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Alpine cow sponsorship

Eldora has supported the Roffler family of farmers in Prättigau since 2015 and sponsors one Alpine cow for each Eldora restaurant. Mary, Bernina, Dora, Zita and all the other cows spend the summer on the beautiful Alp Valpun at around 1,882 metres above sea level, where they graze on fresh mountain herbs all day long. The wonderfully flavourful and creamy milk is processed into the finest cheese directly on the mountain. Our commitment is a way of expressing the importance we attach to Swiss mountain farming and making an active contribution to sustaining the alpine economy.

Eldora has supported the Roffler family of farmers in Prättigau since 2015 and sponsors one Alpine cow for each Eldora restaurant.

Mary, Bernina, Dora, Zita and all the other cows spend the summer on the beautiful Alp Valpun
at around 1,882 metres above sea level, where they graze on fresh mountain herbs all day long.
The wonderfully flavourful and creamy milk is processed into the finest cheese directly on the
mountain.

Our commitment is a way of expressing the importance we attach to Swiss mountain farming and making an active contribution to sustaining the alpine economy.

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INCL.<br />

5 recipes<br />

WITH <strong>Alpine</strong><br />

cheese<br />

ALP VALPUN<br />

1,882 a.s.l<br />

<strong>Alpine</strong> <strong>cow</strong><br />

SPONSORSHIP<br />

SINCE 2015


Dorli, the <strong>Alpine</strong> <strong>cow</strong>s<br />

from Prättigau, and us<br />

Every summer,<br />

Dorli’s <strong>cow</strong>s spend<br />

between 80 and 90<br />

days on Alp Valpun<br />

in Prättigau GR.<br />

Eldora has supported the Roffler family of farmers in<br />

Prättigau since 2015 and sponsors one <strong>Alpine</strong> <strong>cow</strong><br />

for each Eldora restaurant.<br />

Mary, Bernina, Dora, Zita and all the other <strong>cow</strong>s<br />

spend the summer on the beautiful Alp Valpun<br />

at around 1,882 metres above sea level, where<br />

they graze on fresh mountain herbs all day long.<br />

The wonderfully flavourful and creamy milk is<br />

processed into the finest cheese directly on the<br />

mountain.<br />

With its centuries-old culture, traditional <strong>Alpine</strong><br />

farming is still of great economic and cultural<br />

importance for the Prättigau in the canton of<br />

Graubunden. More than 150,000 kg of <strong>Alpine</strong><br />

cheese are produced every summer on 26<br />

<strong>Alpine</strong> dairy farms. Every third <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese<br />

from Graubunden comes from this region.<br />

restaurants and is also offered for sale. For the<br />

Roffler family, this means guaranteed sales every<br />

year.<br />

Family farms produce more than half of all food<br />

worldwide. They are the economic and social<br />

backbone of rural areas, and Switzerland is no<br />

exception. With our efforts, we want to draw<br />

attention to the importance of the Swiss mountain<br />

economy and actively campaign for the<br />

preservation of <strong>Alpine</strong> farming.<br />

We are proud to have doubled our contribution<br />

since we launched our <strong>Alpine</strong> Cow Sponsorship<br />

programme in 2015!<br />

At the beginning of October, the summer in the<br />

mountains comes to an end and the <strong>cow</strong>s leave<br />

their summer residence. For four days, the legendary<br />

Alpabzug takes place as the cattle are<br />

taken back down into the valley. This event is<br />

celebrated with the “Prättigauer Alp Spektakel”<br />

in Küblis and Seewis. This is also the time when<br />

the wheels of cheese from our sponsored <strong>Alpine</strong><br />

<strong>cow</strong>s are ready to eat. The fine <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese<br />

comes directly from Alp Valpun to the Eldora<br />

2<br />

3


“In the past, it would<br />

have been too risky to<br />

have that many <strong>cow</strong>s<br />

on the alp”<br />

An interview with Dorli Roffler<br />

How do you benefit from the partnership with<br />

Eldora?<br />

Since Eldora guarantees that they will purchase<br />

several hundred kg of cheese from us, we<br />

can practically empty out our cheese cellar<br />

every autumn. This offers us security because<br />

we know at the beginning of the year the<br />

quantities we will sell after we descend from<br />

the <strong>Alpine</strong> pastures. In the past, it would<br />

have been risky for us to have so many <strong>cow</strong>s<br />

on the alp without knowing whether we<br />

would be able to sell all the cheese. In<br />

addition, because our <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese is in<br />

