Pigs in blankets

[Chucklehead]

I'm spending Christmas in Wengen this year, and want to have a proper Christmas Dinner.. it seems I might actually struggle to find proper pigs in blankets, or enough sausages and bacon to make my own. Is that correct?

I can't bring my own if Brexit goes ahead: "importation of animal products coming from countries other than EU states and Norway is prohibited".

I'm flying in to Geneva, then it's Bern, Lauterbrunnen and up to Wengen.

Any ideas?

[RobXjcoupe]

Send the Brit sausages in advance before brexit and freeze till Christmas

[Chucklehead]

Genuinely a consideration, but there are rentals booked before we'll be out there

[4Q]

I fly into Geneva a couple of dozen times a year and sure I’ve seen at Swiss customs that you aren’t allowed to bring uncooked pork products in to the country?

[eyebeebe]

4Q said:

I fly into Geneva a couple of dozen times a year and sure I’ve seen at Swiss customs that you aren’t allowed to bring uncooked pork products in to the country?

Nothing mentioned about that here:
https://en.comparis.ch/preisvergleich/recht-gesetz...
https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/en/home/information-i...

I would also expect the text of the customs rules to be changed to include the UK. Switzerland and the UK have been very proactive in trying to make the transition as seamless as possible at least initially. All sorts of agreements have already been signed. Of most relevance is this:
https://www.seco.admin.ch/dam/seco/en/dokumente/Au...

Generally speaking the country is full of sausages, but not like British ones and there is some bacon (Speck) that you could use, but I don‘t think you‘ll get the results you are looking for. If the meat importation rules aren‘t amended for Brexit per above, you could contact some specialist shops that cover the expat market:
https://shop.jimsbritishmarket.com/fresh/meat-poul...
Www.britshop.ch
https://britishcheese.ch/shop.html

Or you could just bring some other in your luggage. Chances of being stopped, especially if you are loaded up with ski gear are minimal.

[Chucklehead]

Thanks for the suggestions.. I might also find a friendly local EU country that has better bacon and can send it across!

I'm glad we've got that covered, I've been genuinely concerned about it.

[Mogul]

For bacon, look for “lard à rôtir”.

For sausages, you can find pork chipolatas but the small saucisse de veau are ideal. You can sometimes even find them made up ready to go.

Now, for your next challenge, have you considered how you are going to get hold of a turkey!

[Mogul]

Then there is always Jim’s British Market...

https://jimsbritishmarket.com/gland/

[eyebeebe]

Turkey is easy. Just call up a butcher at the beginning of December and tell them what you want. Be prepared for a price shock though. We normally end up paying CHF 20-25 a kilo!

[Chucklehead]

Great advice here, thanks all. Yes, the turkey is sorted.. it was the pigs in blankets that was proving to be difficult! It looks like I have a few options from this thread.

Now, I usually need a turkey AND a ham, but I think I should settle for just turkey this year. The prices are insane!

[crypto]

As previously mentioned, you are allowed to import 1 kilo meat per person duty free. Above 1 kilo, you pay 17 CHF/kilo up to 10 kg and 23 CHF/kilo for more than 10 kilo. It doesn't matter from where it is imported. BTW, if you import a single piece of 5 kilo and you are a group of five persons, this single single piece is most likely not duty free because it is not split into 5 x 1 kilo junks.

If you require bigger amounts of meat, its often cheaper to buy it directly from the farmer. A lot of farmer shops sell quality food directly. Typically veggies, meat, eggs, etc.

[eyebeebe]

crypto said:

It doesn't matter from where it is imported.

The Swiss government disagrees with you. See the links I posted above. Meat needs to come from EU or Norway for private imports.

[Stuart70]

Chucklehead said:

I've been genuinely concerned about it.

First world problems beyond reasonable belief!

Get a grip son.

[Chucklehead]

Stuart70 said:

Chucklehead said:

I've been genuinely concerned about it.

First world problems beyond reasonable belief!

Get a grip son.

Will do, Dad.

[Stuart70]

Chucklehead said:

Will do, Dad.

Well done lad, now off you go out and play.

And don’t let me catch you doing that thing to the neighbours cat again.

[...Mole...]

getting good bacon in Switzerland has been a struggle for me, I tend to stick to some of the cheaper Coop stuff and deal with it begrudgingly, I haven't even tried to find something resembling a british sausage yet!

Anyone know of somewhere in Zurich that sells any?, I know of the place selling British Cheese at Im Viadukt as it's not too far from me but haven't been to check it out and see if they have any other british products. Jims british food market is a bit of a trek as I dont have my car here atm.

[eyebeebe]

...Mole... said:

getting good bacon in Switzerland has been a struggle for me, I tend to stick to some of the cheaper Coop stuff and deal with it begrudgingly, I haven't even tried to find something resembling a british sausage yet!

Anyone know of somewhere in Zurich that sells any?, I know of the place selling British Cheese at Im Viadukt as it's not too far from me but haven't been to check it out and see if they have any other british products. Jims british food market is a bit of a trek as I dont have my car here atm.

The British Cheese Centre sells bacon from time to time. Best thing to do is drop Mike the owner an email and ask him.

I find the Lidl Bauernbratwurst to be relatively similar to a British sausage.