{"id":7552,"date":"2012-05-20T20:10:25","date_gmt":"2012-05-21T03:10:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/?p=7552"},"modified":"2020-05-01T19:45:34","modified_gmt":"2020-05-02T02:45:34","slug":"venez-avec-moi-en-alsace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace","title":{"rendered":"venez avec moi en Alsace"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/stork-2\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7555\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7555\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/stork1-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0<span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>\u00a0venez avec moi en Alsace<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>An Overview<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">A family member, I deeply love, is loosing her sight. She has never been to France. She never will go. On a recent trip to the Alsace (<em>alzas<\/em>) region in the northeastern area of France, I called her. She asked me what Alsace was like.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/balcony\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7556\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7556\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/balcony-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"Hotel balcony in Alsace region France by Chef Morgan\" width=\"650\" height=\"562\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">I stood on my hotel balcony and I gazed upon vineyards blanketing the entire Alsace region, the green horizon only broken up by small villages and castles. I struggled with words to place her there with me because descriptions can be flawed. Nevertheless, I tried to convey the warmth of this place and its people, the comfort of its food, and the beauty of the region. I told that:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #888888;\">The Alsatian people are warm and as welcoming as an embrace between reunited loved ones.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/alsace-people\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7605\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7605\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/alsace-people-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"380\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #888888;\">The country breeze is peaceful and dreamy and it makes you whisper.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/grapes-2\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7558\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7558\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/grapes-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"grape leaves by Chef Morgan\" width=\"410\" height=\"357\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Grape leaves wave majestically in the breeze as if they were swaying to your favorite classical melody.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/chaut-setting\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7559\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7559\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/chaut-setting-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"plate with spoons\" width=\"410\" height=\"357\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #888888;\">The food is generous with family-style plates of comforting meats, yet refined at the same time with the warm flavors of bacon, rendered goose fat, tangy cheese and sauerkraut, and notes of <span class=\"famos-shop click famos-annotation refid-11U0D\" title=\"famos juniper berries\">juniper berries<\/span>, <span class=\"famos-shop click famos-annotation refid-11U0E\" title=\"famos fennel seeds\">fennel seeds<\/span>, and cumin.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/bread-2\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7560\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7560\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/bread-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"various breads from france\" width=\"410\" height=\"357\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #888888;\">The smell of cinnamon, allspice, and ginger spills into the streets from the <em>boulangeries<\/em> and fill you with the anticipation only a child knows waiting for Santa.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/newchrist\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7617\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7617\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/newchrist-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"basket of bread\" width=\"410\" height=\"357\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Biscuits and breads are generously baked with French butter, nuts and dried fruits. It is Christmas everyday.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/green-glass2\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7561\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7561\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/green-glass2-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"empty wine glass\" width=\"358\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Friends bond over <a title=\"champagne ap\u00e9ritif with rose syrup and lychee pur\u00e9e\" href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/champagne-aperitif-with-rose-syrup-and-lychee-puree\">ap\u00e9ritifs<\/a> of the region\u2019s delicate and fruity wines served in an elegant, petit green-stemmed glass and served with <span class=\"famos-shop click famos-annotation refid-11U0G\" title=\"famos goose liver p\u00e2t\u00e9\">goose liver p\u00e2t\u00e9<\/span> de<span class=\"famos-shop click famos-annotation refid-11S2C\" title=\"famos foie gras\"> foie gras<\/span> that has been embellished with a hint of ginger.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/aperitif\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7618\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7618\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/aperitif-350x262.jpg\" alt=\" goose liver p\u00e2t\u00e9 de foie gras \" width=\"410\" height=\"357\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Where one vineyard ends, the next begins. Together they weave a green quilt with varying patterns and shades of green. Each square unique and adding to the richness of the region as a whole.