high demand, we can sell our milk for a<br />

higher price.<br />

What has changed since 2015 when we began<br />

sponsoring your <strong>cow</strong>s?<br />

We have already been able to establish many<br />

valuable contacts through our cooperation.<br />

Many Eldora employees who visit us are<br />

enthusiastic and spread the word about our<br />

cheese.<br />

You are involved in many projects and also actively<br />

contribute to the success of the <strong>Alpine</strong><br />

Cow Sponsorship programme. What drives you,<br />

what motivates you?<br />

It is important to us for the urban population to<br />

learn about our traditional <strong>Alpine</strong> agriculture.<br />

4<br />

5


You handed the farm down to your son at the<br />

beginning of 2018. What has changed for you?<br />

My husband Hans still works on the farm, but<br />

most of the work is now done by my son Jürg.<br />

The farm is a family business, so you’re always<br />

involved in one way or another. The same is<br />

true for me. I make hay, look after my grandchildren,<br />

sell cheese. There’s always something<br />

to do.<br />

What does a normal working day look like for<br />

you during the summer months?<br />

When all the animals are on the alp in the<br />

summer, we can spend our time harvesting<br />

hay when the weather is nice. We harvest hay<br />

from May to October between our valley farm<br />

at 950 metres above sea level all the way up<br />

to Alp Valpun at 1,900 metres. In addition, I<br />

have run the Prättigau headquarters of Scarnuz<br />

Grischun for more than 20 years. We are a<br />

group of five women from the region who sell<br />

fine homemade products.<br />

Where do the <strong>cow</strong>s live when they are not on<br />

the <strong>Alpine</strong> pastures?<br />

The <strong>cow</strong>s that are born with us spend the<br />

winter in a free-range barn where they can<br />

move around freely at all times.<br />

Spotted, brown, big, small... can you also tell<br />

your <strong>cow</strong>s apart by their personalities?<br />

Our animals have very different personalities;<br />

no two are alike. We sometimes have to deal<br />

with very stubborn <strong>cow</strong>s, while others can be<br />

very affectionate. Of course, there is always a<br />

<strong>cow</strong> you get on with particularly well. Just like<br />

us humans!<br />

When do the <strong>cow</strong>s go up to the mountain<br />

pasture in summer?<br />

In mid-June, the <strong>cow</strong>s go up to Alp Valpun<br />

where they spend about 90 days. When the<br />

wind starts to slowly pull clouds of fog up the<br />

green-yellow forests and the temperatures<br />

start to get cooler, it’s time to leave the alp.<br />

The four <strong>Alpine</strong> dairy farmers and the <strong>cow</strong>s<br />

hike down the gravel road from 1,900 metres<br />

to their winter quarters in Luzein, just under<br />

900 metres above sea level.<br />

6<br />

7


“Sometimes<br />

the <strong>cow</strong>s climb up<br />

to 2,200 metres, depending<br />

on where they find the best<br />

mountain herbs. Then you<br />

have to climb up there<br />

yourself if you want to<br />

herd them together for<br />

milking.”<br />

8<br />

9


Cheese toasts with <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese,<br />

porcini mushrooms and herbs<br />

Ingredients<br />

• 4 slices of whole-grain bread<br />

• Butter<br />

• 100 ml white wine<br />

• 200 g <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese, in slices<br />

• 300 g fresh porcini mushrooms,<br />

cleaned and sliced<br />

• 2 tbsp olive oil<br />

• 1/2 an onion, chopped<br />

• 1 clove of garlic, minced<br />

• Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme,<br />

parsley), finely chopped<br />

• 1 tbsp butter<br />

• Salt and pepper<br />

• Paprika, nutmeg, freshly cracked<br />

pepper<br />

Preparation<br />

Lightly toast the bread slices, top with a<br />

thin layer of butter and drizzle with<br />

white wine. Place the cheese on top and<br />

bake in the oven at 220°C only using the<br />

top heating element for about 7 minutes.<br />

While the cheese toasts are in the oven,<br />

heat the olive oil in a frying pan and sauté<br />

the porcini mushrooms briefly. Add the<br />

onions, garlic, rosemary and thyme and<br />

cook over high heat for a few minutes,<br />

stirring frequently. Add the butter and<br />

parsley and season with salt and pepper.<br />

Top the cheese toasts with the mushrooms<br />

and season with nutmeg, paprika<br />

and pepper to taste.<br />

10<br />

11


Alp Valpun<br />

1,882 m<br />

The Prättigau<br />

... is one of the most important <strong>Alpine</strong> regions<br />

in Graubunden: one in three <strong>Alpine</strong> cheeses<br />

from Graubunden come from the Prättigau.<br />

More than 150,000 kg of <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese and<br />

