Vermicelleria in Zurich: Autumn highlight attracts many people

In Zurich, tons of people of every generation are currently visiting the Vermicelleria to enjoy the cult dish with meringues, ice cream, cream and cherries. And of course to snap a photo of the colorful ceramic bowl for Instagram. For the sixth time, Zurich’s Sous-Sol neighborhood on Bäckerstrasse will be transformed into a colorful vermicelle world for three weeks in November. Anyone who dives in here will notice: Equipe Vermicelles has turned the dusty dessert into a hip cult dish – complete with merch in the form of posters and T-shirts.

If you ask customers what makes the vermicelles so special here, they know that the chestnuts for the puree are harvested regionally and by hand: “I have often collected chestnuts and know how time-consuming it is. You have to open each one,” says Marco (31), who visits the Vermicelleria several times every year: “Last year I was here four times.”

Supermarket vermicelles can’t keep up with the taste here, is what we hear again and again from those queuing up to the counter. Customer Alessandra also appreciates the handwork: “I was often in Ticino when I was a child. Collecting chestnuts here is part of autumn.”

Nostalgia is not the only reason for the visit. “I come here every year and like that there is less sugar in the puree,” says Bettina (29). Co-founder Hanna Grüninger says: “We quickly agreed that we wanted to make a less sweet version and had our producers make the puree using only chestnuts, a little sugar and a little water.”

The eyes also eat in the vermicelleria. «I’m actually not much of a fan of vermicelles; I would never order it in a restaurant. “But I think it’s really cool here because the room and the decoration are so great,” says Arlene (32). “You’ve created something cool here.” I’m happy to support that by paying the higher price.”

«This is our first time here, I found out about it through Instagram. Various people around me posted pictures. We are also here more because of the location. “I’m not much of a vermicelles fan and that’s why I’m even more excited to see whether that will change and whether the hype is worth it,” says Nadine (34). “It looks so pretty, it’s almost art,” says Nadine’s companion Elena (29).

“I’m here because it’s very stylish.” “That’s why I especially eat vermicelles here,” says Bettina (29), who previously praised the low amount of added sugar. This is her third year here and each time she has bought a poster from the merch stand, which hangs in her shared apartment with her roommate Elina (28). Elina wishes there were hoodies to buy alongside the T-shirts.

In addition to the quality, the nostalgia factor and the lifestyle atmosphere, there is another success factor – the target group. Small children wait impatiently in line, a baby is breastfed while the older one feeds the nursing mother with energy-providing vermicelles. Everyone comes here.

«Last year I showed my mom the vermicelleria and she said she can only eat the vermicelles from here. “She also buys her own puree here,” says Marco. Elia (25) is here again with his team: “We are there with the office – an employee had the idea of ​​coming here because it is an institution.”

An institution that will hopefully be around for a long time: “The fact that chestnuts are becoming increasingly scarce makes me think. “It’s a real shame and you definitely have to do something to preserve such a cult dish,” says Celine (34). Lies here Articles on the challenges of harvesting.