Lazy Summer Saturday: Produce and Pimm's

The British Cheese Centre offers
fine cheeses and the best Pimm's Cup in town.

Farmer's markets are great, but they do present a challenge for late risers like us. By the time we're under way on a Saturday, most market stalls are closing. Not so at the Markthalle im Viadukt, where you can stroll in late in the afternoon, enjoy a wander around, and gather up the goods for a weekend supper. (The market hall is open until 8:00.)

Yesterday, we gathered veggies for a stir fry from Käsers-Schloss and cheese and fresh eggs for breakfast from Tritt-Käse, which offers a stunning array of Swiss cheeses. As we do each visit, we also stopped the wine shop, this time for a to-die-for Bandol rosé (only 21 francs!), and for a chat with Michael Fontana-Jones, owner of The British Cheese Centre.

Summer in a glass!

Recently expanded, the Cheese Centre now boasts a bar where you can try a tipple while sampling the best of artisanal British cheeses. As a reward for the hard slog of shopping, we plunked ourselves down at the bar and ordered a Pimm's Cup. It was summer in a glass and the best Pimm's we've had in Züri. Plus, it's on offer at the unbelievably low price of 8.50 in a town where most "tall drinks" will run you twice that. You won't get this kind of treat by getting up early to go to market. (Oh, and we bought some cheese. But you knew we would do that, right?)

Cheers, Michael!