15,000 kg of <strong>Alpine</strong> butter are produced on<br />

26 <strong>Alpine</strong> pastures every summer. In addition,<br />

there are more than 50 <strong>Alpine</strong> pastures for<br />

suckler <strong>cow</strong>s, dry <strong>cow</strong>s and young cattle,<br />

sheep, goats and horses. With its centuries-old<br />

culture, <strong>Alpine</strong> farming is still of great importance<br />

for the Prättigau.<br />

<strong>Alpine</strong> pastures<br />

up to 2,200 m<br />

Alp Valpun<br />

... is located at around 1,882 metres above<br />

sea level below Chrüz (Valpun/Tschuggen/<br />

Vereina), a mountain popular with backcountry<br />

skiers. On Alp Valpun, there are 111 dairy<br />

<strong>cow</strong>s in summer, including Dorli’s <strong>cow</strong>s, 1 bull,<br />

139 suckler <strong>cow</strong>s, 70 calves, 14 dry <strong>cow</strong>s<br />

(<strong>cow</strong>s that are not currently giving milk). The<br />

<strong>Alpine</strong> pasture staff consists of six people.<br />

During an <strong>Alpine</strong> summer, the <strong>cow</strong>s produce<br />

80,000 litres of milk, which in turn produces<br />

8,000 kg of <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese and 1,000 kg of<br />

delicious <strong>Alpine</strong> butter.<br />

Pany/Luzein<br />

1,250 m<br />

Seewis<br />

937 m<br />

Küblis<br />

814 m<br />

12<br />

13


Our<br />

sponsored<br />

<strong>cow</strong>s are named:<br />

Albula, Anemone, Annika, Antonella,<br />

Arve, Ascona, Beldona, Beresina,<br />

Bernina, Birke, Carla, Carola, Chiara,<br />

Clarissa, Dalja, Lacora, Mary, Orina,<br />

Palma, Paria, Rabiusa, Rari, Ronja, Rosy,<br />

Senta, Stella, Versasca, Veruschka,<br />

“We sometimes Wallisa, Wieka, Wildy, Zavaria,<br />

have to deal with very<br />

Zita, Zoe, Zora<br />

stubborn <strong>cow</strong>s, while others<br />

can be very affectionate.<br />

Of course, there is always<br />

a <strong>cow</strong> you get on with<br />

particularly well.”<br />

14<br />

15


16<br />

17


Pork cordon bleu with<br />

herb-cured bacon and <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese,<br />

plum chili chutney, autumn salad<br />

Cordon bleu gets its special<br />

flavour from the cheese, which<br />

slowly melts and releases its<br />

aroma tucked inside the meat.<br />

While cordon bleu fans love to<br />

debate over veal vs. pork, there’s<br />

one thing everyone agrees on<br />

– the right cheese is key!<br />

Cordon bleu ingredients<br />

• 4 pork escalopes (approx. 130 g)<br />

• 12 slices of herb-cured bacon<br />

• 120 g <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese, in slices<br />

