Top 10 culinary specialities in Nancy

What can we say about Nancy’s specialities? Well, to tell you the truth, our little finger tells us that the city’s inhabitants prefer sweet to savoury, judging by our research. In fact, there are a whole host of little sweet shops all over the city offering endless local specialities: in the form of sweets, cakes, juicy fruit, shiny pastries, chocolates that are too good to be true…

Although Nancy is full of sweets and looks like what you might call a “sweet paradise for children”, you should know that there are also traditional savoury dishes, each just as succulent as the next? Are you keen to discover them? We can’t wait to introduce you to them! Let’s get to it without further ado.

What to eat in Nancy?

1. Quiche Lorraine

Although quiche lorraine doesn’t come directly from Nancy (according to our sources, it has Germanic origins, “kuchen” meaning cake in German), it has quickly become a must-try in the French city. What we like to call a “speciality of the East” is famous the world over for its sweet mixture of fresh cream, bacon and eggs. It’s a quick and easy dish that everyone loves. And with a crunchy salad to accompany it, it’s perfect!

2. La Bouchée à la Reine

Wondering why this unusual name? Well, during the reign of Louis XV, it was his wife, Queen Marie Lesczyns, who had the honour of tasting it first, hence the name “Bouchée à la Reine”. These are small pastries covered in a thin layer of puff pastry and filled with meat, snails, mushrooms or fish. Nowadays, you can add all sorts of fillings, depending on your preferences. Ideal for an aperitif, these little savoury treasures are revered in Nancy, in the image of the reign of the kings and queens of ancient times.

3. The Macaron de Nancy

Here’s a speciality that originated in Nancy: the macaroon. Not many people know the recipe for this famous confectionery. If you want to taste this refined and divine delicacy, you’ll have to go straight to the heart of the city to sample it in the “Maisons d’exception”, which specialise in macaroons. This little piece of pastry, whose origins date back to at least the 18th century, is THE must-try confectionery in Nancy. Legend has it that it was two sisters, later known as the “macaroon sisters”, who came up with the idea for the recipe, and thus ensured that it would endure over time.

4. Bergamot

As its bright yellow colour suggests, bergamot is made to bring sunshine into your life… and sweetness to your taste buds! Made from the fruit of the bergamot tree, it’s a delicate sweet that makes your lips quiver with delight. You’ll find them absolutely everywhere in Nancy, in every shop and sweet shop you come across. This translucent, golden sweet is a real star with Nancy locals, and it’s easy to see why!

5. Potée Lorraine

There’s nothing like a good old potée to cheer you up after a hard day’s sightseeing. A real hearty meal, “potée lorraine” is cooked with white cabbage, smoked bacon, sausage and potatoes. These are the main ingredients, after which the people of Nancy like to add other garnishes, which can vary from one kitchen to another. This broth cooked in a mixture of different meats and vegetables is a complete dish that everyone loves.

6. Les Chocolats de Nancy

Nancy is a city full of confectionery. But what would the word “confectionery” be without being accompanied by the word “chocolate”? Nancy’s chocolatiers are known throughout France, and far beyond, for their culinary prowess. Quite simply, all the chocolates you’ll have the chance to taste have been carefully crafted, and all have a unique flavour that doesn’t exist anywhere else. Particularly the “Chardon Lorrain”, a great classic. You’ll love spending a day strolling through the streets, while sampling some of the city’s finest treasures…

7. Le Pâté Lorrain

This delicatessen breaks the mould of the “usual sweet pastry”. Here, the “Pâté Lorrain” can be eaten warm, hot or cold – it’s up to you! Originally from the town of Baccarat, this dish is extremely popular with Nancy locals, who can’t get enough of its savoury taste: both soft from the pâté and crunchy from the thin layer of puff pastry. This pâté en croûte is described in the oldest French recipe book dating back to 1392, and this dish is a real nugget.

8. Mirabelle plum

No bigger than the palm of your hand and weighing just 14 grams, the “Mirabelle” is THE fruit you’ll find everywhere in Nancy and Lorraine. It’s one of the fruits with the highest energy content. In Nancy, mirabelle plums are regularly fed to elderly people suffering from illness, providing them with the vitamins and minerals they need. Sportsmen and women also like to eat mirabelles before competitions, as the fruit encourages them to excel and surpass themselves!

9. Nancy Wine

It’s easy to give this exceptional wine a 20 out of 20! Nancy’s “La Centrale des Vignerons” delights the palates of the city’s residents every year with its intoxicating nectars. There are hundreds of wines to choose from, each as unique as the next, as well as unique craft beers, the taste of which will remain engraved in your memory forever. Such is the power of Nancy.

10. Le Pain d’épices

If you’re travelling to Nancy in winter, you should know that the locals are particularly fond of eating delicious gingerbread in honour of Saint Nicholas. You’ll find them absolutely everywhere, especially at the Christmas markets, in all sorts of fun shapes and in the image of this much-loved festival. This sweet cake, which we like to serve with honey, is a veritable ode to sweet indulgence!