Latest news with #Ticino
Travel Daily News
7 days ago
- Business
- Travel Daily News
SWISS to serve starred Ticino cuisine aloft
SWISS launches Ticino-inspired premium inflight menus by Michelin-starred chef Federico Palladino, offering seasonal Swiss-Italian dishes on long-haul flights. SWISS will be taking its premium inflight guests on a culinary journey to sunny Southern Switzerland from 4 June onwards. For the latest chapter in the airline's 'SWISS Taste of Switzerland' food and beverage program, starred Michelin chef Federico Palladino of the Cuntitt restaurant in Canton Ticino has concocted a range of exquisite meals for the SWISS First and SWISS Business cabins, including smoked trout with Sbrinz panna cotta, lamb loin with potato mantecata and shortcrust tartlet with pistachio cream. Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is taking its premium travelers on long-haul flights from Switzerland on a culinary adventure to the south of its home country for the next three months. From Wednesday 4 June onwards, SWISS First and SWISS Business guests will be offered exclusive meal creations from Canton Ticino in the latest iteration of the airline's 'SWISS Taste of Switzerland' inflight food and beverage program. The new SWISS inflight meals have been concocted by Federico Palladino, chef de cuisine at the Cuntitt restaurant in picturesque Castel San Pietro. Palladino has been running his osteria in Ticino's Mendrisiotto region since 2020, treating his guests to his gastronomic delights amid the local vineyards and ancient stone walls. His dining creations blend the sophistication of haute cuisine with all the warmth of Italian cooking – a recipe that has already earned him and his restaurant 16 GaultMillau points and a Michelin star. 'We're delighted to welcome Ticino back on board as our guest canton,' says SWISS Chief Commercial Officer Heike Birlenbach. 'Federico's meals are wonderfully suited to the start of the summer season: they bring the sun to the table, and capture all the aromas of Switzerland's sunny south.' 'I am honored to represent Ticino and its cuisine aboard SWISS's flights,' Federico Palladino adds. 'And I hope our passengers enjoy my creations as much as I have enjoyed devising and developing them. After all, travel and enjoyment go firmly hand in hand.' Yuzu pikeperch, veal filet and fior di latte ice cream SWISS First travelers will enjoy a choice of starters that include smoked trout with Sbrinz panna cotta and farina bóna crumble or carrot and ginger soup with confit langoustine, prawn cracker and lemongrass oil. For their main course they can opt for lamb loin glazed with black garlic served with potato mantecata and sautéed bell peppers or pikeperch with yuzu sauce accompanied by pan-fried polenta and green beans. The SWISS First selection is sweetly rounded off with coffee mousse with salted caramel sauce, cocoa crumble and fior di latte ice cream. SWISS Business guests can start their Ticinese inflight dining with a first course of slow-cooked beef with mustard vinaigrette, radish and Grana Padano. Their main course options include veal filet with Parmesan crust and saffron cream sauce accompanied by semolina and green asparagus or barbecue-glazed chicken breast with jus, potato gratin and spinach. The SWISS Business dessert offering is a shortcrust tartlet with pistachio cream and raspberry gel. Travelers in Premium Economy Class can also look forward to a three-course meal inspired by Canton Ticino. Their choice of main course includes a chicken piccata with saffron risotto and tomato ragout, while their inflight dining is rounded off with Gottardo and Tremola Mutschli cheese and a torta della nonna served with strawberry compote and mascarpone mousse. Culinary delights aloft together with gategourmet For some 22 years now, SWISS has been taking its customers on a journey of gastronomic discovery through its home country's various regions under its 'SWISS Taste of Switzerland' inflight culinary program. Every three months, in collaboration with catering partner gategourmet, a new top chef is invited to create a varied selection of quality dishes from their 'home' canton to be served aboard SWISS's long-haul flights from Switzerland. The meal creations are also accompanied by wines and cheeses from the region concerned. As the prime supplier of SWISS's inflight food and beverage product, gategourmet ensures that all these meal creations arrive on board in the finest possible quality. gategourmet is a subsidiary of gategroup, the world's leading provider of airline catering and inflight sales products.
