A complete hole inthe ground just a couple months back, the rebuild of Pernet must rank as one of the most rapidly-completed construction projects in recent memory.

Sure the upstairs apartments and offices aren't even close to being finished, but downstairs and in the basement a real treat for lovers of fine food and fine interiors awaits. Think Harrods Food Hall meets Julius Meinl in Vienna, with a whiff of alpine-style Globus Food thrown in for good measure. First impressions of the new 500 square meter shop are highly spatial, even a touch cold. But it warms on you within minutes, incorporating a nice fusion of old wood, new wood, grey tiling, and glass, punctuated by a few chalet-style animal horns. You'll be impressed with the high-tech feel of the place, from the flatscreen weighing machines with their soothing graphics, to the credit card terminals integrated into the counter. There's even a concertina-style sliding glass wall which we are guessing is extended to divide off the open-plan fruit section so they don't have to keep moving the merch in and out of cold storage.

We also particularly like the new 'Basta' tapas bar that connects Pernet to the Hotel Bernerhof -- with its cool lines tempered by organic surfaces, it promises to be a new Promenade hang-out for the glitterati. All-in-all it's more Heinz Julen than Menus Plaisirs, but it's about time someone on the Promenade had the boldness to step away from the constraints of Saanenland interior design, especially in a retail environment. Congratulations to Patric Lutz (right) and Michael Kneubuehler, and we'll see you there!