As Switzerland contends with one of the worst coronavirus surges in Europe, the Swiss are gripped by one melting-hot question: is it still safe to share a fondue?
The beloved Swiss national dish consists of cheese melted down with white wine in a "caquelon" pot heated by an open flame.
By tradition, Swiss cheese fondue is eaten by dipping in bread with long-handled forks, with several friends or relatives joining in and sharing the same pot.
But can the convivial Swiss culinary experience still be done safely in the midst of a pandemic?
Internet sages are piling in on the hot topic. "Eat your fondue with a fishing rod", reads one suggestion for maintaining physical distancing.
Another with a touch more realism proposes: "Each guest takes two forks and a knife, and it's fixed: one fork to dip in the fondue, the knife to help remove the bread and the second fork to eat it."
The press has called experts to the rescue, even dragging in Geneva's celebrated infectious disease specialist Didier Pittet.
"A risk linked to fondue? Certainly not," said the man considered the godfather of alcohol-based hand rub.
Switzerland Cheese Marketing is also making reassuring noises.
The industry body insists it has studied the question closely and has concluded: "The risk of contracting Covid-19 while enjoying a fondue with other diners is negligible."
Put simply by Professor Christian Ruef, a Zurich-based infectious disease specialist: "In the fondue pot, the cheese reaches a sufficient temperature to kill any virus."
Whether it's a classic half-and-half mix of Vacherin and Gruyere cheeses, or a fondue done with tomatoes, morels or other variations, dipping in and eating therefore presents no risk in itself.
However, Ruef recommended sticking to small groups, or even a fondue just for two.
"The problem arises if you are seated together in a small space for an evening, and are talking loudly, laughing or even singing," he said.
"These are ideal conditions for spreading the virus."
Gerald Bongioanni, manager of Geneva's historic Cafe du Soleil, which normally serves up to 300 fondues a day during winter, put it succinctly: "The risk is not in the fondue pot but in the gathering."
- Cheesy love story -
Each region of Switzerland has its own favourite fondue cheese, be it Vacherin, Gruyere, Emmental or Comte.
The iconic Swiss dish rose to international fame and popularity since representing the country at the 1939-40 World's Fair in New York.
While the first Swiss fondue recipes date back to the 17th century, fondue truly established itself as a national dish in the 1950s, when the famously neutral country's army put it in its cookbook.
Even though fondues can be enjoyed at home or on an Alpine mountainside thanks to mass-produced kits and ready-to-use mixes, sharing a fondue with friends in a restaurant remains the heart of Swiss social life.
But now restaurants are shut in many parts of the country and the 10th Fondue Festival, which was to be held on October 31, was cancelled because of the restrictions on large gatherings.
Could Covid-19 add fondue to its list of victims?
"Absolutely not!" insisted Arnaud Favre, president of Les Compagnons du Caquelon, which runs the festival.
"The Swiss national dish, as well as the love that all Swiss have for cheese, are stronger than any health measures," he told AFP.
"Fondue mix sales have gone up by 10 percent since the start of the year. It goes to show that the restrictions have reinforced conviviality between family and friends," he said.
Lorenz Hirt, head of the Swiss Fondue Cheese Industry Association, also insisted he had "no worries", saying spring sales figures this year were even higher than in 2019.
Indeed, Bertrand Gabioud, co-manager of La Fromatheque cheese boutique in Martigny, reckons fondue could be just the thing to help see the nation through the pandemic.
"Fondue is a Covid-compatible dish which lends itself very well to the current situation because we greatly need good humour and conviviality," he told AFP.
"It's the dish par excellence to get through these times."
AFP RELAXNEWS
Tue Nov 17 2020
The beloved Swiss national dish consists of cheese melted down with white wine in a "caquelon" pot heated by an open flame. AFPRelaxpic
Dua warga AS antara yang ditemui maut di hotel Thailand
Menurut polis Thailand, kesemua mangsa adalah berketurunan Vietnam, dengan dua daripadanya membawa pasport AS.
AWANI Pagi: Berita tumpuan & menarik di astroawani.com [17 Julai 2024]
[LANGSUNG] Fokus #AWANIpagi 17 Julai 2024 7.30 pagi,
Antara fokus Awani Pagi bersama Nursyazwani Saiful Sham & Azib Zikry
1. Keluarga Nur Farah Kartini mohon henti keluar kenyataan guris hati
2. Kim Pan-gon akui akan rindui sokongan rakyat Malaysia
3. Astro penyiar rasmi Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024
Antara fokus Awani Pagi bersama Nursyazwani Saiful Sham & Azib Zikry
1. Keluarga Nur Farah Kartini mohon henti keluar kenyataan guris hati
2. Kim Pan-gon akui akan rindui sokongan rakyat Malaysia
3. Astro penyiar rasmi Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024
Langkah menoktahkan kemiskinan tegar di Sabah antara tumpuan Dewan Rakyat
Ahli Parlimen Kinabatangan, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin meminta Menteri Ekonomi menyatakan langkah tersebut pada sesi jawab lisan.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta pastikan kemampanan sektor air
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air.
