Berner Platte facts for kids
The Berner Platte (which means "Bernese plate" in English) is a very old and famous meat dish from the Bernese region of Switzerland. It's a big, hearty meal that brings together many different kinds of meat and side dishes.
Imagine a large plate piled high with smoked pork, beef, bacon, and various sausages. You'll also find potatoes, green beans, and sauerkraut, which is cabbage flavored with juniper berries. All these delicious parts are cooked separately and then served together on one big plate. It's not a stew where everything is mixed; instead, each item keeps its own flavor and texture. Sometimes, you might even see Berner Platte served at a buffet!
The Story Behind Berner Platte
This special dish has an interesting history that goes back to March 5, 1798. On that day, soldiers from Bern had a big battle against the French army at a place called Battle of Neuenegg. The Bernese soldiers won the fight and came back home as heroes!
Everyone wanted to celebrate their victory right away, but there wasn't much time to prepare a fancy meal. So, the people of the community brought out the best food they had. Since it was still late winter, they mostly had foods that could be stored for a long time, like smoked meats and preserved vegetables. They put all these different ingredients together, and that's how the Berner Platte was created! It became a symbol of their victory and a way to use the food they had on hand.