Malay Mail
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Eurovision's transformation over time as Switzerland hosts third edition — from 1956's first contest to 2025's spectacle
BASEL, May 17 — Switzerland is hosting Eurovision for the third time, with the extravaganza a world away from when it staged the inaugural competition in 1956 — and also from 1989 when Celine Dion starred. The 2025 edition on May 17 in Basel will draw an expected TV audience of around 160 million, with viewers worldwide casting their votes. Here is a look back at how Switzerland staged the 1956 and 1989 editions, illustrating how the competition has evolved: Lugano 1956 The Eurovision Song Contest started as a technical experiment: a live, simultaneous, transnational television broadcast. Switzerland's centrality in Europe made it a natural choice for transmitter purposes. The inaugural Eurovision was held in Lugano, in the Italian-speaking Ticino region. Seven countries took part — Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany — with two songs each, for the only time in the competition's history. The event was fronted in Italian by presenter Lohengrin Filipello — the only time there has been a solo male host — who enthused that the winning composer could boast of writing 'the most beautiful song in Europe'. Ten television and 20 radio networks carried the broadcast, which lasted an hour and 40 minutes. With television ownership still in its infancy, most people heard it on the radio and little black-and-white footage survives. The performers were accompanied by a 24-piece orchestra. Groups were banned — a rule which lasted until 1971. Countries sent two jury members, who unlike now could vote for their own country. Their scores have never been made public. Switzerland's Lys Assia triumphed with her second song, the French-language Refrain. Switzerland declined to host again in 1957, with the second Eurovision staged in Frankfurt, West Germany. Assia entered the Swiss domestic competition to choose a song for Eurovision 2012, coming eighth in the televote. She died in 2018, aged 94. Celine Dion, who won the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest representing Switzerland, appears on a screen in a video message during the first semi-final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel May 13, 2025. — Reuters pic Lausanne 1989 Appearing for Switzerland, Canadian then-starlet Celine Dion triumphed in 1988 singing Ne partez pas sans moi, launching her career internationally. It was the last time a song in French won Eurovision. The following year, the 34th Eurovision was staged in Lausanne, with 22 countries taking part. The logo, featuring the Matterhorn mountain, was designed using new-fangled computer graphics, while the set used glaring neon strip lights and rotating coloured spotlights. The show featured the two youngest competitors in the contest's history: 12-year-old Gili Netanel from Israel and 11-year-old Nathalie Paque representing France. The precedent had been set when Belgium's 13-year-old Sandra Kim won Eurovision 1986. But the even younger acts sparked controversy, and since 1990, contenders have to be at least 16. The show was hosted by Swiss sports commentator Jacques Deschenaux and Miss Switzerland 1982 Lolita Morena, rotating between French, English, Italian and German. Morena later married World Cup-winning German football great Lothar Matthaus. While the juries made their decisions, a stunt artist fired crossbow shots live on stage, culminating by setting off a chain reaction with the final arrow aimed at an apple on his own head, in homage to Swiss mythical idol William Tell. It narrowly missed the apple, his head, and disaster. National juries read their results down crackly phone lines from European capitals. Yugoslavia was the surprise winner with Rock Me performed by the group Riva. Dion presented them with a plaque. Within a few years, Yugoslavia plunged into war and disintegrated. Riva likewise fell apart, in 1991. — AFP
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Travel + Leisure
08-05-2025
- Travel + Leisure
This Is the Smallest Village in Switzerland—and It Could Disappear Soon
