Lorraine specialities: the must-tries of Lorraine cuisine
Foodies, welcome to Lorraine! Are you one of those people who like to taste a destination as much as they like to visit it? If so, you're in for a treat with the local specialities! Mirabelles plums, macaroons, Nancy bergamots, pâté lorrain, not forgetting the famous quiche lorraine, here are our top 12 must-tries from a gastronomic region full of generosity.
Quiche Lorraine
Timeless, quiche lorraine is part of the daily menu of many families throughout France! During your stay in Lorraine, you'll have the chance to try the traditional recipe: shortcrust pastry, a migaine as they say in Lorraine (a quiche pastry) with eggs, cream and lardons, and that's it! Enjoy with a crisp green salad.
Lorraine pâté
Like quiche lorraine, pâté lorrain is best eaten hot (or warm) and accompanied by a good salad! Originating in Baccarat, this tasty delicatessen speciality is made from marinated meat wrapped in puff pastry. Gourmet delights guaranteed!
Mirabelle plums
Ah mirabelles! These little golden plums are the yellow gold of Lorraine, their favourite region. Their juicy, sweet pulp is a real treat for the taste buds. You can enjoy them raw, just picked from one of Lorraine's many orchards, or baked into the inevitable mirabelle plum tart. We look forward to hearing from you!
Macaroons
Did you know? Macaroons are from Lorraine! The best known are those from Nancy, made from a mixture of egg whites, sugar and almond powder. A cult recipe that gives rise to these delicious sweets, recognisable by their cracked shape. Traditionally sold by the dozen, Nancy macaroons are easy to pack in your suitcase!
Another must-try: Boulay macaroons are incomparably soft. They are still produced by the original company, founded in 1854 and located 30 minutes from Metz!
Madeleines
Another delicacy you'll find hard to resist with your tea or coffee is the madeleine. Whether they come from Commercy or Liverdun, madeleines are an equally generous way of showcasing Lorraine's gastronomy. We love it for its pretty domed shape and delicious buttery flavour. A gourmet monument to Lorraine's culinary expertise!
Bilberries ("brimbelles" in the Vosges)
The other emblematic fruit of Lorraine is the bilberry, or "brimbelle" as it is known in the Vosges. For an authentic tasting experience, the best thing to do is to pick them yourself on the mythical Route des Crêtes! You'll see that its fragrant taste is incomparable. Don't forget to try a blueberry (or brimbelle) tart in one of the many traditional restaurants in the region.
Verdun sugared almonds
A speciality of the Lorraine region since the 18th century (and even before), Verdun dragées are still the perfect accompaniment to the high points of our lives! It all began in 1220 when a local apothecary decided to coat almonds with a thin layer of sugar and honey to preserve them better. The famous dragée de Verdun was born! Still made the old-fashioned way, dragées now come in a multitude of flavours: almond, chocolate, nougatine, pistachio, fruit paste, etc.
The Meuse truffle
Truffles in Lorraine - you're not dreaming! This gastronomic black diamond flourishes particularly in the Meuse valley, where it ripens every autumn. Small and very black, the Meuse truffle is distinguished by its distinctive, very strong odour, which transforms on tasting into aromas of bitter almond or apricot kernel, or even liquorice. A real treat!
Nancy bergamots
A Lorraine speciality par excellence, the Nancy bergamot has been delighting young and old alike since the end of the 19th century! This small translucent yellow sweet can be recognised by its square shape and the tangy flavour of bergamot, the citrus fruit from which it takes its name.
It's the only confectionery product in France to have been awarded the IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) label. And the only one to have been immortalised in the film Amélie Poulain!
Gingerbread and chocolates for the festive season
You've got to admit, just the smell of gingerbread is enough to transport you into the Christmas spirit! And with good reason, this speciality from Lorraine is a staple of the end-of-year festivities in the Grand Est region. Sweets and chocolates are also part of the Saint-Nicolas ritual, as are the adorable gingerbreads in the shape of Saint-Nicolas or a "bourrique"!
Lorraine cheeses
Géromé (the little Vosges name for Munster), Gros Lorrain, Carré de l'Est, Tomme du Donon... Lorraine is a veritable cheese-making region, rich in pastures and know-how. The region is home to a large number of industrial cheese dairies, including some that produce... Brie! Taste Lorraine cheeses direct from the producers, or sublimate them in traditional dishes such as Munster pie or Vosges tartine!
Beers and wines from Lorraine
There's nothing like a good wine* to accompany a good cheese! Let yourself be surprised by the still and sparkling wines of Lorraine, a wonderful reflection of the land and its generous nature.
The vineyards of Lorraine produce 2 wonderful AOC wines, Côtes de Moselle and Côtes de Toul, as well asa charming PGI: Côtes de Meuse.
While you're here, you can also discover Lorraine's local craft beers!
*Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume in moderation.