I've heard that Lugano is simply expensive but I couldn't help but feeling amazed while looking at a $5 price tag on a small block of tofu! Does anyone have an insights into vegetarian restaurants, groceries, or markets? I saw the excellent post about asian markets which I plan to scout out shortly. The coop has quite a bit of natural/vegetarian food basics (soy milk, etc) but nothing like veganaise, earth balance, tempeh or other things that I used to just always stock in my fridge at home.
Perhaps I'll be making monthly pilgrimages to Zurich.

I think you should check out Italy, which is closer to you. they have better vegetables. Even the tomatoes are more flavorful. Many are seasonal, such as figs and mushrooms. I think the Italians are very wise about eating. Tofu and Tempeh are probably easier found in metropolitan areas like Milan.

It's a challenge to cook and eat locally produced vegetarian food, but it can be done. For a wider range of nutrients, think variety and colour: fennel, zucchini, kohlrabi, radish, beetroot, beans, aubergine, pumpkin, chilli peppers, etc.

Also, have you ever tried (affordable) dry soy flakes on the cereal shelves in Migros? You can have it for breakfast with cold soy milk.

This reminds me that I've seen dried tofu kits for less than 2chf. It comes out a bit like jello. Not recommendable for frying or long cooking, but its alright for Japanese style eating; with miso soup or dipping in sauce.

I'm sure I don't pay that much for the excellent organic tofu I buy in my local health food shop. Once you are in Lugano, check out some of the smaller shops - I'm sure there must be a similar shop there.

Hi!

If you haven't found these stores yet, maybe you can try them to see if they have what you need.

Bio Casa Lugano/ Reformhaus
Salita Chiattone 3/Piazza Cioccaro 8, Lugano
Tel: 091 923 74 65

Bio Market – small grocery shop
Via Lavizzari 7b, Lugano
Tel: 091 923 14 34

Muller Reformhaus – large selection health, diet food, and body care
Quartiere Maghetti, Lugano
Tel: 091 751 55 25

Alisa

I've yet to find tempeh anywhere in Basel...so good luck in Lugano!

Being a vegetarian here is often a challenge, but it can be done. Definitely search out your local asian markets, they'll have your best choices and quality for things like tofu.

Here are two vegetarian restaurants.

Govinda Ristorante Vegetariano
Via Borghese 14
6600 Locarno
091 752 38 51

Il Radicchio
Corso Elvezia 22
6900 Lugano
091 921 11 48

That's odd... here in Biel I can buy tofu, tempeh and seitan from one of the organic stores. I have seen it in Bern too. It ain't cheap though. Still, at least the tofu costs less than in Migros or the Coop.

It should be available somewhere in Basel and other large towns / cities. Biel is after all only a small town...

if you wanna store the vegi, go to Como, italy...in the weekend , there is a market incl all food stuff,,those are good and fresh,
or heading to Milan, Metro Sant'Agostino, M 2,,
I have lived and travelled between Milan and Zürich ,with a chance of shopping for food on Saturday morning before get trian back to CH, I have spent never more than 5 euro then went off with 5 huge bags of vegetable ,fruits,,tofu,,and lots of surprise!

I googled tempeh + Basel and found this forum because a friend also told me she cannot find tempeh in Basel. We were talking about this because of an article that shows (very convincingly to me) that unfermented soya is not as healthy as most people think. Please have a look at it here:
http://dfosummit.com/archives/2008/0...a-health-food/
Even if you are vegetarian, there is no need to consume large amounts of soy. A normal person needs only about 10 gram protein a day! One of the problems with cow milk is actually that it contains too much protein. The writer who convinced me of this is Annemarie Colbin, the author of 'The Natural Gourmet', 'Food & Healing' and 'The Book of Whole Meals'. Her website is http://www.foodandhealing.com/ , and I can strongly recommend buying her 'the Natural Gourmet' cookbook (through amazon.de).

Well, good choice I must admit! Switzerland in principle has got prohibitive prices of meat (compare to the neighbouring countries) thus naturally narturing vegetarians It is a heaven for vegetarians and those who used to like meat might need to revise their taste again...

I am sure that in vicinity of nearby Italy you will be able to find great assortment of pastas, lausagnas and salad world...

That's what I am doing at the moment to cut the budget

Oh, it is so far from a vegetarian heaven! Hard to even go to a restaurant here as a veg. Can't tell you how many times I've been offered chicken dishes or fish dishes - or a dish with meat-based gravy as "vegetarian"

For that matter I do not even bother to go to the local restaurants more often than once per month from obvious reasons (In South Africa when I was a student I used to eat out almost every evening, later I managed to do away with it once per week).

I can find quite a lot of local vegetarian meals in DENNER, MIGROS or COOP

I was in the Reform house Country Life today, they don't have tempeh on stock, but order it upon request, either plain or smoked tempeh.