The tradition expat store - FENWICKS

Expat food in the supermarkets - Globus (downstairs), Migros (Cheddar cheese at the deli) and a wider range of international food on there online store LeShop

For Canapes, sandwiches have Sutter Begg do the hard work and deliver

How about a Thai banquet? contact, Party Service-Basel

Delicious cupcakes for big kids?  contact LilliMoo

Feeling tired of eating out in Basel??  Maybe you have become anemic due to cost of a steak in Basel town???

Don't fret!!  Here's three easy steps to adress the issue.

1) Head to the Badisher Banhof with your passport
2) Get on a train to Lorrach, at the station walk along the main road to Bahnhofstr 1b
3) Buy a huge steak and chips for a cool 20 euros

Tel.: 07621 - 16 41 68

Amazonica marketed as a South American restaurant and bar, has a huge variety on the menu...tuck into soup, salad, for main course, python, crocadile, kangaroo etc...

My hot tips:  The Brasilian farmer steak or the Grill plate including Kangaroo, horse, crocadile amd ostrich.

Go tropical over the border :-)

Come with me, if you will, over the border to the beautiful French town of St Louis.  As the crow flies, it's not so far from Basel, but it might as well be a world away for most of my Swiss resident friends.  Many people come here for their weekly food shop, but if all you see is the big hypermarket, you might miss out on some of its charms.  If you're in town on a Saturday morning, the farmers' market in the centre is really excellent for picking up good local seasonal food.  Walk around, enjoy the fresh bread, just-picked lettuce or local honey, depending on what's growing.  It's more open air than in Basel, and prices a lot lower.

A short way from the market is Brasserie de la Poste,  the closest thing you can get to a parisian street cafe with red and white tablecloths to Basel.  What's great is that food here is good and cheap.  Not especially fancy - but what's wrong with coq au vin or steak frites for 10 euros?  In comparison with Basel the wine seems almost cheap, at 3 euros a glass. A big glass. Great space to people watch if you get a pavement seat.

15, Rue de Huningue, St Louis Tel: +33 (0)3 89 67 49 34

Slightly down the road, near the Mairie and on the way to the Casino supermarket is the ultra modern (and therefore easy to spot) Cafe Litteraire, which favours itself as a more upmarket option. I found the food much more elaborate than at the Poste. But the prices are not upmarket - I paid 13 euros for a 3 course meal - including a fig clafoutis which was really original.  The staff were extremely nice to my young child, the chef even took my baby into the kitchen to show her to the sous-chefs - and I could see there were 5 chefs in the kitchen.

19 Avenue Gén de Gaulle, 68300 St Louis, Téléphone: 03 89 67 49 46

The area near the station is not the nicest part of St Louis I always think, and yet here is the best chocolaterie.  Bauer patisserie, works with Valrhona chocs. Chocolate ganache with green tea, violet, grapefruit.

74 Rue de Mulhouse, 68300 Saint Louis, France, 03 89 67 29 94

The 604 bus will take you for 2 francs or €1.10 from Schifflände to all along St Louis.  Get off at carrefour central for the market, Brasserie de la Poste and Café Litteraire gare central for the Chocolaterie. 

If we're talking really get out of Basel, one of the most striking places to eat is the SCHLOSS or castle in Binningen.  We often talk about unique places to eat, but this is an actual castle, and like all self respecting demeurs, it has its own moat and park.  Very convenient even for 20th century transport as Binningen tram stop nearby.  The Schloss is extremely well kept up - which makes it feel a little bit Disney-esque in the best sense of that description.  The inside is all imbeccable high vaulted ceilings, and you always have a view of the moat. 

Schlossgasse 2 & 5, Binningen, +41 061 425 60 00, info@schlossbinningen.ch

Lunch is the lightest deal on the wallet - at 60 francs for 2 courses. I had cannelloni with morille mushrooms and a pea froth.  This was 34 francs, and one dish of the day is always available at this price. But I shouldnt even be giving cheapsteak tips for this place.  This is a castle and as my fellow reviewer quipped, you can literally push the boat out, because of the moat. A 3 course meal in evening is 120 francs.  You can check out their menu on the website, and if you can resist "Rhubarb glazed duck breast with Ginger Polent" "Veal with Asparagus and Morille Flan" "Rhubarb crème brulée with lime sorbet," then I dont know what more I can say.

Dont say: I know this cheap little place on the edge of town...

Do say: I like all of your puddings, bring me several.