Swiss Capitol Hits Another High Gastronomic Note

The GaultMillau Guide 2009 rewards six restaurants, incorporates fourteen new ones and promotes David Tarnowski as “discovery of the year in French-speaking Switzerland”. Once again, the Lake Geneva Region (Canton of Vaud) asserts itself as Switzerland’s leading gastronomic region with one of the densest spreads of good restaurants in all of Europe.

The 2009 edition of the prestigious gastronomic GaultMillau guide, which was published on 14 October, shows excellent results as regards the gastronomic offer in the Lake Geneva Region (Canton of Vaud).

Six restaurants have gained another point and fourteen have been included in the 2009 edition, five of which in Lausanne alone. The “Le Montagne” restaurant in Chardonne (above Vevey) also received a distinguished reward: David Tarnowski, who was noted with 15 points, was crowned “discovery of the year”.

On an overall score, 90 restaurants in the Lake Geneva Region cumulate 1,236 GM points. This is a record since it means that the region has the highest number of points and good restaurants in all of Switzerland. These results emphasize the region’s gastronomic reputation and confirm its excellence in the art of food. It is also noteworthy that the two only chefs in Switzerland, who cumulate 19 GM points and 3 Michelin stars, are Philippe Rochat in Crissier and Gérard Rabaey in Brent, both in the Canton of Vaud.

The tourist branch is delighted with these results. In the words of Charles-André Ramseier, director of the tourist office of the Canton of Vaud: “The diversity and density of our canton’s gastronomic offer is unequalled throughout Europe. The art of living is an integral part of our cultural heritage. Great chefs, such as Frédy Girardet (awarded “chef of the century” in 1989), as well as countless hotel catering schools continue to influence the excellent standard in this field. Moreover, the gastronomic offer is now completed with local wines from the Lavaux vineyards, which have been UNESCO World Heritage since 2007. This is a particularly appreciated combination, as it allows visitors to discover the four wine-growing areas of the Lake Geneva Region. We are also happy to see that new gourmet restaurants have appeared and that the efforts of the Lake Geneva culinary talents are well rewarded by such prestigious institutions as GaultMillau. The GM 2009 results represent another rise compared with 2008, which already distinguished itself as an excellent year.”

Source: GaultMillau Switzerland Guide 2009