Someone once said that Luxembourg cuisine is just French cooking with German sized portions. That is witty, but not quite true.

Luxembourg cooking has been influenced by the cuisine of nearby France and Germany for many years. More recently, it has been inspired by the cuisine of its many Italian and Portuguese immigrants. Luxembourgers usually adopt the best from each culture. When a typical Luxembourg family sits down to its daily meal, the fare normally consists of simple, hearty foods; but when celebrating a special occasion or when entertaining guests, they will serve the finest French cuisine accompanied by excellent local wines. Be careful! If you are invited to dinner at a Luxembourg home, wear clothing that is two sizes too large. You will be served so much excellent food and drink that you will soon begin to feel like a fat goose being force fed to make fois gras.

Typical Luxembourg specialties include:

Thuringer

These tasty little sausages that resemble a spicy version of German Bratwurst are sold by street vendors and at roadside stands. They are inexpensive and delicious.

Luxembourg ham

A smoke-cured uncooked ham resembling Italian Proscuitto crudo. It is sliced paper-thin and frequently served with fresh bread as an appetizer or first course at meals.

Gromper keeschelche

(potato pancakes) The Luxembourg variety are delicately spiced with chopped onion and parsley before deep-frying. Those available at roadside stands are unfortunately a poor substitute for the home cooked ones.

Kach Keis

(Luxembourg cooked cheese) A soft cheese spread that has the consistency of rubber cement and tastes like no other cheese. A close comparison might be melted French Camembert cheese.

Pate

Every charcoutereie in Luxembourg sells several different "homemade" varieties of this meat spread.

Quetsche tort

This plum tart, along with the peach, cherry and pear tarts are typical Luxembourg desserts and can be found in almost every Patisserie. (Along with a large selection of French pastries)

Treat yourself to a Luxembourg Feast: Stop in any boulangerie and buy a bagette of freshly baked bread. Then find a nearby charcouterie and purchase some Luxembourg ham, some pate and a small container of Luxembourg cheese. (You may have to find a grocer for the cheese) Sit in one of the parks and enjoy a delicious Luxembourg picnic. A bottle of the bone-dry Luxembourg white Reisling wine from the Mosel valley would go quite well with this. Afterward, stop in one of the many Patisseries and treat yourself to a quetsche tort or a French pastry.

For more information about the food of Luxembourg, visit this site: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/hotel_claravallis/reclux.htm


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