Last week, Switzerland Tourism brought a taste of Valais to Rockefeller Center, gathering guests for an evening of Swiss food, wine, and stories.
Representatives from Aletsch Arena, Nendaz, Région Dents du Midi, Leukerbad, and Saas-Fee joined the reception to introduce their destinations.
Guests gathered on the Midtown rooftop for raclette and Valais wines before moving inside for dinner. The drink selections included Petite Arvine, a white wine, and Cornalin, a red, both made from traditional grapes of the region
Hosts Corinne and Mario shared stories from the region and offered travel tips along the way. One of the first included a vineyard in Saillon measuring just 1.6 square meters. Known as the world’s smallest vineyard, it has belonged to the Dalai Lama since 1999. Its three vines were planted in honor of Joseph-Samuel Farinet, a local outlaw who became a folk hero. Today, their grapes are blended with a larger harvest to make wine sold for charity.
Photo Courtesy: Switzerland Tourism
The hosts also spoke about Mark Twain, who visited Leukerbad and wrote about people reading, eating, and playing chess in its thermal pools. More than a century later, the hot springs remain a reason to visit. Before phones, shepherds used the alphorn to communicate across Alpine valleys. A musician played one on the rooftop, its sound carrying over the reception. Hearing the sound in a concrete jungle made it easier to imagine how it could be heard across a mountain valley.
Photo Courtesy: Switzerland Tourism
Saas-Fee brought an unexpected pop-culture detour. Wham! filmed the video for “Last Christmas” in the glacier village, prompting a singalong in the middle of September. The hosts also introduced cholera, a covered pie from the Goms Valley made with ingredients including leeks, potatoes, apples, and cheese. Its name is commonly linked to an epidemic, when households are said to have made meals from what they had on hand. The recipe sounded considerably more inviting than its name.
Région Dents du Midi closed the introductions with a story about the Portes du Soleil ski area, which links slopes in Switzerland and France. The region also hosts a world championship devoted to raclette. Inside, dinner began with coconut and pumpkin soup finished with yuzu, black sesame, and basil. Grilled sirloin followed with smoked Gouda mash, broccolini, and caramelized onion demi-glace. The meal gave guests time to speak with the destination representatives before the reception returned to the rooftop for coffee and dessert.
Photo Courtesy: Switzerland Tourism
The evening covered a great deal of Valais, but its most memorable moments through storytelling like chess in a thermal pool and a cheese competition in the mountains. They gave us plenty to ask about over dinner and more than one reason to visit Valais.
