Luxembourg cuisine reflects Luxembourg's position between the Latin and Germanic worlds, drawing on the cuisines of neighbouring France, Belgium and Germany. More recently, it has been influenced by the country's many Italian and Portuguese immigrants. As in Germany, most traditional everyday Luxembourg dishes are of peasant origin, in marked contrast to the more sophisticated French fare.[1]
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Luxembourg has many delicacies. In addition to French pâtisseries, cakes and fruit pies, local pastries include the bretzel, a Lent speciality; quetscheflued, a damson plum tart; verwurelt gedanken, small sugar-coated doughnuts; and äppelklatzen, apples en croûte.[2] Luxembourg's cheese speciality is kachkeis or cancoillotte, a soft cheese spread.[3]
Fish from the local rivers such as trout, pike, and crayfish are the basis for dishes such as F'rell am Rèisleck (trout in Riesling sauce), Hiecht mat Kraïderzooss (pike in green sauce) and Kriibsen (crayfish), usually prepared in a Riesling sauce. Another favourite is Fritür or Friture de la Moselle, small fried fish from the River Moselle.[4]
Meat dishes include cold Éisleker Ham, literally Oesling ham, from the mountainous north of the country, first marinated for a couple of weeks and then smoked for several days. It is usually served thinly sliced with chipped potatoes and salad.[5] Perhaps the most traditional of all Luxembourg meat dishes is Judd mat Gaardebounen, smoked collar of pork with broad beans. The pork is soaked overnight, then boiled with vegetables and spices. Served served in copious slices together with the beans and boiled potatoes, it is considered to be the national dish of Luxembourg.[6] Hong am Rèisleck, similar to the French Coq au Riesling, consists of browned chicken pieces simmered in white wine with vegetables, spices and mushrooms.[7] Huesenziwwi or Civet de lièvre is a jugged hare dish served during the hunting season.[8]
Other dishes include liver dumplings (quenelles) with sauerkraut and boiled potatoes, träipen (black pudding) with apple sauce, sausages with mashed potatoes and horseradish, and green bean soup (bouneschlupp). French cuisine is featured prominently on many menus, as well as certain dishes from Germany and Belgium.
Other Luxembourg specialties include:
Wines, mostly dry white wines, and sparkling wines are produced in Luxembourg, along the north bank of the Moselle, which has a winemaking history dating back to the Romans. Wines include: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Auxerrois,Gewürztraminer, Rivaner, Elbling, Pinot Noir, and Crémant de Luxembourg.[12] The Marque Nationale, on the rear of every bottle of Luxembourg wine, confirms its origin and states its quality level.[13]
Beer, which is quite a popular drink in Luxembourg, is produced locally at three large breweries as well as in a couple of smaller establishments. Most of the beer brewed in Luxembourg is lager but there are also a number of special beers as well as beers without alcolol and Christmas beer in December.[14][15] The main brands are: Bofferding, who also produce Battin; Mousel and Diekirch, who share the same brewery in Diekirch; and Simon. There are two smaller breweries, Beierhaascht and Ourdaller.[16]
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