[INFOGRAFIK] Tarikh-tarikh penting Istiadat Pertabalan Yang Di-Pertuan Agong ke-17
Berikut adalah info berkenaan dengan tarikh-tarikh penting Istiadat Pertabalan Yang Di-Pertuan Agong ke-17
Menendez didapati bersalah ke atas 16 pertuduhan rasuah
Juri di Mahkamah Persekutuan Manhattan membacakan keputusannya pada Selasa selepas berbincang selama lebih 12 jam selama tiga hari.
Tindakan keras terhadap penjualan racun makhluk perosak haram - CAP
CAP menggesa Lembaga Racun Makhluk Perosak segera mengambil tindakan keras terhadap penjualan racun makhluk perosak haram di negara ini dan menguatkuasakan dengan tegas Akta Racun Perosak 1974.
SDG: UTP lahir pelajar berkemahiran, tinggi tanggungjawab sosial
UTP berhasrat mendidik pelajar bukan sahaja untuk mahir dalam aspek teknikal tetapi juga untuk menjadi warganegara yang bertanggungjawab dari segi kemahiran dan keupayaan sosial.
RUU 355: Pindaan perlu untuk praktikaliti, keadilan
Apa sahaja pindaan terhadap akta itu perlu berjalan selari dengan persediaan mereka yang bertanggungjawab melaksanakannya, seperti mahkamah syariah, pegawai penguatkuasa agama dan peguam syarie.
Kerajaan teliti kaedah baharu lantikan tetap
Kerajaan sedang meneliti kaedah baharu lantikan tetap bagi memastikan pengurusan kewangan negara yang lebih mampan.
Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Wilayah Persekutuan), Dr Zaliha Mustafa berkata hasil kajian tersebut akan dibentangkan kepada Jemaah Menteri untuk pertimbangan dan kelulusan.
Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Wilayah Persekutuan), Dr Zaliha Mustafa berkata hasil kajian tersebut akan dibentangkan kepada Jemaah Menteri untuk pertimbangan dan kelulusan.
Shaqiri umum bersara daripada bola sepak antarabangsa
Shaqiri bermain hanya dua kali pada kejohanan Euro 2024 di Jerman, beraksi selama 71 minit untuk Switzerland.
EURO 2024: Bukayo Saka pacu England mara ke separuh akhir
Switzerland terpaksa akur selepas tewas 5-3 kepada England melalui sepakan penentuan penalti dalam perlawanan suku akhir.
EURO 2024: Bellingham, Kane watak penting kebangkitan England ke suku akhir
Separuh masa pertama menyaksikan England mendominasi aksi tetapi sukar menembusi benteng pertahanan Slovakia yang lebih berdisiplin.
EURO 2024: Fullkrug selamatkan maruah Jerman di Frankfurt
Walaupun telah memastikan kelayakan ke peringkat kalah mati, Nagelsmann menurunkan kesebelasan utama Jerman yang sama bertemu Hungary.
EURO 2024: Gandingan pemain Manchester United, Liverpool bantu Scotland raih satu mata berharga
Scotland berjaya mengikat Switzerland dengan keputusan seri 1-1 dalam saingan Kumpulan A yang berlangsung di Stadium Cologne awal pagi tadi.
Euro 2024: Switzerland tewaskan Hungary 3-1
Switzerland meraih kemenangan 3-1 ke atas Hungary pada Sabtu yang mungkin menjadi penentu untuk mara ke peringkat seterusnya dalam saingan kumpulan Euro 2024.
Steven Sim ketuai delegasi ke Persidangan Buruh Antarabangsa di Geneva
Sim akan menyampaikan ucapan negara dalam sidang plenari yang menyentuh mengenai pembaharuan kontrak sosial.
Presiden Zelensky rayu pemimpin dunia sertai Sidang Kemuncak Keamanan
Zelensky menyatakan, rakyat Ukraine tidak mahu Piagam PBB diabaikan, seperti buku-buku yang terbakar.
Tiga maut nahas helikopter di Switzerland
Tiga maut dalam nahas helikopter di Switzerland pada Selasa, menurut polis.
Najib tidak benarkan AS$3 bilion dibawa pulang dari Switzerland - Saksi
Penguasa Kanan SPRM Nur Aida Arifin berkata perkara itu diberitahu bekas Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif 1MDB, Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman.