What culinary specialities are on offer in Colmar?

Is your stomach rumbling as you make your way to the pretty town of Colmar? No worries! As well as being known as a place rich in history and cultural heritage, Colmar is also renowned for its cuisine and emblematic dishes that are famous throughout France, and much more besides. Find out in this article how Alsatian gastronomy is making France shine even brighter.

It’s not just the wine that has pride of place in this region: the tender meat, organically-farmed vegetables and various herbs added to the dishes make them simply unique, and of course tasty. We hope you enjoy reading this article… and that you’ll devour paragraph after paragraph!

What to eat in Colmar

1. Sauerkraut

Let’s start with a classic: Alsatian sauerkraut. With melting cabbage, potatoes, sausage and bacon, this dish makes an excellent meal during a blistering, freezing winter. The whole family will be delighted to enjoy it. The smell of cooked meat mixed with vegetables and cabbage fermented in brine is simply to die for! To this day, sauerkraut is THE signature dish of Alsace. All simmered in a delicious white wine, the secret of which is Colmar.

2. Baeckeoffe

Here’s another traditional dish from the Alsace region that has quickly emerged in Colmar, because it’s so delicious! Extremely simple to cook, baeckeoffe is a tender blend of lamb, pork and beef, with a variety of organically-grown vegetables. It’s a hot dish that’s best eaten with dinner, after cooking for a good three hours in a lined terrine. Its cooking gives it a particularly mild flavour that is easy to digest. It’s the dish we’re all waiting to try if we ever plan to visit Colmar!

3. Coq au Riesling

We’re continuing with the meat dishes, but this time it’s chicken’s turn to take pride of place. If you like white meat, you’re in for a treat! Coq au Riesling is cooked with mushrooms, potatoes, shallots, a little butter (to add even more sweetness), a brandy much used in Colmar called ‘Marc d’Alsace’, flour and crème fraîche. Colmarians tend to simmer the rooster for almost 24 hours (yes, you have to) in white wine to bring out the flavour of the meat. In Alsace, we like to cook with Riesling!

4. Munster cheese

Let’s move on to dairy products. Munster is a delicious, creamy soft cheese made from raw or pasteurised cow’s milk from Alsace. Although it has a strong smell, which can sometimes put some people off, the fact remains that it is a tasty and really good food to eat on a slice of fresh bread. Its smell, round shape and slightly orange rind set it apart from other cheeses, and it is regularly sold in town at the small local market. It is known for revealing an effective bouquet of terroir on the palate.

5. Riewele soup

Photo-Google-Creative Commons

Riewele soup is Alsace on your plate. Contrary to what you might think at first glance from the consistency of the dish, it’s a rich meal that fills you up quickly. Prepared with small seeded pasta, the broth is cooked with an egg and spices. The texture is fairly thick, and the smell is mouth-watering. It’s a meal that can be eaten in the evening or at lunchtime, and is very easy to prepare. However, many Colmarians like to eat it in small quantities as a starter with a few slices of bread or a small salad.

6. Tarte Flambée with smoked bacon

Yummy! Originating in Alsace, the tarte flambée is very popular in Colmar, and it’s easy to see why! A thin crust, with a few pieces of smoked bacon and fromage blanc, and a sprinkling of herbs and onions. A real delight. The fact that no yeast is added to the dough means that it doesn’t puff up (like a slice of pizza), making it immediately crunchier and easier to absorb. There are many varieties of Alsatian tarte flambée, including tarte flambée forestière and tarte flambée gratinée. Try them all!

7. Kougelhopf

A little room for sugar, dear friend! Kougelhopf (even if it’s hard to pronounce) is one of the most popular desserts in Colmar, as well as tarts. This large brioche, with its unique shape and dusted with icing sugar, is baked with almonds and sultanas. It’s an excellent way to start the day at breakfast, accompanied by a cup of tea or coffee. Often described as “the cake with the hat on”, it is rich, hearty and often served at special occasions.

8. Hospices de Colmar

This is a typical Colmar white wine made from organic vines. It has a rather special characteristic, as it contains many fruity aromas, such as orange blossom. It makes an excellent aperitif and can also be enjoyed with dessert. It’s clear that this wine will be one of your favourites if you ever decide to visit the various cellars and exceptional wines in Colmar. There’s no doubt that the sweet nectar that flows down your throat will make your taste buds tingle and won’t leave you indifferent.

9. Alsatian apple tart

In Colmar, take the time to enjoy an apple tart with a good shortcrust pastry, apples picked at just the right moment, and a cream made from eggs and sugar. An easy recipe, it’s the kind of dessert our grandmothers used to bake for us when we went to visit them on Sunday afternoons. Aaahhh, so many childhood memories in one bite. The Alsatian apple tart that is so popular in Colmar is on every restaurant menu in the town. Enjoy!

10. Pinot Noir

Let’s finish our ranking with a little sweet touch: Pinot Noir. Originally from Burgundy, this mysterious and exquisite wine is also produced in Colmar. This grape variety produces fruity or light wines, perfect as an aperitif with a slice of Munster cheese. With a wide range of aromas, it’s an invigorating dish, and one of the most widely planted varieties in the world. So, are you ready to take a sip?