One of SIS Zürich-Wollishofen’s most appetizing and popular dish is our school veggie burger.

The burger contains tomatoes, lettuce, vegetarian meat and a hamburger bun cut in half. Every single time that we get this treat as a lunch, everybody goes crazy. It is one of the best meals. The taste of the vegetarian meat is what makes this meal so astonishing.

It is incredibly special because we only get it once a month and it is delicious. The bun is the softest part, so it is easy for the kids to bite into the glory. One time we had it, everybody ate it all and there was nothing left in the “rest bin”, and everybody wanted more. The burger itself is about 15 cm in diameter. 

The lunch ladies normally give us some delicious French fries to enjoy as well. Normally, they give us some ketchup or mayonnaise for the kids that like it with their burger.

Growing up in Finland, surrounded by great forests, it’s a natural thing for the young and old to go berry and mushroom picking in the summer and autumn months. Dressed in rubber boots, with a scarf to protect the hair and a basket in hand, they head out into the forest to forage nature’s superfoods. When I was little, I used to go mushroom picking with my family, a tradition I now try to pass on to my own children.

There is almost something meditative about walking in the forest, eyes glued to the ground, looking, searching. Oh, the loud cheers when you finally find those wild blueberries, lingonberries, or the golden chanterelles! 

Mushrooms are also not only a joy to pick, they are also super tasty and healthy, as they contain important vitamins, protein and fiber. Having a pack of dried mushrooms in your cupboard is a lifesaver when you need to whip up a quick lunch or dinner. Here is a super easy recipe and most of the ingredients you probably already have in your cupboard.

Es gibt für mich nichts Besseres, als ein leckeres Sesambrötchen mit einem gutgewürzten Stück Fleisch, knackigem Salat und einer passenden Sauce dazu. Eine Scheibe (vielleicht sogar zwei) geschmolzener Käse ist dann noch das bekannte «Tüpfchen auf dem i». Der erste Biss: Die Sauce läuft über die Finger, die Geschmacksknospen explodieren! Man befindet sich im Cheeseburger-Himmel. Der zweite Biss: Oh, da hat sich noch eine rohe Zwiebel versteckt, es schmeckt nochmal ganz anders als beim ersten Biss – eine neue Kombination verschiedener Zutaten.

Und plötzlich ist der schöne Moment vorbei, der Teller leer, die Finger klebrig. Aber der nächste schöne Moment ist im Anmarsch: Das Gefühl, satt zu sein und die Dankbarkeit, dass es ab und zu so leckeres Essen für meine Geschmacksknospen gibt.