SWISS FOODBLOGGERS PICNIC - 10 JUNE 2007

The kind and joyful San of "Dans La Cuisine Des Frangines" from Geneva (Switzerland) had the good idea to organize a picnic for all the foodies from Suisse Romande and around (neighboring France)...

That's how, last Sunday, I met up with a group of foodiebloggers and readers in the magnificent "Domaine De Penthes", a park with an old manor house (originally a 14th century fortified mansion). The place could not have been more idyllic for a first meeting as we had a plunging view over Lake Geneva.

~ Catherine, her husband and two children, Aurélie (San's sister). ~

~ Estèbe's cheese (Bleu De Termignon from Savoie in France) and San's "Feta And Dried Tomato Bread". ~

Originally, we had our rendez-vous at 13h00. But as Geneva had been hit by an immense and long-lasting thunderstorm (~3 hours) in the morning that stressed us to the highest point (especially San), because we did not know if our event might have to get cancelled due to the weather's whims! I remember being woken up by strong rumbling, lightning and gallons of water falling from the sky and thinking to myself, with my heart beating, "Oh, no not TODAY!!! What are we going to do?!?...". But, fortunately, the Gods were graceful enough to offer us sunshine and (steaming) canicular heat!

~ Laetitia, Lily and Bebop. ~

~ My plates: 1st plate has Corinne's "Salmon Tart", Claude-Olivier's "Thai Spicy Beef Salad", Damien's "Marinated Red Mullet Fish", Laetitia's "Chinese Dumplings" and Rai's "Gorgonzola And Pear Puffs". 2nd plate has my "Savory Cheesecake", ?'s "Chickpea Salad", San's "Feta And Dried Tomato Bread" and Corinne's "Goat's Cheese And Artichoke Tart". ~

So, I met my dear American friend Rachel of "Ugly Fruit" at the Gare De Cornavin (train station) and we took the bus V (see TPG company infos) till the stop "Penthes. We were some of the last bloggers to arrive. There, we discovered many smiling faces and a real feast that was waiting to get greedily eaten. Kiriel of "The Papillon Pantry", another enthusiastic foodie friend from Australia came a little later...

~ Kiriel's "Mediterranean Stuffed Bread" and Corinne's "Goat's Cheese And Artichoke Tart". ~

Apart from San, her sister Aurélie and us three, there was also Bebop (and her husband) of "Plaisir Des Papilles", Marie Flo of "Ma Nature 2" (from Haute-Savoie in France) , Ptinutz of "La Page De La Noisette", Lily of "Gnocchi Et Cie", Catherine of "Sans Sucre Ajouté" and her little family, Claude-Olivier of "1001 Recettes" (from Canton Fribourg, FR), Damien of "Un Monde De Saveurs" (from Sion in Canton Valais, VS), Laetitia of "Au Bout Du Monde", Estèbe of "Top Slurp!" and finally Corinne, an assiduous blog reader (and her husband and two children).

~ Bebop's "Cherry Boats", Claude-Olivier's "Amarula Cream And Tonka (Fava) Cheesecake" and Lily's "Carrot Cake". ~

The main attraction that day was, of course, the beautiful food which was brought in quantities. Everything looked and tasted delicious! I really had a lot of pleasure tasting everybody's dishes/specialities. It was ever so marvellous to get to know people through their food!

~ Rai's "Champaign Cupcakes" and detail. ~

After a lot of thinking and going through my books as well as surfing on the net, I finally decided upon making a "Savory Cheesecake" with gorgonzola, parmesan, ricotta, mascarpone, cream cheese and topped with my famous "Caramelized Onions", a German "Partybrot (party bread)" with "Israeli Hummus" and a batch of "Fudgy Blondies" with white chocolate chunks and pecan nuts (recipes soon to come). I must say that I was really satisfied with my choice and with the way my creations turned out (very well)...

After having eaten and iddly chatted with one another, the thunder was again threatening us. We all started to pack and, unfortunately, our little group splitted and too the way home (too early...).

~ My "Israeli Hummus", "Savory Cheesecake", "Partybrot" and "Fudgy Blondies. ~

In conclusion, that picnic/potluck was a real success and I really had a lot of fun taking part in it. I got to meet many great and interesting people, and tasted their gorgeously fabulous food and wines (Mont De Vuilly, mmmhhhh. Thanks Claude-olivier!). What more could you ask?!?... My only regret is/was that I didn't get to speak to all the bloggers (some not at all). A pity! Anyway, I hope that it will not be our first and last meeting, so I guess that I will have the chance to speak with everybody on the occasion of our next foodie picnic, which I hope will be very soon!!!....

THANKS SAN FOR ORGANIZING THAT EVENT, THUS GIVING US THE CHANCE TO MEET OTHER FELLOW FOODIEBLOGGERS.
A WONDERFUL AND FRUITFUL EXPERIENCE!

If you want to read more reports, then here are the links:

• Bebop
• Corinne and family
• Claude-Olivier
• Damien
  
• Kiriel
• Marie-Flo
• San