Corippo, located in the scenic Verzasca Valley, was once on the verge of becoming a ghost town with only nine elderly residents remaining. But it underwent a revitalization in 2022 through the Albergo Diffuso model, turning historic structures into dispersed hotel rooms. Despite its picturesque setting in the heart of Switzerland's Southern Alps, Corippo isn't a tourist hot spot. In 2019, it was on the brink of becoming a ghost town as its population dwindled to just nine residents, all of whom were elderly. This earned Corippo the title of smallest municipality in Switzerland, prompting news headlines, as local officials scrambled to save the village from depopulation. A fairy-tale-like hamlet in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, Corippo has only one narrow road leading to it. When I visited it in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I didn't meet a single person while wandering its narrow alleyways lined with stone buildings—typical of the Verzasca Valley where it's located. In many ways, this village felt as if it was frozen in time, only a ringing clocktower bell served as a reminder of every passing hour. In 2022, Corippo became Switzerland's first Albergo Diffuso (or widespread hotel), a concept native to Italy, but still relatively new to Switzerland. Unlike in a traditional hotel, where rooms are located in one building, rooms in an Albergo Diffuso are scattered throughout historic structures in the area, allowing tourists to stay among locals and enjoy a more authentic atmosphere. The Fondazione Corippo, a local organization tasked with preserving the village, came up with the idea of Corippo Albergo Diffuso to boost the local economy after many residents left the area. The hotel rooms are located in previously abandoned buildings, which have been carefully restored to bed-and-breakfast-style accommodations. Jeremy Gehring and Désirée Voitle, managers of the Corippo Albergo Diffuso, now live in Corippo full-time with their son and twin daughters—the youngest residents of the village. 'We heard about the Albergo Diffuso in Corippo by chance on the radio and decided to apply for the management (position),' Voitle said. Today, Corippo Albergo Diffuso has 10 rooms and welcomes visitors year-round. Its cozy accommodations have rustic charm and an on-site osteria (restaurant) that serves gourmet dishes from the southern part of the Alps on a spacious terrace. The approach to cooking is Italian, but with French techniques. The summer season here kicked off during Easter weekend, and Voitle said she looks forward to welcoming visitors. 'We aim to have more return guests. Most guests checking out tell us they want to come back. Some actually do come back, so we want to have more of them,' she added. Although the project brought more tourists to the area, the village is unlikely to change because of its protected status. That's the essence of the Albergo Diffuso concept: Develop a hotel in historic structures with minimal modifications to their original appearance. Records show Corippo dates back more than 700 years, and had 315 residents at its peak in 1850. As rural agriculture declined and migration intensified in the 20th century, the population has been declining steadily. But things are starting to look up for Corippo: As Albergo Diffuso generated renewed interest, dozens of tourists flocked to this remote mountain village to see what the buzz was about. While you can spend a night in Corippo and enjoy the quiet lifestyle, the surrounding Verzasca Valley demands more time. The 25-kilometer glacial valley boasts superb outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, and mountain biking. Just a quick drive from Corippo is Ponte dei Salti, a photogenic stone bridge over the Verzasca river, a popular launching point for a refreshing swim on a hot summer day. I stopped in the area as part of my road trip through Verzasca, where dozens of small villages similar to Corippo dot the postcard-worthy landscape. It's hard not to fall in love with Verzasca as you drive along the jade-colored river, cutting through the valley's heart and plunging waterfalls on each side. The area is home to emerald-hued pools, scenic trails with bright alpine flowers, and dreamy grottos—small taverns where you can try Ticino staples like polenta and risotto. Movie buffs should check out the Verzasca Dam, a major draw of the valley featured in the opening scene of "GoldenEye," part of the James Bond film series. A 220-meter bungee jump offers a chance to relive Bond's legendary move. Despite being a hub of adventure, life in Verzasca is unhurried. The valley offers a perfect blend of exciting outdoor adventures and a quiet rural lifestyle within driving distance from Lugano, the biggest city in southern Switzerland. 'We simply love the beauty of it,' Desiree said about living in Corippo. 'From here, we enjoy the natural surroundings: the changing seasons, the clear water, the fresh air, the greenery, and the calm. The quality of the elements without artifice.'
