International Cuisine

  • Home
  • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Journey by Country
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • My Cookbook
  • Exploring the world through food
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Journey by Country
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • My Cookbook
  • Exploring the world through food
  • Connect with us

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About Me
      • Privacy Policy
    • Journey by Country
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • My Cookbook
    • Exploring the world through food
  • Connect with us

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Featured

    Our Journey to Liechtenstein

    June 23, 2016 By Darlene at International Cuisine

    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    About food an culture of Liechtenstein

    The Principality of Liechtenstein gets its name from the Liechtenstein Dynasty, which stems from the Castle Liechtenstein, in faraway, Lower Austria.  The family possessed the Castle Liechtenstein from at least 1140 to the 13th century and then from 1807 onward.  Throughout history the dynasty purchased vast swathes of land in Monrovia, Lower Austria, Silesia and Styria.  Despite holding all this land, it was controlled by the more senior feudal lords of the Habsburg family, to whom several Liechtenstein princes were advisors.  Because of this, the dynasty members were unable to hold a seat in the much desired Imperial Government.  In 1699 the family was able to purchase Herrshcaft of Schellenberg and then in 1712, Countship of Vaduz.  After the purchases and on January 23, 1719, the Holy Roman Emperor decreed the principality as a sovereign state of the Holy Roman Empire, in honor of his servant Anton Florian of Liechtenstein.  Even after the decree, the Princes of Liechtenstein did not set foot in their new principality for several decades.

    This tiny principality is the sixth smallest country in the world, yet the second richest after Qatar.  It is only 62 square miles in size.  The population is also small, with only about 37,000 Liechtensteiners.  It is a doubly landlocked, mountainous country that lies in Europe, nestled between Switzerland to the west and south and Austria to the east and north.  The western border runs along the Upper Rhine River Valley.  This Alpine country is a haven for winter sports enthusiasts but it is the financial sector that has brought their country great wealth.

    Liechtenstein is considered to be a tax haven for the ultra-wealthy.  The Swiss franc is the national currency and they have the second lowest corporate tax rate in all of Europe, at 12.5 percent.  This low tax rate environment has made Liechtenstein the only nation on earth who has more registered companies than it has citizens.  These letter-box companies provide Liechtenstein with over 30 percent of its revenue.  It has been in the news lately as a center for international money-laundering and is working hard to dispel that image.

    With few natural resources, they produce things like ceramics, electronics, precision instruments, power tools, textiles, pharmaceuticals and strangely, they are the largest producer of false teeth in the world.  They produce wheat, barley, corn, potatoes, dairy products, livestock and wine.  It is tourism however, that accounts for the largest portion of the country’s economy.  Liechtenstein has one of the highest standards of living in the world, along with one of the lowest crime rates.  They have a national police force that is responsible for keeping order within the country, with a total of 125 employees.

    Liechtenstein adopted a policy of military neutrality and is one, of only a handful of countries in the world that does not have military forces.  They once had an army but it was abolished after the Austro-Prussian War of 1866.  They sent 80 men but they were not involved in any fighting.  When they returned, there were 81, as the army befriended an Italian who returned home with the force.  The last soldier to serve in the military of Liechtenstein died in 1939, at the age of 95.  In 2007 there was an incident that occurred when a 170 person infantry unit from Switzerland got lost and inadvertently crossed almost a full mile into Liechtenstein.  The Swiss army later informed them of the border breach and offered their apologies.

    Liechtenstein has numerous festivals throughout the year.  Many are centered around music and film, which brings in artists from all over the world.  The most popular festival however, is held on National Day, each August 15th, when the Prince invites the citizens to join him for beer and appetizers at the Vaduz Castle where he resides.  The whole country parties late into the night when the magnificent fireworks display, set to music, can be seen throughout the entire Rhine Valley.  Another festival that occurs each year is the ceremonial cattle drive.  Typically held around the end of summer, cattle are driven down off the pastures from high in the Alps.  The cattle are elaborately decorated and judged as their cow bells ring out loudly on their pass through the villages.

    Another interesting tradition they have in Liechtenstein is called Funkensonntag, which literally translates to “Bonfire Sunday.”  It is celebrated on the Sunday after Ash Wednesday by lighting a large bonfire filled with fireworks.  Municipalities used to compete and steal each other’s Funkenhexe or “Bonfire witch”, to see who could build the highest bonfire.  Rival municipalities had to pay ransom (usually by payment of beer) to get their Bonfire witch returned.  Today each municipality has only one bonfire for the celebration.  The whole custom can be traced back generations as a way to drive away winter.

    The country has a 100 percent literacy rate and they speak an Alemannic dialect of German, which is the official language.  (They are listed among the top ten countries in the world for education.)  Liechtensteiners are descended from the Alemanni tribe that came to the region after 500 A.D.  It is the smallest German speaking country on earth and the only one that does not actually share a border with Germany.  The majority of the population is Roman Catholic, along with other Christian religions.  The largest, minority religion, is Muslim.

    As we look into this cuisine of this unique, tiny nation, it is mostly influenced by its neighbors: Switzerland, Austria and Central Europe.  They do have a few unique dishes that they call their own.  One of those is called Kasknofle, which is a noodle made of flour, water and eggs that is pushed through a perforated board.  The noodles are cooked and then baked with grated cheese and caramelized onions.  This doughy, pasta style cheese dish is served with applesauce.  A couple other famous Liechtensteiner dishes are Rebi, which is a dish similar to polenta and was an important part of the poorer peoples’ diet in years past, as well as Hafallaban, which is a soup with ham and dumplings.  Meat, vegetables and dairy are the most commonly used ingredients in the cuisine.  They typically eat three meals a day and their meals are often formal.