• 100 g onions, finely sliced<br />

• 10 g butter<br />

• 1 pinch of brown sugar<br />

• Salt and pepper<br />

• Flour<br />

• 2 eggs, whisked<br />

• 150 g breadcrumbs<br />

Chutney ingredients<br />

• 50 g onions, finely sliced<br />

• 10 g ginger, cut into matchsticks<br />

• 1 pepperoncino (chilli pepper), finely<br />

sliced<br />

• 50 g brown sugar<br />

• 100 ml Port wine<br />

• 100 ml water<br />

• 1 pinch of salt<br />

• 1 orange, zested<br />

• 500 g plums, pitted and cut into<br />

quarters<br />

Autumn salad ingredients<br />

• 300 g seasonal greens<br />

• 2 figs, cut into quarters<br />

• 1 carrot, cut into thin strips<br />

• 50 g white cabbage, shredded<br />

• 20 g roasted pumpkin seeds<br />

• Salt and pepper<br />

• Pumpkin seed oil<br />

• Fig vinegar<br />

Cordon bleu preparation<br />

Sauté the onion in butter until soft, then<br />

add the brown sugar and caramelise.<br />

Season with salt and pepper and remove<br />

from the heat to cool. Use a mallet or a<br />

rolling pin to pound the pork escalopes<br />

evenly until thin. Cover each pork escalope<br />

with the bacon, cheese slices and the onion<br />

mixture and fold it over in the middle.<br />

Season with salt and pepper, lightly dredge<br />

in flour, dip in the whisked eggs and then<br />

coat in the breadcrumbs. Slowly fry the<br />

cordon bleu in hot oil.<br />

Chutney preparation<br />

Bring all of the ingredients except the<br />

plums to the boil in a pan and simmer for<br />

5 minutes. Add the plums and simmer<br />

briefly. Scoop out the plums and cook<br />

down the liquid until it is reduced by half.<br />

Then add the plums again and remove<br />

from the heat to cool.<br />

Autumn salad preparation<br />

Wash the greens and tear into bite-sized<br />

pieces if necessary. Toss the carrot and<br />

white cabbage with the salad. Combine<br />

the pumpkin seed oil and the fig vinegar<br />

and pour over the salad, season with salt<br />

and pepper and toss gently. Garnish with<br />

the figs, pumpkin seeds and fresh herbs,<br />

if desired.<br />

18<br />

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The<br />

Alp Valpun<br />

dairy<br />

cheese weighing no more than 1 kg. The<br />

latter are mostly produced for private<br />

consumption. They are more difficult to make<br />

but are also ready to eat more quickly. The<br />

large wheels of cheese (5 kg) are stored in<br />

the cellar of the <strong>Alpine</strong> dairy (see picture<br />

below) until it is full and space has to be<br />

made. Dorli then picks up her cheese and<br />

takes it to her own maturing cellar on her<br />

farm in Luzein. When this cellar is full, she<br />

moves the cheese to a military bunker<br />

located a little below Alp Valpun that can<br />

store another 300 wheels of cheese.<br />

All three cellars are full to bursting, because<br />

Laura and her assistants not only care for and<br />

milk Dorli’s animals, but also make cheese<br />

from the milk of more than 100 <strong>cow</strong>s from<br />

several different farmers. To ensure that the<br />

cheese is distributed fairly later on, the<br />

amount of milk each individual <strong>cow</strong> produces<br />

is measured regularly. An average value is<br />

calculated and that value determines the<br />

amount of cheese each farmer is entitled to.<br />

They make sure that<br />

the <strong>cow</strong>s stay healthy and<br />

the cheese is of the best<br />

quality: Laura and her<br />

assistants Dominik, Manuel,<br />

Jean (from left) and<br />

Rocky the dog.<br />

Laura is already in her third year as a dairymaid<br />

on Alp Valpun. <strong>Alpine</strong> dairy farming is<br />

not just a profession – it’s a calling. You<br />

adapt to the rhythm of nature and the<br />

animals. But life on the high mountain<br />

pastures or “the alp” is not as romantic as it<br />

may seem. Many start out as assistants,<br />

referred to as “Zusennen” or “Batzger” in<br />

German, but only a few stay on. Not only is<br />

the work exhausting, but life on the alp in a<br />

cosy but simply furnished house is very<br />

different compared to life in the valley. There<br />

is always work to be done around the clock.<br />

Twice a day, the <strong>cow</strong>s are herded together<br />

and milked, then the stable is cleaned, wood<br />

is chopped, the house is maintained and<br />

repaired, and the diesel generator is kept<br />

running smoothly. A day on the alp begins<br />

at 2.30 a.m. – so you go to bed early.<br />

But cheesemaking and ripening are the sole<br />

responsibility of Laura, the dairymaid. In<br />

addition to <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese, she also produces<br />

a traditional soft cheese called Ziger, <strong>Alpine</strong><br />

butter, and Mutschli – small wheels of<br />

This is where the<br />

cheese matures before<br />

it is delivered to the<br />

Eldora restaurants as<br />

5 kg wheels for the<br />

<strong>Alpine</strong> Cow promotion.<br />

20<br />

21


What makes<br />

<strong>Alpine</strong> cheese so unique<br />

<strong>Alpine</strong> cheese is extremely special and is not<br />

the same as mountain cheese. That is why the<br />

designation is also protected.<br />

Mountain cheese (Bergkäse) is produced<br />

all year round in the village dairies of mountain<br />

regions, i.e. also in the winter months when<br />

the animals are fed hay and live in stables.<br />

<strong>Alpine</strong> cheese (Alpkäse), on the other<br />

hand, is only produced in summer with milk<br />

from <strong>cow</strong>s, goats or sheep that graze on the<br />

high <strong>Alpine</strong> meadows, also referred to as<br />

“the alp”. The name “<strong>Alpine</strong> cheese” is<br />

protected.<br />

A cheese may only bear this name if the milk<br />

production and cheesemaking have taken<br />

place on the alp.<br />

No two <strong>Alpine</strong> cheeses taste the same.<br />

Different local herbs, production methods<br />

and traditions shape the cheese in terms of<br />

flavour, colour, form, degree of ripeness and<br />

hardness. All <strong>Alpine</strong> cheeses have only one<br />

thing in common, however: the uniquely<br />

floral, tangy flavour that comes from fresh<br />

<strong>Alpine</strong> herbs.<br />

The dairy at<br />

Alp Valpun produces<br />

cheese from 72,000 litres<br />

of milk every summer:<br />

870 kg <strong>Alpine</strong> butter<br />

239 pieces of Ziger cheese<br />

7,000 kg <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese<br />

= 1,361 wheels of cheese<br />

+ 400 Mutschli<br />

22<br />

23


It is important to us<br />

for the urban population<br />

to learn about our<br />

traditional <strong>Alpine</strong><br />

agriculture.<br />

ALPUNG – The German word for cattle farming on <strong>Alpine</strong> pastures<br />

