A fun fact that you may not know about my wife is that she was employed for many years in the restaurant and foodservice industry. One of her favourite well-known chains to work for was Swiss Chalet, and to this day, whenever she feels nostalgic we visit one in order to satisfy our cravings for superbly roasted chicken along with the legendary (and super secret) Chalet Sauce.

Photo Credit: Jake Sheridan

If you haven’t heard of Swiss Chalet, don’t fret…it might be because they are only found in Canada. This casual dining restaurant chain was first founded in 1954 in Toronto, Ontario, and as of 2015, there were over 200 Swiss Chalet restaurants across Canada. In an interesting twist, Swiss Chalet is among the holdings of Recipe Unlimited which also owns the fast food chain Harvey’s. The chain also offers their “secret” signature Swiss Chalet Sauce of gravy and marinades (as powdered mixes) in Canadian supermarkets so you can enjoy their great taste at home.

Photo Credit: Jake Sheridan

If you’re looking for a great tasting entree that is both paleo friendly as well as nutritious, simply order the “Lighter Take Quarter Chicken”. Costing only $12.79 CAD (plus tax), it’s not only affordable, but clocks in at a meager 280 calories, with 6 grams of fat, and a whopping 48 grams of protein…it easily fits with a keto/paleo diet whilst being easy on the wallet and good for the waistline.

Photo Credit: Jake Sheridan

One thing you have to know about Swiss Chalet is that they haven’t really changed the standard method in which they cook their chickens since they started the franchise. To the best of my knowledge, they simply cover a non-frozen (Canadian) chicken in butter and salt and slow cook it to perfection using a rotisserie for a period of 90 minutes. The result is a moist, tender and delicious tasting meat that practically melts in your mouth. Note: All chickens raised in Canada have been raised without added hormones and are free-run.

Photo Credit: Jake Sheridan

Typically cooking food by moving it around the heat requires a great deal more effort and sophistication. Because of this, rotisserie cooked meat on a spit has the advantage of being generally juicier, because slow-roasting the meat rotationally cooks the meat evenly in its own juices and allows easy access for continuous self-basting. Generally speaking, when the chicken is being roasted the rate of rotation is adjusted throughout the process, which allows juices and drippings to stay on, thus maximizing flavor.

Photo Credit: Jake Sheridan

Photo Credit: Jake Sheridan

By staying true to their roots, and not changing a well-established method for cooking their chickens, Swiss Chalet has developed a strong following for those who appreciate the quality and flavour of their menu.

For those of you who do end up dining at Swiss Chalet (or ordering it online using Skip The Dishes)…I recommend you check your receipt to see if there are any free offers, like free appetizers if you complete a survey.

For more information on Swiss Chalet click here: https://www.swisschalet.com

To make an order online directly through Swish Chalet’s website, click here: https://order.swisschalet.com

To download the Swiss Chalet app click here (Apple iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/swiss-chalet/id587024822?mt=8 or here (Google Play): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cara.swisschalet