And seeing you need a hearty meal if you’re going on a long trek with little feet we bring you Merry and Pippin’s FellowSwiss of the Ring.
Frodo’s friends, or more accurately the actors who played them, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan, are munching their way around le monde.
For their new Amazon Prime series Billy and Dom Eat the World and we join them in Verbier in Switzerland.
As they tear into the seven, count them, meals a hobbit eats.
Which is breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner, and supper.
Fondue memories
Our furry-footed fréres, well used to climbing the Misty Mountains, visit the snowy peaks of the 3,300m Mont Fort on their adventure.
But their alter egos coif champagne fondue at the Igloo, Europe’s highest fondue restaurant, rather than the hobbits’ favourite ale.
They also roll up their sleeves to bake bread at the Four Banal in Vollege.
While becoming part of the Brotherhood of Bread (see what the programme-makers are doing there).
With a time-honoured flour ceremony.
Something’s always brewing though when there are hobbits around.
And Merry and Pippin dig out and artisan brewery Amicale des Brasseurs de Vollèges.
All to wash down their flipping good crêpes at Verbier Milk Bar.
Cheese crackers
Now we all know the hobbits love their rustic food.
And there has been much debate among fans of Middle-Earth about their favourite cheese, with Red Leicester much favoured.
But we can just see the playful hobbits getting hours of fun out of Raclette AOP du Valais dripping down their chins.
Our dynamic duo spend time with big cheese Marc Dubosson crafting Bagnes cheese at Laterie de Verbier.
And they meet Roboclette, the first machine in the world capable of scraping melted cheese, part robot part raclette maestro.
The pair stay overnight at 100-year-old Cabane Mont Fort, perched high above Verbier at 2,457m.
All of which culinary exertions is a gear-change for our usually lazy hobbits.
Having a ball
And the programme makers get their value out of Merry and Pippin by asking them to try their hand at cooking Swiss Rosti and preparing croissants at 4am.
In a departure from the food theme, the pair also cosied up to skiers in gondolas and cable cars to reach the top of the mountain, climaxing with a snowball contest.
The 50-minute episode is one of an eight-part series featuring destinations such as Costa Rica, Japan, Manchester, California, and Texas.
A glowing Dominic waxed lyrical about his adventure: “Such a fantastic experience to be chilly outside and be able to eat melted cheese and drink hot chocolate.”
While buddy Billy added: “We wanted this show to be a way to get to see a country and its people through food. Switzerland did not disappoint, such a beautiful country, amazing food and wonderful people. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality”
The production was secured by our old pals Heaven Publicity, the promotional agency for Verbier Tourisme in the UK.
And produced by Dash Pictures, an Emmy award-nominated TV production agency with a global distribution network.
