But what is Wild?
In most Swiss restaurants, Autumn means hunting season. Wild is the Swiss word for game meat, such as wild deer and wild boar. The meat is often featured in thick, chocolate coloured velvety stews and served with traditional autumn side dishes: Silky spätzle, sweet stewed red cabbage, candied chestnuts and bright green brussels sprouts served with gravy and poached pear or apple which are topped with a lingonberry sauce, a cranberry-like jelly. Sometimes restaurants will add in wild mushrooms which are also in season. The meat has quite a strong gamey taste which is not my personal favourite, but those side dishes will have me dancing through the streets. Luckily most restaurants will serve, “Wild ohne Wild” (or Wild without the meat option) which is actually a giant serving of those decadent side dishes.
Whether you stick to my favourite “Wild ohne Wild” or try one of the game meats on offer, here are some tried and tested family favourite restaurants where you can find those fantastic Autumn menus:
We love:
- Albergo San Gottardo Ristorante Prosa on top of the Gotthard Pass
- Alpwirtschaft Sonnegg, Unterägeri – with a playground
- Restaurant Rössli, Arth
- Restaurant Aesch, Walchwil
- Wirtschaft Freimann, Zug – with a great playground
- Tisch and Bar, Holzhaüsern
Others suggets:
- Restaurant Fontana in Baar, Zug
- Restaurant Gotthard in Goldau, Schwyz. Great to combine with a visit to the Tierpark.
- Hotel Pollux, Zermatt, Wallis
- Alpenclub, Engelberg, Obwalden
- Hirschen Sangernboden, Sangernboden, Bern
