Alsace



The canal surrounding Strasbourg's old town

After yesterday's long travel day from Nice, we're now in Strasbourg and spent today wandering it's pleasant pedestrian streets. It suddenly feels like fall, and now that we're in an area where the weather is cooler, the interiors are cosier. We've visited some of our first winstubs (local restaurant/bars), sampling as much of the local fare as we can handle.

While the regional specialities are delicious, Alsacian food is not exactly light. We're trying to pace ourselves but being terribly unsuccessful.  A few of the flavours we've tried so far today have included savory onion tart, foie gras, smoked sausage, pretzels, and struesel. And a quince & plum tart. Plus some local sweets (fruit jellies and marzipan confections).  And of course, some of the local Alsacian wine (although apparently the beer here is good too: a Kronenberg brewery is just down the road).

The cuisine highlight, however, has been introducing Scott to tarte flambee - somewhat similar to pizza but so very, very different. I first tried a tarte flambee during my post-university travels, and have never forgotten - a paper thin crust topped with a light sour cream, chopped onions and ham or bacon. But it manages to defy reproduction based solely on my unadequate description, so I've never really had it properly since. After sampling a few, Scott is in on the game, and we're ready to give it a go when we get home.



Not the most attractive example, but a photo of tarte flambee:
this one with the addition of local Munster cheese

We're back at the hotel and Scott's swearing behind me as he wrestles down a giant map. Tomorrow, we're going to rent another car and tackle French roads once more, this time along the Alsacian wine route, filled with medieval towns and, word has it, vineyards.