I Want More!

So here’s the thing, we’re currently experiencing one of the world’s worst crises in decades, and who knows how many more will follow after this one is over. Now more than ever, I feel we, as consumers, are entitled to value for money. Certainly MORE value for money then we’re currently getting.

I increasingly feel that if you want to eat out in Geneva, you essentially have one of two choices, either go to a proper restaurant, and spend an hour or two there with other people, or you can opt for a simpler, quicker, solution, and get something from a fast food restaurant to eat it quickly or on the go.

However, if you decide to do the latter, chances are you’ll end up eating something that tastes like it came out of a box, rather than something that was freshly cooked on the premises — or even something that would give you the illusion of fresh home cooking.
On those days we need to grab a quick bite to eat because we’re racing between meetings, it seems to me we’ve settled long enough for products that are below par, sandwiches that are bland at best, and just an eating experience that leaves something to be desired.

When I watch Steve Dolinski’s Hungry Hound podcast (be sure to have a look at it — it is absolutely brilliant) I am always impressed by how much the restaurants — fast food or otherwise — he reviews are constantly striving to raise the bar in terms of taste, quality, etc.
How many sandwich shops here in Geneva can claim they set themselves apart in any significant way? For instance by only using freshly baked bread, or unique ingredients, thereby making your meal a unique experience? I’m guessing very few. For the most part, it’s all, slice up the industrial baguette bread, smear some butter and some mustard on it, add a slice of cheese or some cold cuts, and finally: “that’ll be CHF 7,50 please, Ma’am.” Nice. I could have made that at home. For a portion of the price.

Of course, now in Geneva, you can get yourself a bagel, yaaay, I hear you all say, finally some variety! Sure, if a dry or stale bagel is what you’re in the market for, you’re in luck, you’ll definitely find that here. However, if a fresh, tasty product is what you had in mind, I’m afraid you’re going to have to keep looking.

The fact is there is simply no excuse for the Genevan consumer to be charged as much as he/she is for “food” in which very little effort goes and that as a direct result tastes like absolutely nothing!

Perhaps there are a couple of exceptions, perhaps there are places that go the extra mile in order to please their customers and provide them with the best ingredients in the most palate-pleasing combinations but that I just don’t know them. If you are aware of any such places, please feel free to drop me a line. I would love to promote their efforts on this blog.

Photo by Matthew Mendoza

Photo by Matthew Mendoza

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