Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
in Riesling wine (
coq au Riesling
is the same dish done with rooster). At lunch, or for a
lighterdinner,trya
tarteàl'oignon
(likeanonionquiche,butbetter)or
tarteflambée
(like
a thin-crust pizza with onion and bacon bits). If you're picnicking, buy some stinky Mun-
stercheese.Dessertspecialtiesare
tartealsacienne
(fruittart)and
Kuglehopfglacé
(alight
cake mixed with raisins, almonds, dried fruit, and cherry liqueur).
Remember, restaurants serve only during lunch (11:30-14:00) and dinner (18:00 or
19:00-21:00, later in bigger cities), but some cafés serve food throughout the day. Many
Alsatian restaurants open at 18:00, reflecting the region's Germanic heritage.
Alsatian Wines
Thanks to Alsace's Franco-Germanic culture, its wines are a kind of hybrid. The bottle
shape, grapes, and much of the wine terminology are inherited from its German past,
though wines made today are distinctly French in style (and generally drier than their Ger-
man sisters). Alsatian wines are named for their grapes—unlike in Burgundy or Provence,
where wines are commonly named after villages, or in Bordeaux, where wines are often
named after châteaux. White wines rule in Alsace. You'll also come across a local version
ofChampagne,calledCrémantd'Alsace,andseveralvarietiesof
eaux-de-vie
(strongfruit-
flavored brandy). For a helpful rundown of the regional wines, see “Route du Vin Wines”
