5 NEW THINGS TO EAT IN GENEVA THIS WEEK
by Chené Koscielny
Quite a lot of what we do at THINGS TO DO IN GENEVA involves eating and we’re not ashamed to say it. We are always looking for new things to tempt the taste buds.
This week we share 5 new things to eat in the city this week.
IBERAN CHORIZO AND CALAMARETTI TO SHARE – Qu’Importe
The popular Qu’importe wine bar in Carouge is changing their concept just in time for cosy winter nights with friends.
Yoann Caloué, the Michelin-starred chef of the nearby Flacon restaurant, which belongs to the same owners as Qu’importe, has revamped the menu to include several small plate offerings, ideal for sharing as a main course with friends.
This means, you can now stay way beyond your after-work cocktail and move onto a combo of satisfying, innovative meals-to-share. The menu is accessible with options for every budget.
We absolutely LOVED the Iberan chorizo and calamaretti combo. Fresh and delicious.
The breaded oxtail with tartare dip – with melt-in-the-mouth meat is another MUST. We also ordered yummy Arancini rice balls stuffed with mozzarella and tomato and an octopus and artichoke mix. It was plenty for three people.
Prices range from CHF9-CHF25 per plate.
We treated ourself by trying a great red wine – a pinot noir and garanoir blend specially created by winemaker Stéfane Gros for Qu’Importe’s 15th birthday. (CHF60) They also serve excellent cocktails.
This HAS to be our favourite bar in town at the moment and is a good one to bear in mind for festive functions and office parties. You can also hire part of the premises downstairs for the night.
TOP TIP
Qu’importe will serve you food off the menu from Monday to Saturday until 12pm – a rarity in Geneva!
MORE INFO
On this site
SIRNIKI RUSSIAN PANCAKES – Christie’s Bakery
In Plainpalais is a brand new Parisian-style tea room called Christie’s Bakery which opened about two months ago and is owned by the glamorous Russian ex-banker and famous Russian blogger Olga Johnson, who is very humble and as sweet as her pastries!
Having lived in London, travelled extensively and trained with no less than Écoles Cordon Bleu, Paul Bocuse and Alain Ducasse, Olga was ready to open her own tea room in Geneva. It is pure class! She offers a choice of delicious Russian-inspired cakes and patisseries to enjoy with the exclusive teas and organic coffee.
This is girlie heaven – with beautiful purple velvet chairs, powder blue walls, white marble tables and the cutest colourful plates and cups with dainty golden cutlery.
The thing to try here is the Russian speciality of Sirniki – mini pancakes (something between a scone and a pancake) filled with homemade cottage cheese and served with berries, honey and sour cream.
They are delicious – a fluffy, light texture, not as sweet as traditional pancakes and a bit more chewy. Eaten with a golden fork, you feel like a Russian princess.
Also try the traditional Russian honey cake or Napoleon cake while you’re there.
TOP TIP
You can order the most exquisite celebration cakes including ones with flamingos and lollipops that will surpass any little girl’s wildest fantasies.
MORE INFO
Check out the Christie’s bakery instagram account for more images of what’s on offer.
THE SAJ – AN ORGANIC LEBANESE FLATBREAD – Street Gourmet
Street Gourmet has been on our radar for a while with their healthy street food options – and we’ve met the owner, the lovely Lebanese-born Yasmina Wakim a few times.
Her latest venue at 6 Rue de la Terassière has just introduced some new Lebanese street food options and we went along to try the star of the menu – the Saj – an organic unleavened thin Lebanese flatbread which is baked on a domed or convex metal griddle, known as a saj.
We loved the saj with cheese and zaatar– a condiment made with ground dried thyme, oregano, marjoram, toasted sesame seeds, salt and sumac. They’re addictive. Served with a fresh minty salad and tahini – this saj will cost you CHF13.
Other options include a saj with chicken shawarma filling.
While you’re there, try the black lemonade made from filtered water, lemon, mint, vegetable charcoal – and is said to be good for cleaning the intestines.
The original Street Gourmet restaurant in 10 rue de Prince offers a combination of trendy NYC-inspired superfood and street culture.
Read our review of the first Street Gourmet here.
TOP TIP
Sit upstairs at Rue de la Terrassiére and watch the world go buy in this cosy, arty space.
MORE INFO
On this site.
REAL AMERICAN DONUTS – ALSO FOR HALLOWEEN – Loops & Coffee
It’s been long overdue! Finally, Geneva has its own proper American-style donut shop – Loops & Coffee in Plainpalais.
The cute little coffee shop on Boulevard George Favon…a stone’s throw from the MEG and Unimail – is the perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon.
Their colourful display of donuts will lift your spirits – including different flavours such as cookies, chocolate, caramel, raspberry.
The bright green monster, blue Smurf and pink piggy donuts are equally popular with children and adults, according to co-owner Marco Bongiovanni, who started the franchise with a partner to ‘fill a gap’ for good quality donuts in Geneva after they both finished their business studies.
The donuts definitely pass the American donut taste test – they are moist and fresh and totally yummy.
Thankfully, they are baked in the oven and not fried, unlike their true American counterparts, according to Marco, which reduces the calorie-intake and guilt factor a bit. Everything is prepared on the premises.
Loops & Coffee also offers savoury options such as bagels and has a nice indoor space and lovely terrace.
TOP TIP
Choose your own individual design and Loops & Coffee will prepare it for you.
MORE INFO
On this site.
A NEW YORK-STYLE CEASAR SALAD – Tens
We sometimes crave a good New York style eatery and especially a good traditional Caesar salad with the trimmings.
Luckily this is one of the signature dishes of TENS at 10 Avenue du Mail, Plainpalais, a New York-style kitchen and bar. The relatively new venue has an industrial loft-style feel about it with raw brick walls, glass windows and exposed pipes on the ceiling.
The Caesar salad with loads of marinated chicken has just the right amount of crispiness in the salad leaves and garlicky croutons served with generous shavings of grana Padano. What really makes this salad, though, is the sauce ‘maison’ a secret blend with a hint of anchovy. Finger-licking good. CHF22 for a main course salad.
We were in the mood for a Prosecco cassis to start, followed by a lovely smoky Chardonnay to accompany the salad that day.
TENS also offers a smoking lounge bar in the basement with comfy Chesterfield sofas and two big TV screens in the cellar for evening drinks and events. A selection of cigars and Shisha smoking pipes are available to round up your evening (no worries, big extractors will keep the air clean).
TOP TIP
Watch out for their upcoming events with DJ – including a Halloween party and Escalade after-work drinks.
