Brunch at the Farm

This is one of the local tips I wish someone had given me 4 years ago, so I am very excited to be able to share it now with other expat families in the area.

UPDATED MAY 2014 – UNFORTUNATELY, THE FERME DE MERLINGE HAS CLOSED DOWN

One day, as I was browsing through some French guidebooks I came across a book called “Le Guide des Restos pour Petits Gourmands” (published by General Media, 2010) and had to pinch myself. A guidebook to gourmet restaurants in the Suisse Romande where we could also take the kids ?! I nearly wept for joy.

I found some real gems in there and one of them was a list of farms that offered buffet-style Sunday brunch for families with children (yes even small children! even small, wild, boisterous children like ours!).

So, on a sunny Sunday morning in early spring, off we went to La Ferme de Merlinge in Gy where the children played, ate and ran around while we enjoyed a well-deserved relaxed brunch in the shade. It was indeed a special treat for us (as you might have guessed, we don’t get to do anything in a relaxed manner with the kids) and I really enjoyed tasting the farm’s seasonal produce.

Brunch is prepared with seasonal, locally-grown produce and is served outside under the shade of big leafy trees. The jams, breads, crepes and muesli are all homemade, wholesome and delicious.

For further info visit their website at www.fermedemerlinge.ch

The book lists another farm also offering Sunday brunch called La Ferme aux Saveurs d’Autrefois in Bussy-Chardonney (Canton Vaud), which the children really enjoyed because there were many farm animals roaming around. However, we weren’t able to eat there because they were already fully booked – so if you’d like to give it a try, book in advance.

Check their website for full details:  www.ferme-aux-cretegny.ch

Last but not least, here’s the guidebook website: www.petitsgourmands.ch The website is all in French with no English translation, but believe me it is worth going through it dictionary in hand !