07/31/2025
Let's visit the Alps!
The food of Switzerland, Germany and Austria is calling and we’re getting hungry!
The cuisine of Alpine Switzerland, Germany, and Austria is rooted in centuries of tradition and shaped by the rugged mountain landscape. Known for its hearty, comforting fare, this region’s food often features cheese, meat, and potatoes as they were accessible and preserved well in colder climates.
In Switzerland, fondue became popular in the 18th century as a way for rural communities to make use of aged cheese and stale bread during long winters. Today, it’s a national dish symbolizing Swiss hospitality. Meanwhile, Germany and Austria are famous for their sausages like bratwurst, as well as schnitzel, a dish with Viennese origins that features a meat cutlet pounded flat, then breaded and fried. These meals reflect a culture of resourcefulness and celebration of local ingredients.
As with much of Europe, the cuisines of these countries have been influenced by their neighbors through centuries of trade, migration, and empire. This is why you’ll find delicious regional variations of potatoes, dumplings, and pasta —Austrian spätzle to German knödel to German — each with its own story and twist.
Are you dreaming this summer of traipsing across high meadows while singing to the wildflowers? Or strolling into a little village in search of something deliciously comforting? Wherever you are, go for a hike and return to the table hungry for something tasty from the Alps!
In the photos:
Frittatenesuppe
Bratwurst
Sauerbraten and dumplings
Bavarian pretzel with mustard, potato salad, and bratwurst in a bun
Rosti and greens
Nocino Torte
Apfel strudel
