Combine a river cruise in Alsace with the discovery of Alsace's culinary specialities!

Alsace, a French region in the east of the country, is renowned for its architecture, culture and traditions, but also for its delicious cuisine! At the heart of this region lies the Canal de la Marne au Rhin, so what would you say to combining a cruise on board a barge in Alsace with a culinary discovery?

To whet your appetite, we've put together a selection of traditional dishes for you to try and prepare yourself on your barge during your river cruise in Alsace!

Traditional Alsatian dishes not to be missed

Alsatian gastronomy is packed with traditional dishes that have captured the hearts of gourmets for generations. It's hard to talk about Alsace without mentioning the legendary choucroute, a dish made from fermented cabbage and flavoured with smoked meats. Nor can you miss the tarte flambée, or flammekueche, with its thin pastry filled with lardons, onions and crème fraîche, a real delicacy. Don't forget the baeckeoffe, a succulent stew made with marinated meats and vegetables, or the coq au Riesling, a delicate recipe made with Alsatian white wine.

Throughout your houseboat trip on the Canal de la Marne au Rhin, charming restaurants and inns will welcome you to discover these culinary traditions. Here are a few selected addresses where you can sample these specialities during your river cruise in Alsace:

• Baeckeoffe at the Au Baeckeoffe d'Alsace restaurant in Strasbourg (14 rue des moulins, 67000 STRASBOURG - 03 88 23 05 40)
• Flammenkueche at the Made In Franz restaurant in Plobsheim (3 rue de la ville 67115 Plobsheim - 03.88.25.51.59) or at the Brasserie du Tigre in Strasbourg (5 rue du Faubourg National 67000 Strasbourg - 03 90 23 21 58)
• Sauerkraut at Taverne Katz in Saverne (80 Grand'rue - 67700 Saverne - 03.88.71.16.56)

To accompany these culinary delights, let's not forget Alsatian beer, a drink that has been part of the local culture for centuries. Alsatian breweries offer a wide range of beers, from light blondes to full-bodied browns. Take advantage of your houseboat trip along the Marne au Rhin canal to sample these authentic beverages in a friendly atmosphere, but always in moderation! If you navigate as far as Hochfelden, you can visit France's oldest brewery site, the Brasserie Meteor.

Make your own Käsküeche on an Alsace cruise

What if, during your Alsace cruise, you could impress your family or friends by making one of Alsace's culinary specialities yourself? Are you up for it? We'll help you make a fromage blanc tart (in Alsatian, Käsküeche).

Ready to go? Here we go:

• STEP 1: Mix 250 g flour with 125 g butter, cut into cubes.
• STEP 2: Add 40 g of sugar, 1 vanilla sugar, 1 pinch of salt and, little by little, 5 cl of milk.
• STEP 3 : Roll the dough into a ball and leave to rest in the fridge for half an hour.
• STEP 4 : Flatten the pastry and line a lightly buttered 25 cm diameter cake tin. Prick the base with a fork.
• STEP 5 : Set aside in a cool place.
• STEP 6 : In a bowl, mix 500 g fromage frais (40% fat content), 1 dl crème fraîche, 3 egg yolks, 40 g cornflour, 135 g sugar and 1 vanilla sugar.
• STEP 7 : Whisk the egg whites until stiff and fold into the fromage blanc mixture using a spatula.
• STEP 8 : Pour the mixture over the pastry.
• STEP 9 : Bake in an oven preheated to 200°C for 40 min (or for a combined oven: 200°C / microwave = hold for 21 min).
• STEP 10 : Take the tin out and wait 5 min... before placing a wire rack over the tin and turning the whole thing over.
• STEP 11 : Remove the tin and leave the tart to cool upside down for 5 to 10 minutes (to keep the fromage blanc firm).
• STEP 12 : Finally, turn the tart over and present it on a serving dish.

Hop it's already finished, all you have to do is enjoy it on the terrace of your houseboat - how nice is that?

As you cruise along the Canal de la Marne au Rhin, you'll discover a fascinating world of gastronomy, a blend of age-old traditions and authentic flavours. Alsace, the birthplace of these culinary delights, offers you a unique experience that combines the pleasure of the taste buds with the wonder of the landscape. So hire a houseboat without a licence in Alsace and come on board with us for a gourmet cruise!