<\/span><span style=\"color: #888888;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/wine-route2\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7562\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7562\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/wine-route2-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"Vineyard road in alsace france\" width=\"410\" height=\"357\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Driving on the wine route is like watching\u00a0the end of the <em><span class=\"famos-shop click famos-annotation refid-11U0I\" title=\"famos film\u00a0Cinema Paradiso\">film\u00a0Cinema Paradiso<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u00a0(where scenes of couples in various films are spliced together to form one continuous and passionate embrace) because leaving one winery, and approaching the next, fills you with a continuous reoccurrance of \u00a0joy and anticipation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/castles\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7606\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7606\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/castles-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"vineyard in alsace france\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">I realized then that the words were spilling quicker and quicker from my mouth and my voice was filled with excitement and she was appreciative but I was even more so, because it feels good to share a special discovery with others.<\/span><span style=\"color: #888888;\">It is now with the same spirit that I share my culinary visit to Alsace with you. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><em>Venez avec moi en Alsace<\/em><\/span> for a little taste of this special corner of the France.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #333333;\">LM<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/stork-full-view\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7611\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7611\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/stork-full-view-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"rooftops in alsace france\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><!--more--><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/archet\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7563\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7563\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/archet-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"churches in France\" width=\"550\" height=\"462\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Where Is Alsace &amp; How To Get There\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Alsace lies in the northeastern region of France. On the east border is Germany and Switzerland. Even if you did not know the geography, the food, wine, and culture is a give away to Alsace\u2019s neighbors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/people\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7637\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7637\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/people-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"425\" height=\"500\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">The Alsace region is divided into two departments: <em>bas-rhin<\/em> (in the north) and <em>haut-rhin<\/em> (in the south).<em>\u00a0 Colmar, <\/em>the capital of Alsace, lies in h<em>aut-Rhin, <\/em>south <em>of\u00a0 <\/em>Strasbourg, the largest city in Alsace.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\"> \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/railroad\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7613\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7613\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/railroad-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Railroad tracks in France\" width=\"403\" height=\"470\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Alsace is easy to get to from Paris. You can take a plane, train, or car. Strasbourg has an international airport and there is the smaller EuroAirport <em>Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg<\/em> which lies just south of <em>Mulhouse<\/em> with daily arrivals and departures by twenty different airlines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/colmar-trainstation\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7564\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7564\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/colmar-trainstation-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"train station in France\" width=\"550\" height=\"462\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">I find the train to be the easiest and nicest way to travel to Alsace. You can take a train directly from<em> Charles de Gaulle<\/em> airport or <em>Paris Est<\/em> (in the <em>10th arrondissement<\/em>). From CDG, it takes one hour and a half to get to<em> Colmar (<\/em>through <em>Strasbourg) <\/em>and you will travel \u00a0through the <em>Champagne <\/em>and <em>Lorraine <\/em>regions (think of <em>Champagne, quiche Lorraine, <\/em>and <em>Baccarat <\/em>crystal). From Paris you can take the train from <em>Gare-Est <\/em>to Strasbourg and other Alsatian cities. There are frequent trains throughout the day, seven days a week. It takes a little less than three hours from <em>Paris<\/em> to <em>Colmar <\/em>(through either <em>Mulhouse Ville <\/em>or<em> Strasbourg<\/em>). The<em> Colmar <\/em>train station is beautiful and the clock tower, built in 1907, is really something to see, especially at night.