Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites - Chef & Hotel Profile

It is difficult to pull up the appropriate words that describe the whimsical charm of Strasbourg France, where walking the line

between Germany and France with ease is the expected art. It is a destination that

speaks so beautifully of the history of France & Germany, overflowing with Grimms like wooden structures, featuring tempting winstubs (original Alsace dining establishments located primarily in Strasbourg historical center) calling visitors to savor the traditional dishes of the area paired with one of many renowned beer or ale’s selections locals know and love. There are thirty-three Michelin starred restaurants in Alsace.

This totally charming city is considered the Paris of Munich by many, offering the best in French and German cuisine. Some favorite dishes included in area dining establishments include Choucroute tarte flambee (a Strasbourg dish shared as a family meal during the holidays), also Le Foie gras d’ Alsace, Lewerknepfle (old fashioned liver dumplings), Spätzle (Alsatian noodles with jugged hare, game meat or other meat simmered in a sauce), Balcksoffe (3 types of marinated meats slow baked with potatoes), delicious Kougelkopf (pastries), Bredle (little biscuits in a variety of shapes), as well as choices of deli meats prepared by artisan butchers. These items are considered ideal to enjoy with delicious Alsace wines and are served in charming venues like Winstub Meiselocker.

There is an ancient wine cellar located under the city hospital that

holds a cask of wine from 1472, believed to be the oldest white wine in the world. It contains beautifully carved casks from the 16^th, 18^th, and 19^th century. This historic wine site is highly recommended to tourists during their time in the city, along with Taaka Beer Spa, where the ingredients for making great beer provide a great soak, and patrons serve themselves sips of Taaka beer to enhance the enjoyment of their soak. As in most European cities Alsace also has a beautiful Municipal Bath for visitors to relax in warming waters.

The wine route through Alsace country is beautiful and features grand crus, some from small terroirs, and the entire area is blessed with a variety of outstanding white wine grapes. It is said the Vosges foothills on the Alsatian Wine route provide grapes that also produce some surprisingly fine red wines.

Art is a major attraction in Strasbourg, and The Cathedral Notre Dame de Strasbourg is their beating heart, located steps from Musee de L’Oeuvre Notre Dame, featuring a premiere collection of priceless

sculptures and paintings as well as the oldest stained glass in France the “Christ de Wassembourg.” The digital tour of Musee de L’Oeuvre Notre Dame has become very popular with visitors. The Palace Rohan, an 18^th century miniature Versailles designed by Robert de Cotte is filled with a treasure trove of historical art, including paintings by El Greco and Botticelli.

Petit France is the heart of this key European city demonstrating values of peace, democracy, and reconciliation between peoples. Strasbourg is renowned for their cosmopolitan aura of rich cultural institutions featuring a variety of creative choices which are suited to all tastes. The 5e Lieu Tour of Strasbourg offers visitors who love architecture a special opportunity to experience the history of Strasbourg city planning through a study in architecture.

Shopping matters, and visitors will enjoy the many areas of the city offering a variety of choices that include Grand Rue, Rue des

Grandes Arcades, Rue de Haute-Montie. Luxury items can be found at Rue de Hallebardes, Rue du Dome, and trendy shops and artisanal boutiques are on Rue de Juefs and Rue Sainte-Madeleine. Food service businesses are grouped on Rue des Oeuvres. There were Gift shops located everywhere throughout the Cathedral area when I was visiting, as well as lovely restaurants to enjoy French pastries and espresso. A great walking area, I don’t recall seeing any cars. Hotels, bed and breakfasts, and Inn’s are many in Strasbourg. My preference runs toward the centrally located Hotel Spa Regent Petit Strasbourg featuring a lovely Champagne Patio Bar overlooking the river Ill that serves food, and their fabulous Le Point Restaurant with a menu of fine French cuisine for dinner. Visit: www.hotelsparegentpetitstrasbourg.fr.

For a sweet beginning or sweet ending remember this city not only has a Chocolate Museum located on its outskirts, but also is home to the award-winning Weiss Chocolate Factory, makers of fine chocolate since 1882 in Saint-Etienne, Maison.

Train travel on Strasbourg TGV high speed rail. Train ride to Strasbourg is 1.46 hrs. from Paris, 4 hrs. from Munich, 3.5 from Lyon, 6 hrs. from Amsterdam and 7 hrs. from Berlin. Strasbourg Train Station offers luggage lockers at plat 1 gate 8 at top of escalator from 7 to 9 pm. They except cash only. Coins €2, €1, €0.50. 24hrs for small €5.50, med €7.50, large €9.50, for additional 24hours @ €5.00. Airport, Strasbourg-Entzheim International Airport has flights landing from 40 cities. www.strasbourg-aeroport.fr.

The tourism office of Strasbourg Offers a complete list of room/hotel accommodations, restaurants, attractions and more at www.visitstrasbourg.fr and I always recommend getting a city card to travel around the cities I visit. They offer best ways to organize seeing the city, maps, and discounts to save money and tips on how to save precious time, as well as passes for double decker busses. For information see www.visitstrasbourg.fr/en/organising-my-stay/strasbourg-city-card. Photos: VisitStrasbourg, B.Carroll.