 | Newsletter - November 2007- | November |  |
2007
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Dear Swiss Roots Member, Hello again...  | We're glad to be back (and hope you are too)! This is the issue that tells you Everything You Needed to Know about:
Swiss wine -- did you know about this? We chart unknown territory in our conversation with Zurich based ad-guru and wine connoisseur Ernst Meier. Richard Nixon -- Henry Haller served as executive White House Chef under five US presidents. Read our interview with him and then learn to dine like an American President with Haller's recipes.
Berne, Indiana; New Bern, NC; Bernstadt, Kentucky; ... Did you know that there are over 60 places named Bern in the United States? We talked to Helvetica Map creator Erdmann Schmocker about Bern... Other things you might not know about (but should): The architecture of Tom Kundig two second generation Swiss musicians: Serena Jost and Marco Mahler; The delightful jewelry designer Nina Egli; Zai skis, made out of stone!; Why the Lucerne Festival is worth your while; and what it's like for An American in Winterthur...
When you think of Switzerland, what comes to mind? Dozens of young people have been sharing their thoughts, poetry and art work with us on these pages in often droll and surprising ways.
Did we leave anything (or anyone) out? We tried not to--but as always, let us know!
Your Friend,
Ms. Helvetia
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EVERY THING YOU EVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT SWISS WINE (BUT DIDN'T KNOW TO ASK)  | | True, it hasn't been breaking news lately, but Zurich based ad-guru and wine connoisseur, Ernst Meier, wants you to know that Swiss wine culture is alive and well.
With at least forty varieties of indigenous grapes, the possibilities seem countless...
And that's just the 'tip of the berg', so to speak...
READ MORE |
NEXT GENERATION: SERENA JOST  | | In the technology world, the next generation or beta version of any product is hugely anticipated and hyped as "The Next Best Thing". In the cultural realm the "next generation" could mean a number of things: if you're a Star Trek aficionado it could involve Captain Piccard, and if you're from the "Old Country" it could signify a population bracket born in the New World--but with similar complications. Ex-Rasputina (a "well corseted cello group") member, Serena Jost, a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is one such individual. Ladies and Gentlemen for your consideration, the next generation..
READ MORE |
FIVE PRESIDENTS AND A BOUT OF SOUFFLÉ  | | In 1966 The White House put out an open call for a Chef. Swiss-born Henry Haller (indifferent to the excitement surrounding this) actually told his wife, 'Well, if they want me, they can call me." He actually did receive a call from Lady Bird Johnson, the nation's First Lady at the time. And he did get excited when he was invited to tour the White House and its kitchens. On January 20 1966, Haller officially became the Executive Chef of the White House. He served under five presidents in a period spanning twenty-two years.
READ MORE |
A TALE OF SIX BERNS (OR MORE)  | | 35 years ago, Erdmann Schmocker a Swiss-born architect living in the US did a bit of traveling through the States. Occasionally he'd come across towns named Bern or Lucerne. Being a native of Canton Bern in Switzerland, his curiosity got the better of him. He just had to know how many other Berns were out there.
It became his passion and three and half decades later, Erhard Schmocker's passion has culminated in the Helvetica Map which lists over 4000 Swiss place names (and counting) in the US. The map is by no means completed. There is, as they say, much ground to be covered.
READ MORE |
ON STAGE AND OFF AT THE LUCERNE FESTIVAL  | | This November, The Lucerne Festival presents At The Piano, featuring a prestigious line-up of international performers; nonetheless the major star at the Lucerne Festival, as always, is the concert hall itself. The KKL (Kultur und Kongresszentrum Luzern), a 1,840-seat concert hall designed by Parisian architect Jean Nouvel, in collaboration with the late great acoustic designer Russell Johnson of New York, seemingly floats on Lake Lucerne.
READ MORE |
THE POETRY AND UTILITY OF TOM KUNDIG  | | Tom Kundig's structures resemble haiku: brief in their economy, utilizing the minimum and most immediate of materials to invoke resonance; they have zen capabilities--they bend in the wind, glisten (and rust) in the rain, illuminate with the snow... Haiku emphasizes the place of man or culture in relation to nature: in Kundig's work, a natural syncopation occurs with the environment...
