Traditional Food and Drinks to Try in The Alsatian Region in France
With the region being constantly moved from France, to Germany, back to France, then to Germany, and finally back in France, the cuisine can sometimes feel like you’re in both countries at the same time. If you’ve ever been curious what would happen if you combined French food with German food, this is where you will find it!
#1 - Choucroute
THIS. IS. A. CALORIE. BOMB! This is sauerkraut and potatoes that is topped with 3-5 kinds of meat. The meat is usually pork-based, so it will contain sausages, ham, pork shoulder, and bacon. It comes in a cassoulet dish that can easily feed 2-4 people. Definetely sharable!
#2 - Baeckeoffe
Another calorie bomb that can feed multiple people. Baeckeoffe is slowly cooked meats, such as lamb, beef, and pork that is topped with vegetables and sliced potatoes. It will be cooked in its natural juices along with fresh herbs. Just like the previous dish, it is very meat-heavy, so not suitable for vegetarians.
#3 - Tarte Flambée
You may see people eating these at cafes and wondering why it looks like strange pizza. Well, it’s not pizza at all… it’s a tarte flambée. It’s a thin layer of crust that is traditionally smothered with creamy cheese, onions, bacon, and pepper. If that doesn’t sound good to you, you can usually find other versions of flambée to suit your taste.
#4 - Coq au Riesling
You can really taste the French side of cooking in this dish. Coq au Riesling just translates to chicken cooked in wine sauce. It is usually slowly cooked and smothered in a creamy Riesling wine sauce that is sometimes accompanied by vegetables like mushrooms and onions. You’ll know you have a good one if the chicken is nice and tender.
#5 - Spaetzle
Technically, you can find spaetzle in many parts of Europe. In the Alsace region, it tends to be softer than other types. You can also get it in other varieties, such as with cheese like the photo above. This is perfect for those like me who do not care for meat-heavy dishes.
#6 - Schweinhaxe
This is a giant pork knuckle. You’ll find it everywhere around the Alsace region. It is slowly cooked for hours, so you’ll know you’ve ordered a good one if it falls off the bone. If you’re having a hankering for meat, Alsace is your place!
#7 - Cottage Cheese
Another vegetarian-safe dish is fresh Alsatian cottage cheese. I know what you’re thinking. “Everybody has cottage cheese. Why would I get that?” Well, the cottage cheese here tastes different. It’s rather thin, like a dip. It almost has the consistency of tzatziki, but it’s cheesier. And, if you’re having a hard time finding vegetarian dishes, this one will usually be on the menu.
#8 - Kugelhopf
You will see kugelhopf at every bakery, café, restaurant, and gift shop around the Alsace region. It is more of a panettone consistency, but it tastes less sweet than traditional panettone. It contains almonds and dried fruit which gives it its sweeter taste. That being said, don’t expect it to be a sweet dessert. It’s quite mild in flavour.
#9 - Alsatian Wine
The Alsace region is full of beautiful vineyards and wineries. You can literally take wine tours across the region. And, you really can taste the difference. So while you’re in the area, you should definetely try some local wines during your trip. They tend to have white wines, so I was quite happy since I prefer white over red!
#10 - Picon
The last item on our list is beer. But not just any beer. This kind of beer has a caramel-orange type flavoured shot added to beer. It makes the beer taste sweeter and more unique than traditional beer. For somebody who doesn’t like beer, I actually found this to be quite good.