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/german-influance\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7565\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7565\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/german-influance-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"street signs in France\" width=\"550\" height=\"462\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u00a0<strong>History Of Alsace<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">The region of Alsace has been taken over and reclaimed by the Germans and the French throughout history. Most recently, France once again reclaimed the region from Germany after World War II. It is said that the Alsatians speak neither French nor German, but \u201cAlsatian,\u201d a mixture of both.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/stork-feed2\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7566\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7566\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/stork-feed2-350x262.jpg\" alt=\" The stork or cigogne\" width=\"550\" height=\"462\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u00a0\u00a0<strong>The Stork\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #888888;\">The stork (<em>cigogne)<\/em> has long been the the symbol for Alsace. You can find them, often feeding their young in a large nest on the top of steeples or rooftops. Storks signify the return of spring (due to their migration from Africa after the winter). They also symbolize happiness and faithfulness (allegedly storks are monogamous but this has been debated). Legend says that if a child wanted a brother or sister they would leave a cube of sugar on the window sill for the stork who would leave a \u201cbundle of joy\u201d in exchange for the sweet treat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/cool-castle\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7567\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7567\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/cool-castle-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"Hilltop in Alsace France\" width=\"550\" height=\"462\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u00a0<strong>The Architecture Of Alsace<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Alsace is full of half-timbered houses, similar to those in Normandy (or Germany for that matter), brightly colored and tall. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/archhouses\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7568\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7568\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/archhouses-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Houses in Alsace France\" width=\"425\" height=\"500\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Adding to the richness of this region in history and sight are the numerous castles spread throughout. Alsace boasts to have the most medieval castles spread throughout the region. Some are in ruins, others are well-preserved. Some of the castles have tours, exhibitions, and shows. For example, <em>Ch\u00e2teau Orschwiller<\/em> in <em>Haut-K\u0153nigsbourg<\/em> (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.haut-koeningsbourg.fr\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\">www.haut-koeningsbourg.fr<\/span><\/a>), Ch\u00e2teau de Saint Ulrich, Ch\u00e2teaude Girsberg, and Ch\u00e2teau de Haut Ribeaupierre.(<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ribeauville-riquewihr.com\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\">www.ribeauville-riquewihr.com<\/span><\/a>). The <em>Hohlandsbourg Castle <\/em>(built in 1279) is open from Easter through mid-November, has tours, historical festivals, an adventure trail for children gardens and you can sample locals dishes. (<a class=\"famos-link click famos-annotation refid-11U0J\" style=\"border-bottom: 1px dotted #4F739E; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;\" title=\"famos www.chateau-hohlandsbourg.com\" href=\"http:\/\/accounts.famos.com\/accounts\/services\/click\/default\/11U0J\/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chateau-hohlandsbourg.com%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.chateau-hohlandsbourg.com<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/brasseries\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7569\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7569\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/brasseries-350x228.jpg\" alt=\"Winstubs are Brasseries Alsace Frace\" width=\"550\" height=\"428\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u00a0<strong>Winstubs And Brasseries<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Both <em>Winstubs<\/em> are <em>Brasseries<\/em> are casual eateries (like taverns, really) that serve beer or wine with German-inspired culinary traditions of <em>baeckeoffe, choucroute, <\/em>and<em> sauerkraut<\/em>, to same a few favorites. <em>Brasseries <\/em>(found throughout France) began in Alsace and serve beer. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/winstub\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7570\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7570\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/winstub-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"winstubs are Brasseries Alsace France\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><em>Winstubs <\/em>were created in Strasbourg to promote wine. Alsace is the main beer-producing region in France (it produces German-inspired lagers as opposed to ales).<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/auberge\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7571\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7571\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/auberge-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"Auberges du rempart france\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Auberges &amp; Fermes-Auberges<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">These are small inns throughout Alsace. They provide country food, regional specialities, and local produce and many provide lodging to travelers. For more information, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bienvenue-a-la-ferme.com\">www.bienvenue-a-la-ferme.com.