What better way to discover the Vosges Mountains than through its food? Come and taste our traditional specialties made from a land of character !
Have you tried trout pâté?
The recipe for trout pâté was invented by 16th-century canonesses. At the time, the peasants in and around Remiremont would give offerings of trout to the abbesses in exchange for their good graces. And with a little creativity, they developed this refined dish.
This Remiremont speciality is an oval or rectangular pie filled with a bread stuffing of herbs, fish scraps, and trout fillets marinated in white wine.
Munster Valley meat pie
Traditionally served in a farmhouse inn as a part of a marcaire meal, the Munster Valley pie is also known as a Vosges, Alsatian, or Lorraine pie, each one with their own spin. This easy-to-make pie is sure to delight both your guests and your taste buds. The ingredients include puff pastry, pork, garlic, and shallots. Golden on top, pink on the inside, moist, and not too greasy, it's best served cold as a starter alongside a salad.
The "chaude meurotte", better known as the Vosges salad
A salad that's easy to prepare and perfect for the summer, or even in the winter with its warm vinaigrette dressing. A few crispy lardons, a poached egg, lettuce, some roasted potatoes, a spoonful of crème fraîche, and your Vosges salad is ready!
The traditional version uses dandelion greens. Simple and quick to prepare, it pairs perfectly with quiches and pies.
Bilberries
As soon as summer arrives, bilberries adorn the peaks of the Vosges Mountains. Set out on a hunt for these wild blueberries, known here as brimbelles. Do you know how to spot them? They grow on small shrubs low to the ground and thrive in the upper mountain pastures of the Higher Vosges. Bilberries come in different colours including black and purple. The berries don't all ripen at the same time, so be careful not to damage the branches when picking the fruit.
After your outing, it's time for a tasting. We can't get enough of bilberries, whether on their own or in recipes like pie, jam, syrup, or pastries including nonnettes or trésors des Ballons. Smile and show off those purple teeth 😊
The rules of harvesting can vary in the different valleys and towns. Some limit harvesting to 2 kg or 5 kg per day. Be sure to check the regulations before your outing.