As the Washington, DC community and region works to counter the spread of the coronavirus, the Embassy of Liechtenstein continues to operate. To ensure the safety of our staff and to help flatten the curve of infections in our local area, we have implemented measures to allow for remote working. Thanks to technology we are still able to communicate with our US constituents, as well as conduct outreach and engagement with our US governmental counterparts. We look forward to hearing from you and answering any questions you may have. To learn more about what measures Liechtenstein is taking to address the coronavirus pandemic, click here.
Though we have had to cancel cultural events throughout the US, as well as visits by official delegations from Liechtenstein to promote our bilateral relations and partnerships, we hope to continue to find opportunities to exchange ideas, best practices and grow friendships and collaborations. In doing so, we can work together to remain safe and healthy as we all focus to find solutions to overcome the coronavirus pandemic.
At this time we might not be able to meet with you in person or you may not be in a position to visit our country, but while you self-isolate we thought we could bring some of our culture and heritage into your home to bring a little pause and happiness to these hectic and anxious times.
It is of course essential that while self-isolating one gets exercise and to tries to get outdoors for some fresh air and sunshine, if your local authorities allow. To inspire you to get outdoors and perhaps go for a socially-distanced walk or hike, we encourage you to visit Liechtenstein Tourism's Instagram page showcasing landscapes and daily life around Liechtenstein.
While we spend more time at home it is a great opportunity to try new recipes! Before Liechtenstein became a highly industrialized country, it used to be a poor farming community. To stretch scarce food resources, many Liechtensteiners made Ribel, a simple cornmeal-based dish, similar to what is known as grits in the US, but made with a different technique resulting in a crumbly texture. Find a recipe here.
Or try Liechtenstein's national dish called "Käseknöpfle." It's a pasta-like dish in which a batter-like dough is "grated" through a pan with small holes into boiling water to create light, mini dumplings that are then added to cheese for some hearty, melted goodness. Think of it in a way as Alpine mac and cheese! Find a recipe here. Don't have a special "grater" pan? Use the large holes on a flat cheese grater or try a colander. And if you don't have access to the recommended Alpine cheeses, we'll give you a pass. Your favorite aged and full-flavored melting cheese should work. Here is a demonstration from a chef at the restaurant "Wirtschaft zum Löwen" in Liechtenstein. You can practice your German while getting a general idea of how the process works. Enjoy and guten Appetit!