BATZGER – The German word for the assistant of the dairymaid or dairyman<br />

BRINE – A salt solution that gives the cheese its flavour and helps to preserve it<br />

CURD HARP – A tool used to cut the curd when making cheese<br />

COAGULATION – The process of heating milk and adding rennet and lactic acid bacteria<br />

CURD – Small pieces that have been cut with the cheese harp<br />

GEPSEN – The German word for the wooden containers in which fresh milk is stored overnight<br />

KESSI – The German word for the boiler in which the milk is heated (between 300 to 15,000 litres)<br />

MATURING CELLAR – Place where the cheese is stored until it reaches its ripening point<br />

MÖDÄLI – The German name for the standardised butter size (250 g, 500 g or 1 kg)<br />

RÄF – The German word for the traditional wooden carrying frame used to<br />

transport cheese on the wearer’s back<br />

RENNET – An enzyme that thickens and coagulates the milk<br />

SOUR WHEY– The name for the whey from the previous day<br />

TSCHÄPPEL – The German word for the colourful flower headdresses that the <strong>cow</strong>s wear when<br />

come back down from the mountains<br />

WHEY – The residual liquid leftover after the curd has been removed<br />

ZIGER – Whey condensate that is skimmed off after the whey has been boiled<br />

24<br />

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Pizzoccheri with leek, savoy,<br />

pumpkin, spinach, carrots,<br />

walnuts and <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese<br />

Ingredients<br />

• 400 g pizzoccheri (traditional buckwheat<br />

noodles from Graubunden)<br />

• 200 g carrots, cut into cubes<br />

• 100 g savoy cabbage, shredded<br />

• 200 g pumpkin, cut into cubes<br />

• 200 g leek, sliced<br />

• 50 g spinach<br />

• 50 g walnuts<br />

• 1 tbsp butter<br />

• 1 clove of garlic<br />

• Salt, pepper, nutmeg<br />

• 200 g grated <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese<br />

Preparation<br />

Cook the pizzoccheri in salted water for<br />

about 30 minutes. Add the carrots and<br />

savoy cabbage after about 20 minutes. In<br />

the meantime, heat the butter in a frying<br />

pan and sauté the leek, pumpkin and<br />

garlic. Drain the pizzoccheri, carrot and<br />

savoy mixture and combine it with the<br />

leek, pumpkin, walnuts and spinach.<br />

Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg<br />

and transfer the mixture to a baking dish<br />

that has been greased with butter.<br />

Spread the grated <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese on top<br />

