Menu Lorrain

So, as I was saying, we spent a night in the little town of Charmes, in Lorraine, north-eastern France. Wikipedia says "It was extensively destroyed both in the First and Second World Wars. A pleasant stop for mobile home owners and canal boats", which is odd, but true enough. Lorraine lies between France and Germany, and the town is dotted with war memorials - as well as other decorations, like this mosaic from the wall of the school.

More pictures of Charmes.

We stayed at the Hotel Restaurant le Carpinien, and were very comfortable there. Our room was simple but well arranged: the space was well used, as if someone had actually thought about what you might want to do there.

We ate in the restaurant, and both chose the cheapest of the set menus, because that was what we fancied, the 'Menu Lorrain' - but first, an aperitif: the 'apéritif maison' was a kir-type mixture of white wine and mirabelle liqueur. Mirabelles, little yellow plums, are a big thing in Lorraine, and when I commented to our hostess how much I like them, she told us that in that case we were just a little too early: the mirabelle season starts on August 15th. I'm sure there must be a use for that piece of information somewhere.

First course was a salade vosgienne, a green salad enlivened with bacon, boiled eggs and sour cream.

Main course: pork chops with mushrooms, chips and a salad garnish.

Cheese course: a small slice of fresh, creamy cheese, served on a small plate with a little heap chopped herbs - so you could combine the two in your preferred proportions - and a taste of sweet sauce (mirabelle, probably).

And finally the dessert, a mirabelle sorbet, pleasant and refreshing but a touch bland. We both declined the offer of whipped cream with it, and I for one was glad that I had - but I would have welcomed a shot of the mirabelle liqueur in its place. Never mind, plenty of time for alcoholic ices later in the holiday...

We drank a white wine from Alsace (the neighbouring region), a pinot gris, rich and fruity. And we began to feel that despite the day's hectic driving, we really were on holiday.