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/bret-clsoe\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7572\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7572\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/bret-clsoe-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"bretzel au munster, pretzel in france\" width=\"550\" height=\"462\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Culinary Flavors and Traditions of Alsace<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">There is nothing dainty about the food from Alsace. The portions are abundant. The flavors are warm and often tangy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/pork-product\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7578\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7578\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/pork-product-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"chourchoute\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">When you think of food from Alsace, charcuterie first comes to mind. It was the Benedictine monks whom initially encouraged the breeding of pigs. This practice continued so Alsatian food often includes pork of all cuts, shapes, and flavors, including <em>Bratwurst, Leberwurst<\/em> (pork liver sausage ), and <em>saucisse de Strausbourg<\/em> (smoked pork and beef)<em>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/chature-7\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7580\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7580\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/chature6-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"Bratwurst, Leberwurst (pork liver sausage ), and saucisse de Strausbourg (smoked pork and beef).\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Regional specialities include: <em>choucroute garnie<\/em> (pork sausages with sauerkraut);<em> baeckeoffe (<\/em>a meat stew braised with vegetables and potatoes in white wine); tarte flamb\u00e9e (<em>flammekueche<\/em>), similar to a very thin crusted pizza made with onions, lardons, and cream and munster cheese; and c<em>arpe frite<\/em> (fried carp) a speciality in the south of Alsace.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/en-croute2\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7583\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7583\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/en-croute2-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"meat dishes prepared en cro\u00fbte\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Many meat dishes are prepared <em>en cro\u00fbte<\/em>, meaning the food item is encased in a pastry shell.<em> En cro\u00fbte<\/em> items include <em>p\u00e2t\u00e9 de foie gras d&#8217;oie en cro\u00fbte\u00a0<\/em>and <em>Tourte Alsacienne<\/em> which resemble pies or tarts and are filled with various sausage or meats (ground, pounded, pur\u00e9ed, or made into farcemeat).<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/foie-gras-3\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7614\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7614\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/foie-gras-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"Foie gras store front\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><em>Foie gras<\/em> is also a regional speciality and enjoyed often either lightly saut\u00e9ed or as a p\u00e2t\u00e9.\u00a0 Sometimes spiced with nutmeg or <em>quatre d\u2019\u00e9pices,<\/em> it is absolutely delicious.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\"> If you have not had<em> Spaetzele (or Sp\u00e4tzle),<\/em> egg noodles that have been shaped like large rice grains by pressing through a slotted spoon, try it here saut\u00e9ed in butter and fresh chives.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Chicken cooked in Riesling (c<em>oq au Riesling<\/em>) is delicious as are egg dishes and sausages flavored\u00a0with fennel and cumin. Soups include sauerkraut, or cabbage with Bratwurst.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/cab-close\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7586\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7586\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/cab-close-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"cabbage \" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">With respect to vegetables, you will find the cold-weather vegetables &#8211; root vegetables, cabbages, Kohrabi, and onions &#8211; in abundance and used in a variety of ways beyond fermentation, including braised, in slaws or cooked in cream. Potatoes and morels are also used in abundance. Fruits, such as cherries, mirabelles, raspberries are used in desserts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/rasp-close\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7587\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7587\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/rasp-close-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"raspberries \" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Alsatians use their wines to cook with or embellish gourmet specialities such as mustards, salts, and vinegars. Wine or <em>eaux-de-vie<\/em> is used to rehydrate dried fruits to add to sauces or desserts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/fennel-seeds\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7588\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7588\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/fennel-seeds-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"fennel seeds\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Spices such as fennel seeds, cumin seeds, juniper berries as well as<em> quatre \u00e9pices<\/em> or the <em>melange of pain d\u2019\u00e9pice<\/em> to embellish their cooking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/munster1\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7589\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7589\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/munster1-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Munster cheese\" width=\"425\" height=\"500\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><em>Munster<\/em> is the cheese of the region. It is an unpasteurized, soft cow\u2019s milk cheese (very unlike the sliced American munster cheese you find in the deli aisle of the grocery store). Munster is created in the Munster village in the <em>Vosges <\/em>mountains. The cows spend the months from May to September in the mountains and in the winter in the valley on farms. The cheese is cured on wooden planks. It tastes best in spring and at the end of the fall after the cows have grazed on herbs and flowers. Munster <em>G\u00e9rom\u00e9<\/em> is the sister cheese of Munster but larger in size and comes from the Lorraine side. Cumin or cumin seeds are often added to <em>Munster <\/em>cheese. \u00a0Munster cheese is AOC protected.