Beautiful Country
My first trip to this beautiful country was in 1986: a backpack, a budget of $20 a day, and nights spent camping and in youth hostels. Growing up in Colorado, I was always drawn to the Alps and dreamed of experiencing the Swiss way of life, which revolves around mountains, hospitality, and delicious food. I’m fortunate to be back once again.
What I remember most about traveling “close to the ground” in my 20s is how the locals always made me feel welcome. Hospitality was, and still is, part of their culture. I worked on my German along the way, since English speakers were few and far between back then. Learning even a few words of the local language, along with local customs, goes a long way toward earning people’s respect.
And OMG, the food! Here, so much of what you eat is grown nearby and served in season, so fresh really means fresh. Back home, much of our produce is picked before it’s ripe so it can survive the trip from California’s Central Valley to points east. Have you ever tasted a truly ripe tomato? Dawn, who avoids gluten at home, has even found she does better with the bread and pasta here. Her experience, not medical advice!
We share that focus at Antithesis. We use “00” flour from Italy in our pastas and buy the freshest ingredients we can find, locally sourced where possible. When I began offering fresh food on the train, the rule was simple: buy the best ingredients and prepare them fresh. It costs a bit more, but it’s worth it.
