š§ Cheese heaven found in Strasbourg
There goes the diet, again! My new favorite restaurant in France can be smelled from afar. Which is a good thing -- in my travelicious world.
Did I need to eat dinner on a recent stop-over in Strasbourg, France?
Mais non. Not at all. Iād just left Paris after another great lunch at my favorite bistro, but thatās another story.
Who can resist cheese? We are talking good, French cheese. Oui, le fromage. Even uber-skinny Emily in Paris occasionally digs her sparkling white teeth into crispy baguette with yummy goey Camenbert on her cheesy (pun intended) Netflix show that I happen to ADORE.
Had āLa Clocheā been just another tempting restaurant in the heart of Strasbourg, France, I mightāve been able to simply add it to my travelicious googlemap list. For another time. When I actually needed to eat.
But weāre talking about an eatery dedicated to cheese: with hundreds of cheeses, stacked high. Beautifully presented under a giant dome, thus the name āLa Clocheā . Highly instagramable, too. But wait for it. Thereās more than just the sexiest and largest cheese board Iāve ever spotted. And I do a lot of cheese-spotting. Happy to pass on dessert, but never saying No to a good cheese course.
The irresistible smell/stink and views of cheeses melting ultimately pulled me inside: Raclettes and Fondues were calling my name ā loud and clearly. Genius move by the the MaĆÆtre de Fromage (yes, I made that up), to have his prep station in the giant front window, facing the street.
Making a long, blissfully delicious story short: After trying hard to get this heavenly place out of my mind by doing the tourist thing (sightseeing-train, sunset cruise), I obviously returned. This being a Friday night, and kinda chilly outside, now the place was packed. But Iād also just walked miles and miles to justify coming back here. Thus, I begged, in my most charming French, to be seated at that very last table. Didnāt care that it was tiny and in the corner, because I got to enjoy, at least by association, the full spiel. My table neighbors, two college kids clearly on a romantic date, didnāt think it was weird at all, that I kept staring at their raclette and fondue spread. One of those wouldāve been easily enough for two. Sadly way too much for solo me. But I got to watch them cheesing away and soak up the delicious smells of their bubbling ComtĆ© & Co.
Of course I didnāt just indulge with my eyes, but ordered the home-made Foie Gras with one of my all time favorite cheeses: TĆ©te de Moine. āThatās a Swiss cheeseā, Ted āeducatesā me. Tedās my husband of 15 years and fellow cheese lover. Heās a great copy editor, but donāt ever challenge him at Trivia. Created by French monks tho, he adds, trying to make me feel better. Maybe I knew that? Whatever, itās a must-try cheese. And now I know (thanks again Ted) that my favorite new French restaurant doesnāt discriminate when it comes to great cheese. BTW: Theaās favoriteās still Parmigiano reggiano DOP, if aged at least 24 months. Cheese love, itās a family thing.
Back to my ālightā dish at La Cloche, supposedly a starter, to be followed by more (not for me that night tho): it was a perfect match indeed ā with warm brioche on the side. Anyone else getting hungry and craving cheese? With freshly baked European bread and artisanal salted French butter. That stuffās worth every calorie. TRAVELICIOUS!!!
Oh the stories my hips can tellā¦ Makes a pretty good hashtag, too. Right?
BTW, I donāt actually recall Emily eating cheese in Paris, but this galās thinking about going back to dig in some cheeses in Strasbourg. Thinking? JK. Iāve already booked a table for March. And this time, Iāll have the raclette and fondue, too.
Thankfully, I wonāt be alone, but with a food-loving bunch of friends. Did I mention thereās unlimited bread and charcuterie with the raclette?
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