At the beginning of the new year, we had the pleasure of interviewing Mrs Qianhong, the founder of the first Hunan cuisine restaurant in Switzerland. We also enjoyed a delicious dinner at her second restaurant, "Jiaxiang". Specialities such as roasted beef with crushed green chillies and aubergines with century eggs show the unique charm of Hunan cuisine.
As a native of Hunan, it wasn't easy for me to get used to life in Geneva at first, especially when it came to the food. I missed the familiar flavours of my home country. As my children got older and I had more time, I decided to open a restaurant to both satisfy my longing for home and to introduce the distinctive flavours of Hunan cuisine to my new home in Geneva. "Xiangyu" is the first Hunan restaurant in Switzerland. From the very beginning, it was important to me to preserve the authentic flavours of Hunan cuisine rather than adapting them to local preferences. At first, the locals found the flavours fascinating, and over time they learned to love them. Hunan cuisine (湘菜) is one of the eight great cuisines of China, and I am honoured to introduce its rich flavours to Switzerland. I am proud of my hometown and its culinary heritage.
As the first Hunan restaurant in Switzerland, "Xiangyu" has always remained true to its authentic flavours. I also attach great importance to using high-quality ingredients. For example, I only use fresh meat from Switzerland and avoid low-quality imported frozen meat. Take our speciality dish, roast beef, for example. We use fresh entrecôte beef from Switzerland instead of frozen or lower-quality meat. High-quality beef doesn't need a meat tenderiser or excessive seasoning; its natural flavour comes through and ensures better taste and quality. Although this approach increases costs and reduces profits, I believe it is a more responsible choice for the health of our customers. I am convinced that guests can recognise the quality of the ingredients. Sourcing locally is also more environmentally friendly and supports Swiss farmers - a small way of giving something back to my adopted country. In addition, "Xiangyu" benefits from an excellent location near the railway station with ample parking. The restaurant's large, bright windows create a spacious and inviting atmosphere that also attracts passers-by. In short, the combination of "timing, location and people" has contributed to the success of "Xiangyu".
As "Xiangyu" is running smoothly, I hope that "Jiaxiang" will quickly gain a foothold and thrive alongside "Xiangyu". In the coming year, I will continue to focus on creating a place where people can enjoy delicious food and make valuable contacts. I wish everyone a wonderful year - take care of yourselves and your loved ones, live life to the full and savour every moment!