Travel + Leisure
08-05-2025
- Travel + Leisure
Switzerland's Smallest Village Is a Fairy Tale—and It Could Disappear Soon
Despite its picturesque setting in the heart of Switzerland's Southern Alps, Corippo isn't a tourist hot spot. In 2019, it was on the brink of becoming a ghost town as its population dwindled to just nine residents, all of whom were elderly. This earned Corippo the title of smallest municipality in Switzerland, prompting news headlines, as local officials scrambled to save the village from depopulation. A fairy-tale-like hamlet in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, Corippo has only one narrow road leading to it. When I visited it in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I didn't meet a single person while wandering its narrow alleyways lined with stone buildings—typical of the Verzasca Valley where it's located. In many ways, this village felt as if it was frozen in time, only a ringing clocktower bell served as a reminder of every passing hour. In 2022, Corippo became Switzerland's first Albergo Diffuso (or widespread hotel), a concept native to Italy, but still relatively new to Switzerland. Unlike in a traditional hotel, where rooms are located in one building, rooms in an Albergo Diffuso are scattered throughout historic structures in the area, allowing tourists to stay among locals and enjoy a more authentic atmosphere. The clock tower of the parish church and the village of Fondazione Corippo, a local organization tasked with preserving the village, came up with the idea of Corippo Albergo Diffuso to boost the local economy after many residents left the area. The hotel rooms are located in previously abandoned buildings, which have been carefully restored to bed-and-breakfast-style accommodations. Jeremy Gehring and Désirée Voitle, managers of the Corippo Albergo Diffuso, now live in Corippo full-time with their son and twin daughters—the youngest residents of the village. 'We heard about the Albergo Diffuso in Corippo by chance on the radio and decided to apply for the management (position),' Voitle said. Today, Corippo Albergo Diffuso has 10 rooms and welcomes visitors year-round. Its cozy accommodations have rustic charm and an on-site osteria (restaurant) that serves gourmet dishes from the southern part of the Alps on a spacious terrace. The approach to cooking is Italian, but with French techniques. The typical granite stone houses of Corippo. imageBROKER/The summer season here kicked off during Easter weekend, and Voitle said she looks forward to welcoming visitors. 'We aim to have more return guests. Most guests checking out tell us they want to come back. Some actually do come back, so we want to have more of them,' she added. Although the project brought more tourists to the area, the village is unlikely to change because of its protected status. That's the essence of the Albergo Diffuso concept: Develop a hotel in historic structures with minimal modifications to their original appearance. Records show Corippo dates back more than 700 years, and had 315 residents at its peak in 1850. As rural agriculture declined and migration intensified in the 20th century, the population has been declining steadily. But things are starting to look up for Corippo: As Albergo Diffuso generated renewed interest, dozens of tourists flocked to this remote mountain village to see what the buzz was about. While you can spend a night in Corippo and enjoy the quiet lifestyle, the surrounding Verzasca Valley demands more time. The 25-kilometer glacial valley boasts superb outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, and mountain biking. Just a quick drive from Corippo is Ponte dei Salti, a photogenic stone bridge over the Verzasca river, a popular launching point for a refreshing swim on a hot summer day. I stopped in the area as part of my road trip through Verzasca, where dozens of small villages similar to Corippo dot the postcard-worthy landscape. It's hard not to fall in love with Verzasca as you drive along the jade-colored river, cutting through the valley's heart and plunging waterfalls on each side. The area is home to emerald-hued pools, scenic trails with bright alpine flowers, and dreamy grottos—small taverns where you can try Ticino staples like polenta and risotto. Movie buffs should check out the Verzasca Dam, a major draw of the valley featured in the opening scene of "GoldenEye," part of the James Bond film series. A 220-meter bungee jump offers a chance to relive Bond's legendary move. Despite being a hub of adventure, life in Verzasca is unhurried. The valley offers a perfect blend of exciting outdoor adventures and a quiet rural lifestyle within driving distance from Lugano, the biggest city in southern Switzerland. 'We simply love the beauty of it,' Desiree said about living in Corippo. 'From here, we enjoy the natural surroundings: the changing seasons, the clear water, the fresh air, the greenery, and the calm. The quality of the elements without artifice.'
