Sunday, March 29, 2009

Easter Bunnies!

I was talking with my Swiss neighbor the other day. Their family is going to spend another 5 weeks in Georgia this year. She said people sound different in Georgia than I do. :)

Anyway, they leave on Good Friday and I mentioned it should be fun for the kids to get to do an Easter Egg Hunt in the States. She said that last year they didn't find there to be any 'Hunts.'

I was surprised. Then - she said she didn't find any eggs in the store. "Really" I said. Then it occurred to me - in Switzerland, your eggs are all ready for you unless you REALLY want to color them yourself. See: Here's a little assortment I picked out to show y'all (GA for my Swiss neighbor):
These will find their way into the girl's lunches this week.
I explained to her that in the US, we have to boil and decorate our own eggs. They don't come pre-done for us. What's more - you can buy colored, hard-boiled eggs in the stores year round in Switzerland. They are somehow sealed - like a lacquer coating - when colored and are good, on the shelf (not even refrigerated!!!!!) for up to 3 weeks. I know - the Americans are gasping and contracting Salmonella poisoning as they read this. Dare I admit, all the eggs I buy have not seen a refrigerator until they arrive in our kitchen - some even have feathers stuck to them!
We love these eggs for hiking and I throw them in the girls lunch when I'm out of lunch meat or just need a change. So there you go. If you don't like boiling a couple dozen eggs and waiting patiently for your child decide whether they want 5 colors or 10 on their egg - buy them in Switzerland.
Now for serious Spring matters: Lindt.
The Lindt & Sprungli Chocolate factory is just a ways from us. In fact, not far from George Clooney's new digs. I keep wondering if I should ask him over for coffee - Nespresso, of course. Then he & Bart could go shoot some hoops. Just sayin'.... OK, got distracted...
Chocolate:
The golden bunnies above are found in abundance in every COOP grocery store and other markets - not to mention Lindt and Sprungli stores. I highly recommend the Lindt eggs in the AlpenMilch or Milk Chocolat fondant - I'm not a big chocolate consumer. But I'll succumb to an occasional egg. Nespresso coffee however....
The tree outside the factory is also decorated in European tradition with the easter eggs. There is a store in Salzburg, Austria famous for it's decorated eggs. Believe it or not, I didn't buy any - how does one store hand-painted eggs for longevity? But I took lots of pictures. I think I'll have to dig them up.

As we were driving away, I asked Bart "Is Lindt publicly traded?" He said he thought so. I then reminded him that the Swiss Chocolate market saw a 5% increase in the last year in spite of the market. So for those looking to invest in something they crave...

5 comments:

Judy said...

The eggs in Singapore were never refrigerated until they reached my house either. My mom about had a fit. She wanted me to put them with the frozen items in the grocery bags. I tried to assure her they were fine. :)

MOM E said...

Perhaps I'll get the nerve to eat one this summer...or maybe I'll just stick to the chocolate...I'm with Judy's Mom..

Hi! It's me, Julie! said...

The jury is out for me over the necessity to refrigerate eggs, but I'll take thoughts on chocolate any day!

The girls look so big, btw, in this picture!!! Fashionable, as always!
Love you guys!

Sarah said...

I wonder if they are sealed similar to the way Easter eggs are made in Amana. I've heard stories of them being eaten after non-refrigeration, but there is no way I would be doing that after days...

Jason said...

thanks for the chocolate, it was great!!