Vogel Gryff in Basel

January 20, 2009. In the run-up to Fasnacht (carnival) in Basel, a tradition called Vogel Gryff puts the spotlight on the Right Bank part of the city called Kleinbasel. Things kick off around 11 a.m., when a raft on the Rhine brings a man disguised as a ‘wild man’  to the bridge known as the Mittlere Brücke. Here, he meets up with two men disguised as a lion and a griffin. At noon, the three dance on the bridge to the sound of drums, then go off with fellow guild members for a festive meal together. After lunch, they continue their dance in the streets of Kleinbasel. What about lunch for on-lookers?  Well, a traditional specialty called Suuri Läberli hits the spot - “sour liver”, or pork liver with onions and red wine vinegar, served with rösti. If you can’t find a local eatery serving this, then go to Café Spitz in the Hotel Merian (www.hotel-merian.ch); they’re not serving Suuri Läberli this year, but they are doing Schnitzel and Geschnetzeltes and going there is a tradition - they push all the tables together and serve hot lunches non-stop from 11:30 a.m. through the afternoon. More about the Vogel Gryff tradition at www.basel.ch and www.vogel-gryff.ch