Milo
I'm considering a move to Switzerland later this year. Right now, I'm over here on a business trip. I love the area but have to make sure it would be right for my son, who at 9 is a bit of a picky eater. I know it would make him happier if some of the things he's used to from the US were available here -- but I haven't seen things like Doritos or sour-cream-and-chive potato chips. Are there any specialty stores in Zurich that maybe I'd be able to find some American foods at, just so he could occasionally have the taste of home? (Besides McDonald's, which of course would be a necessity for him.)
Hey Milo
yep you can definitely find Doritos and Kettle Chips here in Zurich. You can buy 3 different varieties of Doritos on leshop.ch (migros online store) and kettle chips are available in 5 flavours in the jelmoli store on bahnhofstrasse. The Mariniello store downstairs in Stadelhofen also sells Doritos.
Enjoy
There are food halls in the basement of Jelmoli and Globus department stores on Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich. I seem to remember they have whole sections selling American food. Not a vast choice, but still a taste of home. That's where I get my custard.
You'll find some American snacks here, definitely, but it's a bit hit-and-miss which ones. Pringles, yes. Doritos, yes. Sour cream and chive - not really, but there are various other herby-cheesy combinations (I've become partial to Walkers Cheese & Onion, for instance.)
You can also order some American foods online, as a last resort:
You do realize, though, that he'll probably discover a load of new favorites and then complain when you can't get those back in the States...
My cousin visited from the UK and got addicted to Zweifel Paprika crisps. On his way home he ended up having to sweet-talk his way through check-in / security / whichever barrier at the airport with a Migros carrier loaded with family-sized bags of Paprika crisps.
To the OP - there are alternatives which, you never know, might become your son's new favourite.
Thanks for all the great advice. I knew there had to be some options for American ex-pats, and figured this would be the place to ask. I'm sure he'll make some new favorites over here, but even just the occasional box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese will be a welcome taste of home, especially at first when everything else will seem so overwhelmingly foreign to him.
Milo
Hi Milo!
You might also check out American Food Avenue - http://www.afoodave.com/
They have Kraft Mac 'n Cheese, Cracker Jack and lots of other goodies. I've also found sour cream and onion potato chips in some of the shops here (I think the brand is called Wave).
I'd also second Sandgrounder's rec. to try the Zweifel paprika chips, which I'd never seen in the US, but have become a favorite of mine since moving here. There are also curry and wasabi flavored chips, which are hits in our house, too. Definitely makes dieting a challenge
You can also get pringles in most grocery stores here, Paprika, sour cream and onion, regular and a couple of other flavours. McDonalds serves somewhat smaller portions but it tastes the same almost everywhere around the world. Just remember, chips are more expensive here than in N.A. (no 99 cent store brands available) so you'll have to raise his allowence.
Chips or Crisps, that's the question
Make a fresh start in Switzerland. Milo give me a Z and a W and an E and an I and a F and an E and a L oink oink Zweifel