Is the way to a woman’s heart… at least this woman.

 

This morning I went for a run on the lake, came back, and got ready to head towards Gruyeres; first stop, the Cailler chocolate factory.

 

For 10 CHF we were able to go through the most magical tour about chocolate, honestly, it was like Disneyland for chocolate lovers, which means everyone because who doesn’t love chocolate?! 70% of the world’s chocolate is eaten in Switzerland.

 

Francois-Louis Cailler was the first chocolatier in Switzerland, I think even in Europe. Everything was going dandy with his chocolate until Daniel Peter came along and introduced milk into chocolate inventing milk chocolate in 1875, your thighs can thank him. In 1929 there were some issues with money and Cailler ended up pairing with Nestle. I don’t remember much more because slightly after his information we were allowed to try every chocolate they have, yes, I was like a kid in Willy Wonka’s factory. For those that think you can’t get sick on chocolate, you can. I purchased a few bars of chocolate and we made our way over to the medieval town of Gruyères. The cobblestone roads and castle were marvelous. We stopped to take a few photos and then went back down the hill to the formagerie.

 

My heart skipped a beat.

 

For 6 CHF I received a small packet of cheese, ages 6 months, 8 months and 12 months and a headset to tell me all about Gruyere cheese. It was perfect timing, the cheese factory was going and the entire process was before my eyes. First the cheese is stirred for 45 minutes, then through a hose it goes into small containers. Once in the containers the curds are pressed down with the excess milk being drained (and later fed to pigs). Dates are stamped on the cheese, they sit in salt water and then are aged in a cellar. I bought some 18-month-old cheese and it is by far the best cheese I have ever tasted. In the states I am sure I would have spent about $20 on the amount I got but here it was only 8 CHF.