A Taste of Geneva: Exploring Swiss and French Cuisine

This past weekend, I traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, and one of the trip's highlights was diving into the local culinary culture. Geneva, situated in the predominantly French-speaking part of Switzerland, blends Swiss traditions with French influences, creating a unique food scene. 

The first thing that stood out to me in Geneva was the iconic Swiss chocolate. It wasn’t just a dessert for them, as there were so many different places it became a full adventure. I joined my friends on a chocolate tour where we visited multiple chocolate shops, trying different varieties and picking out our favorites at each stop. It was fascinating to see the range of flavors they showcased, especially their fruit-infused chocolates. Personally, I wasn’t a huge fan of some of these, like the sour apple chocolate, which tasted like a mix of Sour Patch Kids and chocolate. In my mind, those two flavors should stay far apart!

 

Still, the tour was a fun way to explore the city like a scavenger hunt of finding each different shop, and by the end, I was having a serious sugar high which I did crash later that day back at the hotel for Siesta time. I couldn’t resist buying a bag of chocolates to bring back with me to Greece so my friends there could try them too. While the chocolate was delicious and expertly made, I couldn’t help but notice it tasted somewhat similar to some fancy chocolates I’ve tried back in America. It made me wonder: do American chocolatiers copy Swiss recipes, or are they importing the chocolate directly from Switzerland?

Either way, the experience gave me a new appreciation for the pride and craft that goes into Swiss chocolate, even if I didn’t fall in love with the unique options. Sharing the chocolates with friends and getting to learn about the process of how they were made was interesting and memorable. 

Another great experience was trying fondue with everyone during dinner. The next evening, we went to a restaurant as a group and ordered a pot of fondue for the table so everyone could give it a try. The moment we walked in, we were greeted by the strong, distinct smell of melted cheese, it was impossible to miss. As someone who loves carbs and cheese, I was in my element. The fondue was rich, creamy, and incredibly filling, and it was fun watching it bubble and simmer right in front of us. We were given long, fancy forks to dip pieces of bread into the pot, which made the whole experience feel a bit fancy. 

 

That said, I couldn’t help but think it was a tad overpriced for what was essentially cheese and bread, it definitely seemed marked up for tourists. Some of my friends weren’t as impressed and found the wine flavor in the cheese a bit too strong for their liking. But that didn’t stop us from getting creative! We started dipping everything on the table, our French fries, veggies, and even random bites from our plates, just to see how it all paired with the cheese.

The fondue helped me understand reflecting Switzerland’s culture and love for simple yet high-quality traditions. Even though it wasn’t everyone’s favorite, it made for a lot of laughs and a memory I’ll always associate with this trip.

 

In the mornings, I leaned into the French influence that dominates Geneva. Croissants and baguettes quickly became my go-to orders, paired with strong, lattes. Every morning, I was greeted with cheerful “Bonjour's!” at the coffee shops, which made my experience feel a little more connected to the culture as the simple greetings of French I know enough to speak compared to me still learning the basic phrases in Greek in my home country for study abroad. Visiting these cafés became a daily ritual, and starting the day with the crisp, buttery flakiness of a fresh croissant or the soft chew of a baguette reminded me just how seriously the French take their bread-making tradition. Even the simplest breakfasts felt special and elevated.

 

Interestingly, I found omelets offered not only for breakfast but also for dinner in many places, which I found amusing. Back home in Jersey, I’d never think of an omelet as a dinner food, but here, it seemed to be perfectly normal. They were often one of the more affordable options on the menu, which made them a regular choice for me (especially when comparing Swiss prices to my usual gyro budget in Greece!). Despite their simplicity, the omelets felt filling and fresh, a nice balance of practicality and flavor that matched the Swiss-French vibe of efficiency and refinement.

 

One evening, I stepped out of my usual budget mindset and tried steak with vegetables and fries, which was incredible. The steak was cooked perfectly, and the fries were crisp and golden. Another fun experience was at a restaurant known for its garlic shrimp. Our group shared a large tray of shrimp, learning how to peel and eat them as we went. While I wouldn’t necessarily say shrimp is a defining feature of Swiss cuisine, it was still fun to try something different and share the moment with friends.

These meals weren’t just about the food but they also highlighted Geneva’s mix of cultures and focus on quality and simplicity. The overall idea of comfort food in Switzerland definitely has convinced me to go back.