READ MORE |
THE NEW STONE AGE  | | Disentis, a small village nestled in the Surselva mountain ranges of Switzerland, is home to a Benedictine monastery, the luxury ski brand, Zai, and its inventor Simon Jacomet. A great deal of philosophy goes into the manufacture of Zai, which means "tough" in Sursilvan--a Rhaeto-Romanish variant spoken in Disentis. Jacomet's Zen approach to design and engineering aims for unparalleled skiing experience: the unity of thought, mountain and man--in one unwavering agile line...
READ MORE |
WHEN I THINK OF SWITZERLAND  | | For our open contest "When I Think of Switzerland, I Think of..." the entries keep pouring in from children of all ages and diverse nationalitiies. Here's what we've got so far...
READ MORE |
RICOLA MYSTERY COUGHER NEAR YOU!  | | Psssst.
It's me...
The Ricola Mystery Cougher.
I'm crisscrossing America this winter with up to
ONE MILLION DOLLARS
to give away to the first person who hears me coughing
and offers me a soothing, natural Ricola cough drop.
It's so simple! Click the link below to sign up for email clues or visit
ricolamysterycougher.com
Who's the next millionaire?
Maybe you. Good luck.
Learn more about the Mystery Cougher |
NOT YOUR GRANDMA'S HOT CHOCOLATE (AND OTHER FREY CLASSICS)  | | There's hot chocolate and then there's the revolution: Cinnamon Coriander Hot Chocolate--courtesy of Frey:
"Not the hot chocolate of your childhood, this foaming drink creates a visual molecular cuisine experience before your eyes."
Even better, you can try this at home!
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
6 squares Frey Cinnamon Coriander chocolate bar, chopped
4 squares Frey Cinnamon Coriander chocolate bar (for garnish)
2 cups milk
1 inch cinnamon stick
Spoon, for extra treat at the bottom of the cup!
In a small bowl, whip the whipping cream until stiff -- do not over beat. Fold in cocoa powder, chopped chocolate and sugar...
For the complete recipe (and other chocolate surprises) visit the Frey Recipe Page |
AND THE EMMY GOES TO...  | | In March 2006, Maja Gartmann of Switzerland Tourism accompanied NBC anchor, Chuck Henry, and his news crew to the Lake Geneva and the Matterhorn Region to tape the first winter episode of Travel Cafe titled Ski Switzerland.
Travel Cafe is an American half hour show produced by Chuck Henry and Kristin Arntz. Every episode features a visit to an exotic locale -- this time Switzerland, where Henry accompanied by Gartmann and his crew did a "ski tour", visiting winter "hotspots" such as Zermatt, Verbier, Martigny, Villars, Gryon, Leysin and Geneva.
The episode went on to win a Los Angeles Area Emmy Award in the "Best Entertainment Programming" category. It's the first time a U.S program featuring Switzerland as a travel destination has received the coveted "TV Oscar."
Click to download Travel Café's Ski Switzerland as a podcast. |
SWISS HELVETIA FUND RINGS CLOSING BELL  | | October 3, 2007 --The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. (NYSE: SWZ) visited the New York Stock Exchange to celebrate the company's 20th anniversary of being listed on the Exchange. The company's common stock was first listed on the New York Stock Exchange on August 27, 1987.
In honor of this special occasion, Samuel B. Witt, III, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company, and Rodolphe E. Hottinger, President and Chief Executive Officer of the company, rang the Closing Bell. Also in attendance for the Closing Bell ceremony were the company's Board of Directors, executive officers and other invited guests.
Click here to view the webcast of the ringing of the Closing Bell |
THE BEST AIRLINE IN ALL OF EUROPE!!  | | SWISS was voted "Europe's Leading Airline," at the 14th World Travel Awards held on October 9 in the U.K. This is the second year SWISS has earned this distinction. The World Travel Awards honor outstanding performances in the tourist and travel sector, and are based on the voting of more than 150,000 travel agents from more than 190 countries.
Click SWISS ! |
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