With its chocolates and watches, Switzerland comes to Islamabad

The event offered a scrumptious taste of Swiss culture and cuisine.

ISLAMABAD:

Every chocolate lover must know where Switzerland is and what it holds. But on Saturday, the taste of Switzerland was right in Islamabad’s Diplomatic Enclave with much more than just chocolate to offer.

The Swiss Embassy in Pakistan presented authentic regional delicacies at its Swiss Food Festival 2011.

People flocked to the festival, though entry was on nominated invitations only. The embassy estimated that more than 1,500 people attended the festival with family and friends.

“We are proud to share the richness of Swiss culture with our Pakistani host community. This festival offers a unique platform for Pakistanis and expatriates to meet and learn about each other’s traditions,” said Swiss Ambassador Christoph Bubb.

He said Pakistani and Swiss corporations enjoyed excellent relations and that Switzerland is among Pakistan’s top ten foreign investors. Among dozens of sponsors, that the Ambassador formally thanked for their support, were Nestle, Wilsons and Co, New Era Watches and Swiss Air.

The aesthetic venue for the festival was tailor-made for this type of event. It reflected the colours of the Swiss way of life and provided a feel of the heaven on earth experience. At the entrance were the stalls offering Swiss dark chocolate and carefully selected milk and confectionary products.

The mouth-watering bars sold like hot cakes as everyone stopped at the chocolate stall before moving forward. The festival catered to all audiences including children. One little girl insisted on getting a Swiss label painted on her cheek as soon as she arrived.

“I like it and now my friends will know that I had been to the Swiss Festival,” said Faiza, who accompanied her father to the festival. The event had a designated kid’s area offering candy floss, popcorn and fun activities like drawing and face painting.

While the children remained engaged, the parents spent time at the food stalls to taste some of the most traditional Swiss cuisine. The exotic delicacies included Raclette (a melted cheese from the Alpine valleys), bündnerfleisch (air-dried beef from the Grisons), baselbieter rahmtäfeli (caramel toffees), sausages, cookies and sweets.

People from Pakistan’s business community, academics, government officials, aid agencies officials, foreign visitors and diplomats attended the festival.

With a taste of Swiss food in their mouths, the visitors got to learn more about Switzerland at stalls where they were given more information on one of Europe’s most beautiful countries. They bought Swiss souvenirs at the stalls, including army knives, watches and other products.

Hundreds tried their luck at winning prizes including tickets to Switzerland at a specially set up stall for lucky draws.

Moreover, at the Swat View Photo Project the visitors were provided with information on active Swiss projects in Pakistan and pictures of the scenic beauty of the Switzerland of East.

The embassy’s efforts to promote Swiss culture and tradition and acquaint Pakistanis with it were a success, even if the number of people invited were handpicked and thus limited. Had it been a public festival, there would have been many more satisfied chocolate lovers in Islamabad Saturday.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20^th, 2011.