and bake in the oven at 190°C for about<br />

15 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley<br />

and fried onions, if desired.<br />

26<br />

27


Fondue<br />

On a cold, dreary autumn or winter evening, is<br />

there anything better than a pot of creamy<br />

melted cheese seasoned with garlic, nutmeg<br />

and a dash of kirsch that you can dip your<br />

bread in and enjoy?<br />

No, it doesn’t get much better than that. But<br />

that’s not all! To make sure that you don't get<br />

bored of fondue or even put off by it (is that<br />

even possible?) during the cold months, we are<br />

here to add a little variety to your caquelon.<br />

On the next two pages, we offer you a basic<br />

recipe along with many exciting ways to spice<br />

up the flavour of your fondue. By the way, did<br />

you know fondue first became the Swiss<br />

national dish in 1950? That was the year in<br />

which it found its way into Swiss households<br />

via the Swiss Army cookbook and from there<br />

into the rest of the world. The first German<br />

recipe dates back to a cookbook written by<br />

Anna Maria Gessner in 1699 in Zurich, but<br />

who exactly invented fondue remains a mystery<br />

to this day because the French, or more<br />

precisely the Savoy, also claim it as their own.<br />

By the way, until the 1980s, it was common<br />

practice to rent out fondue pots, burners and<br />

forks from a local dairy as most people did not<br />

own their own set.<br />

28<br />

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Basic recipe<br />

Fondue moitié-moitié<br />

serves 4 (200 g cheese per person)<br />

305 ml white wine<br />

2–3 tsp cornflour<br />

400 g Gruyère AOP<br />

400 g Fribourger Vacherin AOP<br />

1–2 cl Kirsch<br />

3–4 cloves of garlic<br />

A splash of lemon juice<br />

Pepper, nutmeg<br />

Important: Mix the cornflour<br />

with the wine first, otherwise<br />

it will become lumpy.<br />

Mushroom –<br />

the autumnal one<br />

For a more intense flavour, porcini mushrooms<br />

or morels are best. Chop 100 g of fresh<br />

mushrooms (or 60 g dried mushrooms, soaked<br />

in lukewarm water beforehand). Sauté the<br />

mushrooms in a little butter together with<br />

chopped onions and thyme and add them to<br />

the fondue mixture.<br />

Tip: This version goes well with whole-grain<br />

nut bread<br />

Bacon – the hearty one<br />

Bacon goes with everything! Sauté the bacon<br />

cubes and add them to the fondue or, alternatively,<br />

fry the bacon, cut it into small pieces<br />

and dip the bread in it.<br />

Tip: Make it a bacon feast and serve bacon<br />

bread with the fondue.<br />

Tomatoes – the red one<br />

Tomato fondue can be served in two ways. If<br />

you prefer something more subtle, take some<br />

dried tomatoes, slice them into thin strips and<br />

add them to the fondue. For even more tomato<br />

flavour, add 2 tablespoons of tomato purée and<br />

300 ml tomato juice to the cheese mixture.<br />

Reduce the amount of wine (red wine can also<br />

be used for even more flavour) by half and bring<br />

to the boil as usual.<br />

Tip: Potatoes or stale focaccia go very well with<br />

tomato fondue.<br />

Truffle –<br />

the exquisite one<br />

Naturally, you can buy ready-made truffle<br />

fondue mixtures, but it tastes even better<br />

homemade, and this also lets you control how<br />

much truffle you add. When preparing the<br />

fondue mixture, make sure that the flavour of<br />

the cheese is not too strong, otherwise it will<br />

overpower the truffles. Add some very thinly<br />

sliced truffle directly to the fondue mixture.<br />

Shave the rest of the truffle onto the plate and<br />

dip the bread in the truffle. Alternatively, you<br />

can use truffle oil instead of a whole truffle,<br />

but it won’t be quite as exquisite.<br />

Tip: Cut the bread into small pieces and toast<br />

them in the oven for a few minutes.<br />

Festive champagne or an<br />

aromatic beer?<br />

For a more festive version, substitute the wine<br />

for champagne. This makes the fondue a little<br />

airier than classic fondue.<br />

If you prefer something heartier, you’ll love<br />

beer fondue. Replace the wine with light beer<br />

(a little malt beer makes the flavour even more<br />

intense).<br />

Tip: Pair the beer fondue with pretzels and<br />

beer.<br />

Cider – the French one<br />

Airy, creamy and with a subtle apple flavour<br />

– fondue made with cider instead of wine is a<br />

contender for our new favourite!<br />

Tip: Add small, lightly caramelised apple pieces<br />

directly to the fondue or serve them on the side<br />

– it almost tastes better that way.<br />

Schabziger –<br />

the Glarus one<br />

Schabziger fans love putting this traditional<br />

cheese in and on top of nearly everything. So,<br />

for these <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese afficionados, Ziger<br />

