In the last couple of posts, I introduced you to some of the cultural and historical highlights I had while experiencing Montreux, Switzerland. In this week’s post, it’s all about the many flavours of Montreux.
A great place to start is with a visit to Confiserie Zurcher, a comfortable coffee, pastry, and chocolate shop located in the heart of Montreux near the casino. Founded in 1879, Zurcher provides a taste of traditional handcrafted chocolate and pastries that are truly works of art. I found the chocolate to be rather sweet for my liking, but it is excellent for those who prefer the style and texture of traditional Swiss chocolate. There are tables both inside and outdoors where you can relax, enjoy, and people watch.
We also visited the Montreux location of Lucien Moutarlier, a member of Relais Desserts International. Moutarlier has four locations in Switzerland, and in addition to the delectable pastries shown above, you will find chocolate bonbons and bars, and a terrific assortment of confections and jams for sale. The taste-tempting photo above shows why Moutarlier refers to himself as an “Artisan du goût” (master of taste.)
But there is far more to the flavours of Montreux that sweet sensations. We also discovered some wonderful restaurants offering terrific contemporary cuisine. One of my favourites is Café Très, a new (opened mid-2016) chic establishment offering some truly contemporary offerings. I think my favourite course was the Prosciutto Cannelloni–prosciutto rolled like cannelloni pasta–stuffed with goat cheese and served with cantaloupe purée. It was remarkable. I paired my meal (which also included a Dorado fish entrèe) with a locally produced white wine that was light and fruity. Something I’d neglected to mention in my previous post about the Chateau de Chillon is that they have a vineyard and produce wine. What a terrific region to visit! Superb wine and chocolate, and innovative cuisine make Montreux a great destination for foodies and chocolate and wine lovers in particular.
the many flavours of montreux switzerland
Stay tuned for the next post, as we continue exploring the Montreux Riviera.
My word, those chocolates and pastries look mouth-wateringly good! I would be as big as a barn if I lived near Montreux in the heart of such decadence!
Look so yummy, I love sweet flavor like cake, chocolate, and I want to try it in a coffee shop with beautiful scene! Thanks for sharing!
This sounds a lot like heaven, i love sweets and your post got me drooling all over the place. Wish i could come to Montreux someday!
Why oH Why do i open your post just before dinner? I now have such a craving after seeing these pictures and reading this post. I would not mind the extra sweet part too….just want them right now 🙂
Wow your photos have me drooling!! I do love Swiss chocolate, so I think all those treats would be up my alley…and I could never say no to that prosciutto cannelloni mmmm!
I do have a sweet tooth so you had me at the first 3 photos! I love food and exploring local cuisines. It’s one of the best ways to travel and get to know the culture! Judging by these food shots, can’t wait to visit!
That prosciutto canneloni looks delicious! This is such a great selection of delicacies!
The Montreux Riviera sounds like an absolutely delightful region in Switzerland. To be honest, I would probably have to close my eyes before being able to eat these beautiful works or art! It would be so sad to destroy such gorgeous creations but I’m sure just the smell of them would have me gobbling them up in a heartbeat!
Wow, so many of those sweet masterpieces look too good to eat…but I’d still do my best. 🙂
What a delicious post. I could go for any of those pastries!
Wow! It is heaven for chocolate lovers. The pastries looks so delicious and yum! Specially the red one. Would love to taste when there.
Wow the chocolates and pastries look so good!! Your words along with pretty photos really make me want to try eating those once!
So hlad I read this article – we are in Belgium and head to Switzerland later this week! My son is addicted to chocolate!
Hi Ruth! Where in Switzerland are you heading? I probably have a chocolate recommendation (or two!) for just about any Swiss destination.
What a mouth-watering article! We are scheduled to visit Switzerland next spring. After reading your posting, I feel like getting over there right now to enjoy the tastes of Montreux! Thanks for a wonderful article !
You’re very welcome, Denis. Thx for stopping by. Switzerland really is an understated country of wonderful tastes. Not just chocolate, but all kinds of things that make your mouth happy. 🙂
So, I almost never drink and I rarely eat pure chocolate. But I love, love, love going to wine tastings and having wine with chocolate. Somehow my palate prefers these as a special occasion experience. So, I’m sure a trip to Montreux would be delightful for me. I would definitely take advantage of that opportunity.
I don’t love chocolate anywhere near as much as you, but every single photo here (true, they’re not all chocolate) had me salivating!
What a place, if only we could taste as we read!
Hi Chris and Season’s Greetings! Yes, taste-o-vision would be awesome! Well, we’ve now got 3-D printers. Who knows what’s next!? Thx for stopping by. 🙂
Is this a post with many topics, or did, or are you spending much time in Montreux?
The chocolate looks incredible, I wonder what the difference is, if any, in European compared to American chocolate, if the chocolatiers were making the same kind.
Hi William. I only spent a couple of days in Montreux, but I chose to separate the posts off into the music/cultural side for the intro, the historical sights with the castle, and now the culinary side of the city. I prefer not to make my posts too long as I like to include lots of visuals. There is quite a big difference between American-made chocolate, which in my opinion, always had way too much sugar compared to European chocolate. But there has been an American craft chocolate movement in the US, and over the past 10 years, US-made artisan chocolate is every bit as good (and in some cases better) than European-made chocolate.
I’m pretty sure the calories don’t count when you’re on holiday!