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><em>Bargkass <\/em>(or <em>Barikaas<\/em>)\u00a0 is a raw cow\u2019s milk cheese with a wash-rind from the Vosgues where the cows graze on herbs, flowers and blueberries<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/new-kug\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7621\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7621\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/new-kug-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"Alsatian pastries\" width=\"550\" height=\"462\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Alsatian Pastries &amp; Christmas All Year Long<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Alsatian pastries include more dairy than the baked goods that you find in Paris or in the south of France, for example, (imagine the flavor and richness of brioche). The bread is chewy and substantial. The baguettes are well-fermented with large air holes but not as light as the baguettes in Paris.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/newcross\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7620\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7620\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/newcross-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"Alsatian pastries\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Alsace is one year-long Christmas party because many regional specialities are items we would only enjoy during the holidays. There are four you must try in Alsace or your journey would simply not be complete.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/newmold-6\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7634\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7634\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/newmold5-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"kugelhopf\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">First,<em> kugelhopf,<\/em> baked in the traditional<em> Kugelhopf <\/em>mold. The bread is primarily eaten for breakfast, although it would not be unheard of to have a little slice in the afternoon<em>. <\/em>It is very similar to Italian panettone made with milk, butter, sugar, and dried fruit (I primarily saw it made with currants or raisins). Almonds are added to the base of the mold so the bread is decorated with almonds on top.\u00a0 There are variations on the theme: a savory <em>kugelhopf<\/em> with ham and walnuts, others have chorizo. There is an annual<em> Kugelhopf<\/em> festival in <em>Ribeauville <\/em>every June.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Second,<em> pain d\u2019\u00e9pice (<\/em>\u201cspice bread\u201d) is a loaf cake sometimes topped with candied fruit and\/or nuts and often served with tea or coffee. Traditional <em>pain d\u2019\u00e9pice <\/em>is made with wheat and rye flours and honey both of which are used to to create a <em>p\u00e2te-m\u00e8re<\/em>, a paste of honey and flour that is fermented over a series of days.<em> Melange pain d\u2019\u00e9pice<\/em> is a pre-measured mixture of <em>pain d\u2019\u00e9pice <\/em>spices which the use of extends beyond bread. The spice is used in many baked goods but also in many savory dishes. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/newcookies\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7622\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7622\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/newcookies-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"Bredle or small sugar cookies\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Third, <em>Bredle<\/em> are small sugar cookies made with small, special cookie cutters in the shapes of stars, moons, Christmas trees or hearts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/berweeka\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7592\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7592\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/berweeka-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"Berawecka fruit cake\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Fourth, anything with fruit in it. Dried fruit in desserts is often decisive, but this dried fruit is moist and tasty. <em>Berawecka <\/em>is a fruit cake in a loaf form made of soft, candied fruit. It is sweet and substantial and best consumed with tea. \u201c<em>Croissant Alsatian<\/em>\u201d are croissants filled with dried fruit and coated with egg whites.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/sav-bretzels\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7593\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7593\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/sav-bretzels-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"bretzels\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Lastly, <em>bretzels<\/em> are a must to try. <em>Bretzels<\/em> are soft pretzels. There are many sweet and savory variations including, chocolate chip, bretzels with sprinkles, cinnamon sugar, or brioche sugar, bretzels filled with cheese, with herbs, with bacon, sausage, or chorizo.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/where-i-stayed\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7594\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7594\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/where-i-stayed-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"Alsace  vineyard\" width=\"550\" height=\"462\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>The Wines of Alsace\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">The wines of Alsace are distinctive, varied, and predominately white. They are named for their grape variety rather then their terrior. For example, \u201cBurgundy\u201d wines are produced in the<em> Bourgogne<\/em> region of France.