fondue is an obvious choice. Add 50 g of<br />

Schabziger to the fondue mixture. If you are a<br />

big fan, you can of course add more.<br />

Tip: Dip potatoes or Glarner bread in the Ziger<br />

fondue.<br />

Saffron –<br />

the elaborate one<br />

This combination is definitely worth trying.<br />

Fondue with a hint of saffron is best paired<br />

with potatoes. Add half a sachet of saffron to<br />

the fondue at the very end. Saffron should<br />

never cook for long.<br />

Tip: Serve this fondue with fresh or canned<br />

pears.<br />

Mustard seeds –<br />

the adventurous one<br />

Mustard and cheese, does that go together?<br />

Absolutely! Admittedly, at first glance, this<br />

combination seems like it might take some<br />

getting used to. But once you’ve tried it, you’ll<br />

love the mild mustard flavour. Grind 1–2 tbsp<br />

mustard seeds and add to the fondue mixture.<br />

Tip: This fondue is delicious when paired with<br />

sourdough bread.<br />

Chili – the healthy one<br />

Yes, that’s right – healthy! Chillies are chockfull<br />

of vitamin C. 100 g contain almost three<br />

times as much as a lemon. Chop two red<br />

chillies, add to the fondue and get your daily<br />

dose of vitamins. If you like it a bit spicier, use<br />

small green chillies from an Asian supermarket.<br />

Tip: Serve with fresh pineapple. When things<br />

heat up a tad too much, pineapple can be the<br />

remedy. Indians also swear by it.<br />

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31


Why does cheese<br />

have holes?<br />

Interesting and funny facts about cheese<br />

During cheese production, lactic acid bacteria<br />

is added to the milk. This produces carbon<br />

dioxide, which is unable to escape through<br />

the rind. This creates a small cavity. At warmer<br />

temperatures, the gases expand and the holes<br />

become larger. On the other hand, if the<br />

cheese is stored in a cold cellar, this results in<br />

smaller holes. By the way, did you know you<br />

can hear the holes? The more hollow the<br />

cheese sounds when you knock on the rind,<br />

the more holes it has.<br />

Does cheese clog up the stomach?<br />

“If cheese is aged properly, then it is sure to<br />

close the stomach.” This quote is often<br />

attributed to the Roman author Pliny the<br />

Elder. The Romans were of course happy to<br />

follow this rule of thumb. But is there any<br />

truth to it? Cheese contains a great deal of<br />

protein and therefore makes you feel full<br />

quickly. What’s more, the fat is converted into<br />

fatty acids in the small intestine. These in turn<br />

stimulate the stomach to produce hormones<br />

that close off the stomach wall. So, as it turns<br />

out, the Romans were right.<br />

You catch mice with cheese<br />

A misconception. Mice love sweets.<br />

Edible gold<br />

Credito Emiliano, an Italian bank, accepts<br />

Parmesan as collateral for loans. More than<br />

400,000 cheeses are stored in the bank’s safe.<br />

Who invented it?<br />

There are many myths surrounding the origin<br />

of cheese. One legend says that priests in<br />

Mesopotamia offered milk to the gods. After<br />

a few days in the sun, it turned into sour milk<br />

cheese that tasted so good that the priests<br />

decided it was worth it to commit a sin and<br />

eat it. Or was it Stone Age people who found<br />

fermented mother’s milk in a calf’s stomach<br />

and thus discovered the principle of milk<br />

coagulation? It could also have been shepherds<br />

who stored milk in sheep’s stomachs, where it<br />

then came into contact with the rennet and<br />

coagulated... We no longer have any real proof<br />

of the origin of cheese. But all the stories have<br />

one thing in common: the discovery of cheese<br />

was love at first bite.<br />

Is cheese a drug?<br />

Cow’s milk contains casomorphins. This<br />

chemical ensures that calves bond with their<br />

mothers and helps to calm them. The casomorphins<br />

are much more concentrated in<br />

cheese than in milk. In humans, this results in<br />

a slight buzz: when we eat cheese, our blood<br />

pressure drops and a feeling of relaxation sets<br />

in. More cheese, please!<br />

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33


Prättigauer<br />

Alp Spektakel<br />

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35


herdswomen and men are given a big and<br />

colourful welcome, and the successful <strong>Alpine</strong><br />

grazing season is celebrated in many places<br />

with a festival, music and dancing.<br />

One of the biggest festivals is the Prättigauer<br />

Alp Spektakel in Küblis and Seewis. For four<br />

days, the popular event with its slogan “echt.<br />

original. urchig.”, which can be roughly<br />

translated to “genuine. original. earthy.”, offers<br />

a splendid programme. It all kicks off with<br />

a cosy dinner with plenty of entertainment.<br />

Over the following days, the event hosts the<br />

largest <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese and speciality market in<br />

Graubunden, an <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese auction, a<br />

church service with yodelling, a large tent<br />

festival, and a lively (and boozy) brunch. In<br />

addition, the most beautiful <strong>Alpine</strong> queen, the<br />

most beautiful <strong>cow</strong> and the most magnificent<br />

<strong>Alpine</strong> beard are crowned. The event is<br />

rounded out by plenty of live music and a<br />

children’s parade. www.alpspektakel.ch<br />

<strong>Alpine</strong> processions are some of<br />

Switzerland’s liveliest traditions.<br />

The Prättigauer Alp Spektakel<br />

has become a very popular event.<br />

Get to know your<br />

<strong>Alpine</strong> <strong>cow</strong><br />

Scan the QR code and find our which <strong>cow</strong><br />

your restaurant is sponsoring and which<br />

<strong>cow</strong> is still looking for a sponsor.<br />

When the fog starts to climb up sides of the<br />

mountains and autumn heralds the end of the<br />

<strong>Alpine</strong> grazing season, the <strong>cow</strong>s, sheep and<br />

