August into September. In Canada you can buy sweet corn by the dozen for $1. We never see corn here other than 2 ears from South Africa for upwards of 5 CHF.

In that small span, do we miss corn season? Does Switzerland have a corn season? It's one thing we miss eating in the summer and it would be great to find some!

Ditto! Where can one buy white corn such as Silver Queen here?

I love those in the summertime. I just grill them with the husk for a few minutes, then peel and eat.

I'm not sure about now, but FWIW, back when I was staying with relatives in CH, their attitude was that corn (Mais) was strictly pig fodder, and not fit for human consumption. I never saw it on a table or a menu.

Exactly. Because the corn here is harsh and hardly edible. It's grown mainly for feed.

On the other hand, the Silver Queens are so sweet, tender and flavorful, you can eat them raw. I barbeque them with the husk to drive the flavor out, then brush them with butter. It's perfect with a porterhouse, lobster and baked potato.

I served one to a Swiss visitor and they were impressed at how good it tasted.

Let's face it, the best corn grows in the U know of where.

At least big shops sell both kinds of corn. I grill corn myself. It might be worth a try to go to a bigger shop, or ask a local one.

With all the kermis stands that sell grilled mais with butter and Aromat, there has to be a market somewhere...

Stop it—you're making me hungry, and all I've got is a crummy "South Beach" entree foisted on me by Mrs. Texaner as I walked out the door this morning.

It sure seems the Swiss don't know what they're missing. I have to wonder if someone hasn't tried to introduce the good stuff, and just couldn't get past the "pig food" stigma.

But where?

I bet I can make a bundle by importing Silver Queen.

Do I need a license to import produce?

I would be shocked — shocked — if you didn't.

Are you sure you live in Switzerland?

As a maritimer one of the things I miss the most is lobster. Sadly I'm not heading that way this summer....

It's not just the Swiss - some of the Dutch - at least older generations would not eat corn either - my husband's aunt always said that she didn't eat pig food.

we grill corn a lot, along with other vegetables - zucchini, onions, red peppers, leeks and whatever else is around and make a grilled salad. About a month or so, I picked some up from the Coop that came from Florida - last batch came from France so I guess it's getting closer. But the stuff from the coop wasn't bad.

Corn is very good in the US - although I prefer yellow corn to white.

Hmm...but figs. I love to grill figs. Yum, yum, yum.

You think the local farmers would freak if I planted my own Silver Queens?

I would make sure not to throw any of the seeds of their crops. That would probably be akin to an act of terrorism.



Not ALL the time. Are you from New England?



Italy has a fig season in late summer. It's easy to find mission figs at that time. I've picked up all kinds of recipes for fig from there, especially from the Lombardy region. I make a fig-cantaloupe-prosciutto salad that totally rocks.

Are you talking about the ones that are wrapped in packs of two? It's a substitute, but not the best. Perhaps Globus might have more selection. I'll ask them.

To all the corn lovers out there...

Corn is indeed enjoyed in Switzerland. You can start to purchase fresh corn in August...both yellow and white are available. If you drive around a bit, you can also find corn fresh from the farmer...look for the signs. More about corn

Jack

I've moved the whole shebang to the August thread, but let's never talk about a vegetable in the wrong month again, okay?

Aromat?! Eeeewwww.