\u00a0 <em>\u201cC\u00f4tes de Rh\u00f4ne AOC\u201d<\/em> are wines from the valley of the Rhone river (which runs through the southeastern region of France ) and \u201c<em>C\u00f4tes de Rh\u00f4ne-Villages AOC<\/em>\u201d refers to wine from specific villages in the Rhone valley (all of which must adhere to strict requirements for wine production).\u00a0 In contrast, in Alsace, the wine is not \u201c<em>Val de Ville\u201d<\/em> or <em>\u201cRibeauville,<\/em>\u201d but comprised of seven varieties. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/vineyards2\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7595\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7595\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/vineyards2-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"vineyard in alsace france\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">Alsace wines are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><strong>Sylvaner<\/strong> (a white wine grape which can be acidic and is known for taking on the flavor of the terroir); \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><strong>Riesling <\/strong>(a white wine grape, aromatic and flowery, described as sophisticated with a subtle bouquet);<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><strong>Pinot Blanc<\/strong> (a white wine grape described as full-bodied, well-balanced, smoky, and slightly spicy);<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><strong>Pinot Gris <\/strong>(a white wine grape with grayish-blue skin &#8211; in Italy this grape is called <em>Pinot Grigio <\/em>&#8211; <em>Pinot Gris<\/em> has more time to stay on the vine in the autumn and therefore more full-bodied. <em>Tokay Pinto Gris <\/em>is the name formerly used);<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><strong>Muscat <\/strong>(a muscat grape ranges in color from white, pink to even deep purple, and the grapes are aromatic and sweet);\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><strong>Gerw\u00fcrztraminer<\/strong> (a white wine grape with pink-red skin, which is known to be sweet, floral with hints of apple); and<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><strong>Eldelwicker <\/strong>(a blend of grapes).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/vineyards-2\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7599\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7599\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/vineyards1-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"vineyard in alsace france\" width=\"550\" height=\"462\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">The wines from Alsace are generally thought of as delicate and fruity but some are much drier than you would expect for a region known to produce the apple-toned Gew\u00fcrztraminer. The wine must be bottled in the region where it is produced. The bottles are the tall, slender green ones (known as <em>fl\u00fbtes or Wine of the Rhine<\/em>) like those used in Germany.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/flutes\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7640\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-7640\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/flutes-241x300.jpg\" alt=\" fl\u00fbtes or Wine of the Rhine\" width=\"241\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/flutes-241x300.jpg 241w, https:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/flutes-402x500.jpg 402w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 241px) 100vw, 241px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">All Alsace wines are given <em>AOC <\/em>status (<em>appellation d\u2019origine contr\u00f4l\u00e9e<\/em>) and there are three categories: \u201c<em>AOC Alsace,\u201d \u201cAlsace Grand Cru,\u201d<\/em> and \u201c<em>AOC Alsace Cremant d\u2019Alsace<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 One third of all of the AOC designated white wines consumed in France are from Alsace. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/caviste-sign\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7597\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7597\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/caviste-sign-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"wine barrel caviste \" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">There are fifty-one<em> Grand-Cru<\/em> vineyards. <em>Grand-Cru<\/em>\u00a0can be designated &#8220;<em>Vendanges Tardives&#8221;<\/em> (old vines which are harvested late and can only be from <em>Riesling<\/em>, <em>Muscat, Pinot Gris <\/em>and <em>Gerw\u00fcrztraminer <\/em>grapes) and &#8220;<em>Selection de Grains Nobles<\/em>&#8221; (for rare, usually late harvested wines). These wines generally need to age a little longer. The yield from<em> Grand Cru <\/em>vineyards designed is lower than the other vineyards.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/glass-of-wine\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7596\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7596\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/glass-of-wine-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"white wine glass\" width=\"425\" height=\"500\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Pairing Alsatian Wines With Food<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #888888;\">With respect to pairing Alsatian wines with food, the following is recommended:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><strong>Ap\u00e9ritifs<\/strong>:<em> Cr\u00e9mant, Gew\u00fcrztraminer <\/em>or<em> Muscat\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><strong>Special Occasions or Toasts<\/strong>: <em>Vendanges Tardives <\/em>or<em> S\u00e9lections de Grains Nobles<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><strong>Entr\u00e9es (first-courses), Charcuteries, Eggs, Salads:<\/strong> <em>Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, <\/em>or <em>Gew\u00fcrztraminer<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><strong>Plats (main courses) of Fish:<\/strong> <em>Gew\u00fcrztraminer, Pinot Blanc, <\/em>or <em>Riesling<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><strong>Plats (main courses) of Red Meat or Game:<\/strong>\u00a0<em> Pinot Gris <\/em>or <em>Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><strong>Plats (main courses) of White Meats: <\/strong><em>Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, <\/em>or <em>Riesling<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><strong>Cheese:<\/strong> <em>Riesling, Pinto Blanc, Gew\u00fcrztraminer, <\/em>or <em>Pinot Gris<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><strong>Desserts<\/strong>: <em>Gew\u00fcrztraminer, Cr\u00e9mant, Vendanges Tardives, <\/em>or <em>S\u00e9lections de Grains Nobles<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/newcrem\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7623\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7623\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/newcrem-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"wine cork and bottle\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Cremants &amp; Eaux-de-Vie<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><em>Cremant<\/em> is sparkling wine. It is not bottled in <em>fl\u00fbtes.<\/em> The wines are usually enjoyed young (one to five years after harvest). <em>Cremant <\/em>should be served chilled between (8 and 10 celsius). <em>Eaux-de-vie<\/em>, water of life, are liqueurs distilled from fruit&#8230;typically rapsberries, mirabelles, cherries. Kirsche is made in the <em>Vosges <\/em>valley.<em> Lapoutroie<\/em> has a <em>mus\u00e9e des eaux-de-vie. Eaux-de-vie\u00a0<\/em>are used frequently in cooking, particularly desserts to flavor custards, cakes (even wedding cakes), fruit, and chocolate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/wine-route-3\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7603\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7603\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/wine-route3-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"vineyard in alsace france kaefferkopf\" width=\"550\" height=\"462\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>The <em>Route des Vins d&#8217;Alsace<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>(the wine route)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">The wine route, east of the<em> Vogues<\/em> and about 106 miles long, is a well-marked road that takes you from <em>Marlenheim<\/em> (furthest north) to <em>Thann<\/em> (furthest south) through over one hundred villages. The wine route lies just west of the A35 (which runs north-south and takes you to <em>Strasbourg<\/em> through <em>Colmar<\/em> and down to <em>Mulhouse<\/em>). There are five different \u201ctours\u201d on the wine. Each one is a manageable day trip.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/newwine-2\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7625\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7625\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/newwine1-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"vineyard france\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">When picking which tour to begin with, my suggestion is to decide which of the following factors are the most important to you: (1)\u00a0<em>proximity<\/em> to where you are staying; (2) the <em>grape varieties<\/em> (some routes have a higher concentration of<em> grand cru <\/em>vineyards than others); (3) particular <em>wine growers <\/em>you are interested in; (4)\u00a0<em>historical sites <\/em>(i.e., castles, churches); or (5) villages with more tourist things to do (i.e., <em>Colmar, Turckheim, Ribeauville, Kayserberg,<\/em> or <em>Eguisheim<\/em>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">In addition to the tours, there are forty-seven vineyard trails (or paths). The trails give you an insight into the vineyard and the winegrowers more than if you merely stopped for a taste at the cellar or winstub. The trails are usually closed during harvesting time (September to late October).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">If you want more Alsace wine education you can contact <em>CIVA\u00a0 (Conseil Interprofessional des Vins d\u2019Alsace<\/em>) which has a Alsace Wine School in Colmar at (33) 03 89 20 16 20 or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.AlsaceWine.com\"><span style=\"color: #888888;\">www.AlsaceWine.com<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/venez-avec-moi-en-alsace\/village\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7604\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-7604\" title=\"www.chefmorgan.com\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/village-350x262.jpg\" alt=\"Alsace  City view\" width=\"480\" height=\"410\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0\u00a0venez avec moi en Alsace An Overview A family member, I deeply love, is loosing her sight. She has never been to France. She never will go. On a recent trip to the Alsace (alzas) region in the northeastern area of France, I called her. She asked me what Alsace was like. I stood on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,886],"tags":[547,1008,261,995,999,993,998,1002,1006,1007,996,1001,989,416,1000,1003,994,1005,549,1004,1441,991,992,990,997],"class_list":["post-7552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-france","category-my-inspirations","tag-alsace","tag-alsace-wines","tag-aoc","tag-architecture","tag-auberges","tag-bas-rhin","tag-brasseries","tag-bratwurst","tag-bredle","tag-bretzels","tag-castles","tag-charcuterie","tag-colmar","tag-en-croute","tag-fermes-auberges","tag-foie-gras","tag-haut-rhin","tag-kugelhopf","tag-munster","tag-pastries","tag-simple-pleasures","tag-stork","tag-vineyards","tag-wine-route","tag-winstubs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7552"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15187,"href":"https:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7552\/revisions\/15187"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chefmorgan.com\/engine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}