Switzerland: Part III - Carriages, Castles, & H.R. Giger???

One of my fondest childhood memories is my mother surprising me with a horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park in the middle of snowy January. I grew up in Manhattan and Central Park was a place I frequently visited, but not like this. I remember being in awe as the chariot took us through the Winter Wonderland, more perfect than a postcard. Since that day, I’ve yearned to have a similar experience. Little did I know that I would grow up to become a cheese expert and that my work as The Cheese Maven would bring me to something even grander.

Fast forward to 2019 and I’m in the canton of Fribourg, Switzerland for work. Mifroma informs me that they have a big surprise…what could it be? I mean, I just went back to my roots as an affineur in their underground cheese caves AND learned how to make Gruyère, one of my favorite cheeses in the world. How could they possible top that?

Ashley Noelle Morton Brieyonce Fondue Carriage — Fondue Carriage before the Cheese, Meat, Fruit, & Dessert Platters are brought out

OMG!!!!

Our mini-bus pulls into a small farm where I see a giant carriage and three large chestnut horses hitched up. I'm informed that our group of food bloggers, photographers, and I are going to be taken to Gruyères Castle by a FONDUE horse-drawn carriage. Um...are they serious? I think it is a joke until I am brought over to look inside the carriage. My jaw drops and my eyes almost pop out of my head. How could something so marvelous exist??? Inside the coach there are 3 fondue pots and a plethora of foods and beverages. Giant charcuterie boards with every type of meat and salami anyone could hope for. There are platters of fruits, cakes, and desserts surrounded by bottles of wine and Kirsch liqueur. I am biting my lip hard, unsure if I want to cry or laugh or sit in stunned silence. My comrades laugh at me seeing my face and inform me that I'm not dreaming...this is very real.

Ashley Noelle Morton Brieyonce The Cheese Maven Fondue — Fondue made from cheeses straight from Mifroma’s caves

For the next couple of hours, we feast on deliciously decadent fondue composed of some of Mifroma’s best cheeses that we prepare and cook inside the coach as the horses trot along to the town of Gruyères. We are accompanied by a tour guide who is describing the history of Fribourg. I've had fondue many times, but this was the pinnacle. Here I am in the Swiss countryside, birds singing amongst the bluest sky as we travel through the valleys hugged by magnificent mountains. I have to remind myself that my work in cheese continues to take me to places I thought I'd never see in my life and open doors for me that absolutely touch my soul.

We arrive at the medieval town of Gruyères, perfectly quaint and picturesque. We are taken to the castle at the top of the hillside which has been standing in its majestic beauty since the 13th century. We are given a tour guide who takes our group on a PRIVATE tour of the castle. The castle is rich with storied history, surviving wars, serving as a refuge, and even currently the home of a perfectly preserved mummified hand from ancient Egypt.

Ashley Noelle Morton Brieyonce The Cheese Maven HR Giger — H.R. Giger Museum Bar

This was awesome! So realistic!

After our tour, we have some time to explore the town before heading back to the farm. I am fascinated by the macabre and am thrilled to discover that the town is home to the H.R. Giger Museum and the H.R. Giger Museum Bar. I am a huge fan of Giger (one of my favorite books I own is Biomechanics) and had to wander in. The aesthetics were incredible, huge sculptural skeletal ridges composed the walls, ceiling, and furniture. The atrophied atmosphere was darkly alluring, and I felt like I walked straight into a scene from the movie Alien.

We finally board the carriage and head back to the farm. We all chat excitedly about the castle, the gardens, the town, and of course our method of transportation as sunset starts to envelop us. I definitely feel like Princess Brieyoncé today! I continue to be embraced by the spirit of Switzerland and am so thankful for the love that Mifroma has shared with me.