Although i want to have a swiss christmas, with the cookies and christmas fairs which is great may i add , i thought it would still be nice for a turkey and ham dinner..but i can't seem to see any turkeys in the shops? or maybe is it too early? where do you guys buy your turkey or is there a swiss alternative everyone uses?
hello all! I am going to be here in switzerland for christmas for the first time this year. My husband and I have planned that we make every 2nd christmas a swiss one, so we can alternate between the families! I am kind of sad though and will miss the big family christmas back home, but i am torn as i also want to start the traditions of christmas here as this is my home now. Is anyone in the same boat?
There are threads on this but the search throws up lots of nonsense to sift through.
You can order a fresh one from Migros and pick it up a couple of days before Christmas - ask at the meat counter.
Provably better to do it sooner than later.
oops sorry i'll sift in future! I am still testing the ground just a newbie
brilliant though, thanks for the info!
You should definitely be able to find a turkey in France or in Germany.
Try looking at these threads for more shopping advice:
[Shopping abroad [France/Germany]? Costs and recommendations of what to buy](http://www.englishforum.ch/other-general/22810-shopping-abroad-france-germany-costs-recommendations-what-buy.html)
thanks mag!
I ordered a turkey from a local butcher about a week in advance. It cost me 18 francs per kilo but was free range and fresh (albeit expensive). Be warned though, the biggest turkey which will fit into a standard Swiss oven is about 5kg.
Last year was our first Swiss Christmas. As it was only the four of us, we decided to go native and adopt the Swiss custom of celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve.
It was marvellous. It's so much more magical having an evening meal, when it's dark and cold outside, and you can do the whole candles/ roaring fire thing. We never lay the table properly normally, so the kids' eyes were on stalks at the whole tablecloth/ mats/ multiple cutlery/ candlelabra thing. We let the kids open about half of their presents that evening with the rest to follow in the morning (after Santa's brought the stockings and the Santa gift ). It really took the stress off them going to bed; they were much less hyped than normal (kids were almost 5 and almost 9 at the time).
I couldn't bring myself to pay the prices for turkey here, so I consoled myself that it's not traditionally English anyway, and cooked a couple of chickens - one for the meal, one for leftovers. Then on actual Christmas Day, we did what in the UK would be the Boxing Day meal - cold meats, mashed potatoes, salad, pickles, etc. I LOVED not cooking on Christmas Day; I had a great time lounging around playing with the kids.
We're planning on doing exactly the same things this year, and would firmly keep this as a tradition even if we did move back to the UK.
kodokan
Migros also usually have plenty of frozen ones, so no need to order.
I think that rather depends on whether you want a local fresh one or an imported frozen one.
If you don`t mind the drive? Jims British Supermarket are taking orders online, but he is near Geneva on the french side.
We just got our thanksgiving turkey at Migros.
It was very good! Have a happy holiday!
I roasted a 13kg fresh Turkey (ordered one day in advance from Migros in Thalwil) in the BBQ (lid down, low heat, side burners only, with soaked hickory wood chips, brined for 24 hours). Took less than 4 hours. It was PERFECT and golden brown. Still have tons of leftovers in the freezer.
You can also order turkeys at Globus should you strike out elsewhere. Good luck!
We got a turkey just last night from Famila in Waldshut, DE. It was a 6.2kg - the largest they had.