Hey Jack, maybe we should approach Pret to open a franchise in Zurich

I find that quite depressing given that they're still claiming on their website that they don't ever franchise and that they don't agree with it. Now I wonder how many of their other claims are complete rubbish.

Hi Heather, its all a bit mysterious, as far as i have heard now, they have closed in Japan? (and there is nothing on their website about a Japanese branch) anyway here is an article it i think you might be interested in
link

"Q. Let me ask you about... one of the tough questions for an entrepreneur for a lack of a better word, is how far to take the idea on your own? And then whether or not to bring in a major partner because in 2001 a lot of people thought you'd brought in the Antichrist when you made McDonald's your partner and nevertheless you made that decision, why?"

Have a go at Kerala or Spice Route as well (info in the restaurants post - Help section)

The nice thing about indian places in Switzerland is that they have plenty of south indian stuff which is not I guess what you'd consider "british english". What I miss of british english are those indian places where the grandma cooks in the kitchen and the food is super good and super cheap.

But you do get good indian stuff here. I find the best samosas to be from Maharani's.

I love the dried lamb masala at Kerala.

Khan's in the niederdorf is not too bad either.

~ Nanda.

I am from Turkey and here are a few things I am missing:

• evening shopping. Most shops close at 10PM in Istanbul
• affordable, all-you-can-eat brunches with lots of decent food.
• night crowds. Istanbul hardly sleeps, especially during summers
• spontaniety. It seems everybody here plans everything way before. You cant call others and start "lets go...."
• Family visits. Socializing at home is a rare thing.
• Affordable beef.

How about a good 7eleven around the corner? Or possibly around several corners of the town. I know there are the gas stations but it's just not the same.

Do you know if anybody has ever tried to open one in ZH? I'm guessing there must be some pretty tough restrictions when it comes to opening hours.

I want a Flymo. www.argos.ch doesn't sell them - www.argos.co.uk does, though

Pret a manger is not 'owned' by McD, but McD do own a 33% stake. So I guess they cans till say that they are 'privately' owned...

I think I miss all the chat and banter - just being able to say a few things to the person next door without them acting like you were taking them hostage because you had a friendly chat with them. Whenever I washed my car on the street (like twice) the guy up the road without fail would ask me if I wanted to wash his too and it was stupid but it made you feel like you belonged and were a part of a community. And the postman would call me darling and stupid stuff like that which just helps you get through a day - and you don't notice it until it's gone. Whine moan whine......

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heather

To be able to walk into a pub and come out having exchanged a few words with someone, that maybe you didn't yet know (except the owner , he has a vested interest).

When I lived in the North of England, people would just chat to you : about anything, no preamble, no pressing reason for doing so, just to be sociable. You find yourself reciprocating and before you know it you it you are part of something that you weren't before.

There is obviously the cultural and language gap, but even so, the only times people have initiated a conversation with me in Zürich without an introduction is either to try and sell me something, or to point out some minor infraction.

When i was living in germany it was somewhat a hybrid of the two, and being serious drinkers and singers (usually together) the germans in their Kneipe were much more approachable.

Maybe its a Zürich thing. I value the privacy here but not at the expense of social contact.

dave

Gardens. Not to garden-in you understand, but to store half built car projects, barbeques and lots of other outdoor junk. It has the additional benefit of being a bit of "outside" which you can claim as your own without getting pestered by kids with ghetto blasters and clothes that don't fit. Shared gardens don't count.

The English stereotype garden-shed-pottering is alive and well. I think the swiss do it in purpose-build workshops...

dave

what about:
having to drink as much as you can as the last drink you'll get will be at 11pm?

haven't the UK just gone and got all European on us and gone for the 24hour opportunity to shift a few Bacardi Breezers laced with Rohypnol.....?

indeed they have - but you have to apply for the right to open later.

Strangely enough, the understanding of kicking-out-time culture lead to many predicting carnage....which hasn't happened.

And the police in certain areas have encourange young women to wear nice pants, just in case......

im from australia...
and as we all know (and as some one rightly already pointed out)
an australians greatest joy is not eating vegemite but seeing a forigner try it for the first time..

but thats not entirly true...
i miss vegemite soo much,
i also miss aeroplane jelly...
a good looking lamington (although i havnt been known to eat them)

but i also have to say that when im back home in australia i get people to send me rivella...i know its sad but along with swiss bread and dried meat and appenzell beer its one thing that switzerland can really boast.

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life is what happeneds while your busy making other plans...

Did you know you can buy vegemite at Coop St. Annahof (on the bahnhofstrasse - although I think they are remodeling right now until mid-August)?

jack

excuse me...are u for real....im going there to ask then...ive been beggin my family back in oz but they think its a real joke i think they are trying to make me suffer....i will look into it....thank u

We sell Hagen Daas ice cream at the cinéma Hollywood in Montreux :P

mmmm.... cookies and cream ..... mmmm.....

Am I making you jealous ?!

100 % agree. plus fresh seafood .. fish grilled and served with just a hint of salt and occasional lemon.. not that tasteless white fillet with heavy creamy souce they serve in most of the "seafood" restaurants here :-(

and a good sense of humor... was in London the other weekend, and even the taxi drivers had loads of it .. and I dont even expect a level to match my days in Ireland..

Nathalie7777,

Do you remember the Taco Mesa restaurants? They were in Mission Viejo, and had three places in the north of the county. They also had a great Burrito .
Since I relocated to Washington DC I've not found another. I've even thought of Fed Exing them from the Left Coast to DC. A friend used to do that with In&Out Burgers.

Swisscheese