    So let’s enjoy a Liechtensteiner meal:

    The Menu

    Starter

    Spargel Appetithappen (Asparagus Appetizer)

    Liechtensteiner asparagus Appetizer

     Main Course

    Schnitzel (Breaded Pork Cutlet)

    Liechtensteiner schnitzel

    Served with

    Kasknofle (Spaetzel with Cheese and Caramelized Onions)

    Liechtensteiner Kasknofle

    and Apfelmus (Applesauce)

    Liechtensteiner Applesauce

    Dessert

    Pfannkuchen (Pancake with Compote and  Fresh Berries)

    Liechtensteiner tatsch

    We set our table in the color of the flag; red and blue.  We decorated with yellow lillies, their national flower and an artist’s palate and brushes, to represent the Prince’s art collection, which is the second largest in the world.  Art has been an integral part of the Royal family for centuries.  In fact, after World War II, when Liechtenstein was in dire financial straits, they sold the portrait, “Ginevra de’ Benci” by Leonardo da Vinci to the National Gallery of Art in the United States for a record breaking, five million dollars.  We also placed some grapes on the table in honor of  their many small vineyards that dot the countryside.  Even the Prince has a vineyard at Vaduz Castle.  The most popular grapes, grown on the south facing mountain slopes, are Pinot Noir and Muller-Thurgau.

    We began the meal with guten appetit (enjoy your meal) and a delicious little appetizer made with their favorite seasonal vegetable, asparagus.   A little cream cheese, flavored with lemon, dill and capers, was spread on a piece of rye bread.  It was topped with a perfectly, al-dente piece of asparagus tip, wrapped in smoked salmon.  An elegant and delicious way to start our meal.

    The next three dishes were served together, which we ate continental style, as is their custom. Schnitzel was the main course, which originated from Austria.  This time it was made with thin slices of pork cutlet, breaded and fried and then served with a wedge of lemon, that simply makes schnitzel delicious!

    Along side the schnitzel, the famous Liechtenstiener dish of Kasknofle was served.  It is very similar to a mac and cheese and the topping, made with sweet, caramelized onions, made this dish one to remember.  Of course it was served with homemade applesauce, as that is tradtional.

    We ended the meal with Pfannkuchen, a pancake similar to a crepe, layered with compote (a syrupy mixture of fruit) and topped with fresh blueberries and strawberries.   A superb dessert that would make a delicious breakfast dish as well.  A toast with a fruit schnaps ended the feast, as it is recommended as a digestive aid to follow a hearty meal.

    Afterwards we kicked around a soccer ball in honor of their favorite national sport and now I must write a hand written thank you note to the Prince.  I want to let him know how much we enjoyed learning about his country and how we especially enjoyed the meal.  (It is customary to write a thank you note after enjoying a home cooked meal in Liechtenstein.)  Who knows maybe someday we can enjoy a beer at Vaduz Castle!  Have you ever enjoyed a drink with Royalty?

    Until next time,

    Warmest regards,

    Darlene

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    More Featured

    • Symbols of Turkmenistan including wheat, a rose, cotton and a tea pot.
      Our Journey to Turkmenistan
    • Symbols of Turkey, the flag, cotton, tulips, whirling dervish, evil eye, and Turkish coffee cups.
      Our Journey to Türkiye
    • Symbols of Tunisa, the flag, citrus, dates, jasmine, camels
      Our Journey to Tunisia
    • Items representing Trinidad and Tobago, their flag, ships, shells, a little drummer.
      Our Journey to Trinidad and Tobago
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Filed Under: Featured

    Welcome to Internationalcuisine.com! thank you for stopping by!

    I'm thrilled to share my passion for food, travel, and cultural exploration with you. My name is Darlene Longacre and I am a culinary enthusiast turned global nomad.

    Imagine a journey where your taste buds can travel the world, experiencing new flavors and aromas of every country on earth.

    More about me →


    My Mission

    At Internationalcuisine.com, my mission is to bring the world to your kitchen and inspire a global culinary adventure. I believe that food is a powerful bridge that connects people, cultures, and traditions. My mission is to celebrate this unity and diversity by sharing authentic recipes, engaging stories, and immersive travel experiences.

    Come join the journey, explore new countries and embark on a fantastic culinary adventure.

    Join the Journey It's Free!

    Sign up for my culinary, travel and cultural adventure delivered right to your inbox so you won't miss a thing.

    Categories

    Genesis Theme Framework for WordPress

    Archives

    • November 2024
    • April 2024
    • August 2023
    • June 2023
    • May 2023
    • October 2022
    • May 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • September 2021
    • May 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • March 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    Genesis Theme Framework for WordPress

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org

    Featured Posts

    A colorful bowl of Turkmenistan Fried Eggplant Salad

    Turkmenistan Fried Eggplant Salad Recipe

    Slices of Ichlekli- a thin meat pie.

    Ichlekli Recipe - The National Dish of Turkmenistan

    a plateful of Chak-chak fried dough pieces smothered in a honey syrup

    Chak-Chak Honey Cake Recipe

    Get to know Darlene at International Cuisine

    Darlene holding a dish made with Mama Naz and her daughter in law, in Arusha, Tanzania

    Welcome to International Cuisine

    Hello my name is Darlene and thank you for stopping by!

    I am cooking a meal from every country in the world. I do extensive research and choose a menu that I feel best represents the country and their cuisine. Of course that also includes the authentic, delicious recipes. Simply click on the link or the photo in the journey by country posts to get them. I also share important information about the country as well.

    I love to cook, photograph, and especially travel. I hope you enjoy this culinary and cultural adventure around the world. Be sure to join the journey so you don't miss a thing. It's free!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2024 International Cuisine All rights Reserved