You’re absolutely right, Lyn! If we’re going to worry about the calories or fat content of treats we encounter in our travels we may as well stay home. Life’s too short!
Prosciutto Cannelloni sounds heavenly!!! Perfect hors d-oeuvre!
This post makes my upcoming Christmas sweets seem very, very droll. LOL. I would love to try the all, especially the prosciutto cannelloni.
That food looks too good to eat! I’d love to try the prosciutto cannelloni.
The pastries, chocolates and food all seem so delicious. Mouth watering. I am going to switzerland soon, let me try out.
I want to go to Montreaux and eat my way through the pastries, the cannelloni, and drink the wine! I better pack two sizes of pants! 🙂
I was waiting for this post after reading your other articles, and you did not disappoint! I was drooling the entire time. Chocolate, coffee, great food and wine – what else do you need, right?
Sometimes I wish I could just reach in and grab some of the yummy treats on your posts! This time, it’s not just the choco – so pretty, I’d almost be afraid to eat it (almost!) – but that prosciutto cannelloni. I’m sure it tasted just as good as it looks. Your job is so much fun : ))
Hi Krystyna and thanks for stopping by. Yes, I really do love my work. Almost as good as riding around in cool new wheels, eh? 🙂
You have really made a compelling case for visiting Montreux but these desserts “take the cake.” Yum@
Thanks, Irene. I don’t know about you, but when I’m travelling, there are definitely certain destinations that speak to my soul more loudly or more profoundly than others. I loved the music connection I found in Montreux. I loved that amazing castle. And I loved the culinary delights. Oh, and of course … the wine! 🙂
Hi Doreen, weekday gorgeous pastries at Lucien Moutarlier of Montreux. I would almost hate to eat them they’re so pretty. And the prosciutto cannelloni at Cafe Tres looks fabulous. Certainly a little different. Would love to try sometime!
Hi Susan. It’s my pleasure to take you on a journey of culinary delights! 🙂
Oh my goodness I don’t know if I could control myself around all those delectable treats in Montreux. Wine, chocolate and pastries sounds like heaven!
Definitely my kind of place, Sue! 🙂
Wow so yum Doreen. Today I had bought fudge brownies to eat when reading your post, but man even the yummy brownie in my hand was cheated on the pastries image you shared.
Thank you for sharing many flavors of Montreux!
Thank YOU, Sushmita. You are a wise one for being prepared when reading my posts. You never know when the temptations will be too strong to resist! 🙂
Oh, yum. Everything looks so delicious. And how can you go wrong with the Prosciutto Cannelloni. I need to remind myself not to read your blog posts until after I’ve eaten. Or have a small stash of chocolate on hand while reading. 🙂
Hi Debra. Yes, I truly enjoy prosciutto in almost any form. This dish was a real treat! Thx for stopping by.
Switzerland is heaven for chocolate lovers like me. I have not been in 20 years! Montreaux is my Mom’s favorite place! The pastries at Lucien Moutarlier of Montreux are truly works of art! Gorgeous and I am certain… divine!
Hi Suzanne. It’s always marvellous when you get to return to a country you love, but haven’t been to for a long while. That was my (similar) situation with MX, when I finally got to return twice last year after a 20-year absence. I hope you get to return to Switzerland soon.
Those sweets look amazing, but what is the red one? It’s such a bright red that it makes me wonder if they’ve used coloring of some sort. In any case, dining in Montreux looks wonderful!
Hi Rachel. I don’t think they use any food colouring. But the red does definitely represent fruit, whether strawberry or raspberry in most cases, sometimes cherry. All good I’m sure. But didn’t taste them all. 🙂 Surprisingly, I know!
Oh my, I always appreciate your stunning photos Doreen, but the prosciutto cannelloni made my mouth water! This looks like such a beautiful area of the country.
Hi Marty and thanks for your comment. The Montreux Riviera is indeed a fabulous region in Switzerland. This tiny country continues to amaze me with each new visit.
Being a lover of chocolates and desserts, I think I would love visiting Montreux.
While you say Montreux is more than just sweets, I have to admit, I can’t stop thinking about have a chocolate after I finishing posting this comment! If the various food stalls at the Montreux Jazz Festival were any indication when I visited, I think Montreux’s food scene is quite good and creative.
I gained 5 pounds just drooling over these amazing delights. 😉
Fabulous food. I am sharing this with my friend who is in Switzerland right now.
Thanks, Wendy!
How many days did you have to explore?
I was in Switzerland for a week in September, TammyJo. It was truly marvellous. Season’s Greetings to you. 🙂
Those pastries and chocolates look amazing. I imagine I’d put on a few pounds in Montreux!
It would be worth it, Donna. 🙂
My word, those chocolates and pastries look mouth-wateringly good! I would be as big as a barn if I lived in the heart of such decadence!
Hi Linda. I’m with you! I have a tendency to gain weight from such decadence treats. That’s why I try to gravitate to the pure dark chocolate. But Montreux is more of a destination for the traditional Swiss sweets, so in moderation my friend … 🙂
I admire your self-control!
I could almost eat these right off the screen, the photos are great.
Thanks, Jill. Merry Christmas to you.
Wow! heaven for chocolate lovers. The pastries too looks irresistible…
Absolutely, Tuhin. I think the Montreux Riviera is a great destination for foodies, and chocolate and wine lovers.