goats leave the <strong>Alpine</strong> pastures of the Prättigau.<br />

The animals return to the valleys and move<br />

into their stables where they will spend the<br />

winter.<br />

For this trip down the mountain, referred to as<br />

the Alpabzug, Alpabtrieb or Alpfahrt, the<br />

<strong>cow</strong>s are adorned with Tschäppel (floral<br />

headdresses) and they carry large Plumpä<br />

(bells) that can be heard from afar. When they<br />

arrive in the village, the animals and the<br />

Wieka the <strong>cow</strong>, Eldora AG,<br />

agta top restaurant<br />

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37


Prättigau wedding soup<br />

Ingredients<br />

• 40 g butter<br />

• 80 g onions, chopped<br />

• 1/2 leek, sliced<br />

• 100 g celery root<br />

• 2 carrots<br />

• 800 ml vegetable bouillon<br />

• 200 ml heavy cream<br />

• Salt, pepper<br />

• 15 g chives, finely chopped<br />

• 250 g grated <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese<br />

• Rye bread<br />

Preparation<br />

Chop the celery and carrots into small<br />

pieces. Heat the butter in a pan and sauté<br />

the onions until translucent. Add the<br />

carrots and celery and sauté for another<br />

10 minutes. Add the leek and bouillon.<br />

Simmer for about 20 minutes. Stir in the<br />

cream and mix in the grated cheese<br />

shortly before serving. Season with salt<br />

and pepper, garnish with chives and<br />

serve with good rye bread. Top it off<br />

with some crispy bacon.<br />

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39


Our commitment,<br />

your enjoyment<br />

Seasonal, local and fresh – that is Eldora’s philosophy<br />

when it comes to purchasing food. Because a kitchen<br />

is only as good as the ingredients it uses.<br />

Whether vegetables, herbs or cheese, whether<br />

meat, fish or potatoes: we source all of our<br />

ingredients and products from selected<br />

producers. We cook with fresh, seasonal and<br />

high-quality products from the region. This is<br />

our passion and we are committed to it every<br />

day.<br />

The focus of our menu planning – similar to<br />

that of our <strong>Alpine</strong> Cow Sponsorship<br />

programme – is on ingredients and products<br />

that are particularly characteristic of our<br />

climate, our cultural landscapes and our waters.<br />

We want to promote local products and<br />

the versatility of their producers.<br />

Stefan Warren is our culinary director. He is on<br />

the lookout every day for special meats, vegetables<br />

and forms of processing that are rooted<br />

in Switzerland. With Eldora’s local purchasing<br />

policy, we not only help to preserve the rural<br />

cultural landscape, but also make an important<br />

contribution to sustainability. Because buying<br />

local also means shorter transport routes and<br />

less packaging waste. Buying local also means<br />

using products that are in season. After all,<br />

fruit and vegetables that are wrested from the<br />

earth at an unsuitable time of year require<br />

greater use of all the necessary resources such<br />

as water, air, soil and energy. Moreover,<br />

produce from the region ripens more slowly<br />

and can therefore develop a better flavour.<br />

Tastier and better for the environment!<br />

Our chefs are culinary designers. We deliberately<br />

refrain from centralised menu planning,<br />

thus enabling each restaurant to tailor the<br />

menu to its guests and the regional products<br />

from our food suppliers – in line with our<br />

motto:<br />

Culinary dream team<br />

Top left: Eldora chefs, top right: <strong>Alpine</strong> farmer<br />

Dorli Roffler. Bottom left: Stefan Warren,<br />

Culinary and Operational Manager Eldora<br />

German-speaking Switzerland, bottom right:<br />

Christian Hürlimann, Director Eldora German-speaking<br />

Switzerland.<br />

40<br />

41


Eldora employees visit<br />

our <strong>Alpine</strong> <strong>cow</strong>s<br />

Many of our restaurant teams have already visited<br />

Dorli and her <strong>cow</strong>s on Alp Valpun. A wonderful<br />

opportunity to say thank you for the fine <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese<br />

and to taste a bit of it right there on the spot.<br />

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43


The <strong>Alpine</strong> cheese<br />

arrives at our<br />

restaurants<br />

During our annual <strong>Alpine</strong> Cow promotion, we<br />

spoil you with dishes that are perfectly matched<br />

to the main ingredient – rich, flavourful <strong>Alpine</strong><br />

cheese. One thing is for sure: it will be both<br />

hearty and heart warming. You can find some<br />

of our recipes in this booklet.<br />

If you would like to cook with some of Dorli’s<br />

<strong>Alpine</strong> cheese for yourself, or just enjoy it with<br />

some bread and a glass of wine, you can take<br />

home a small or even a larger piece of the<br />

cheese from your Eldora restaurant.<br />

44<br />

45


See you next<br />

summer on<br />

the alp.<br />

46<br />

47


Eldora AG<br />

A1 M.O.V. E. Building<br />

Bändliweg 20<br />

8048 Zurich<br />

T +41 (0)43 255 20 50<br />

info.zuerich@eldora.ch<br />

de.eldora.ch/en

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