Memorable Meals -- Luxembourg

I wish I could remember why I was travelling with my parents. I know it was autumn. I was living in Mannheim, but I don't remember if they were living in Heidelberg, Bonn, Berlin, or Brussels at that point.

What I do know is that World War I battlefields were involved and that Mom wanted to see the Maginot line, but we couldn't find the right place to go. (She did manage to see it on a later trip.)

They'd stayed at the hotel before, but it was my first time. I'm pretty sure this is it. Dinner was included. So many firsts, this was my first time at a Relais & Chateau hotel, too. They may or may not be what Americans call upscale in their bedrooms, but the food is always sublime.

I had never tasted truffles before. That night they had a special and there was truffle in the sauce. I've learned that truffles come in tiny pieces most of the time. In this case there were a couple of little chunks and one great huge slice of truffle. The sauce was based around hollandaise, and, honestly, from everything I'd read, I never expected truffle to go with fish. It did.

That first taste is etched into memory. It seems truffles have a chemical link to boar pheromones. It's why pigs love them. It also reinforces their reputation as an aphrodisiac.

The meal was memorable for many reasons, not just my first hit of truffle. There was a new type of fish knife that I'd never seen before. Wider than the usual kind, it was intended to let the diner guide the sauce onto the fish more easily.

And I was also introduced to mirabelle plums. I adore the golden plums I get in England. I'm not as fond of damsons, but I'll eat them. Still, it was a new fruit and I had to try it. I fell in love. Not only did I try the fruit, I had a small glass of eau de vie Mirabelle on the porch after dinner.

Mirabelle plums aren't easy to find in the US. I've seen them, rarely, at Whole Foods during their very brief season. For those who are interested, look on your jelly/jam/preserves shelf at the local supermarket. Most places carry St. Dalfour and they make a jam that is now called "French Plum" in the US. It used to be called Mirabelle Plum, and it still tastes like mirabelles.

Pretties

sandersyager sent me the beautiful earrings we've been discussing for awhile.

She's a real talent.