Recently, you have discovered Tarte Tatin and Boucheé à la Reine in our latest articles, and today there is another occasion to admire the French cuisine by looking at one of the unique dishes of Grand Est, namely Quiche Lorraine. Quiche Lorraine is considered to be one of the everlasting symbols of the French gastronomic culture, and it is famous worldwide.
A dish standing on the border of two cultures
The name of the dish hides the charm of one of the most breathtaking regions in France. Located between Germany and Alsace, Lorraine absorbed both German and French cultures, and this cultural mix left a distinct mark on the local cuisine.
Typical French speciality Quiche Lorraine owes its existence to Germany. The German influence can be traced in the name of the dish itself, as the German word “Kuchen” (literally meaning “cake”) can probably be the etymon of the word “Quiche”. The first mentioning of the word “Quiche” dates back to the 17th century and takes us to the account book, written in the hospital Saint Julien in Nancy.
What is Quiche Lorraine?
A quiche is a tart made of pastry crust filled with savoury custard and pieces of cheese, meat, seafood or vegetables. To create the custard, the Lorraine chefs recommend taking one egg per person and whisking it with fresh cream, bacon cubes, salt, pepper and nutmeg. The original recipe did not contain any cheese, however, this ingredient was added later, as the bakers intended to play with flavours a little bit.
Hot or cold, depending on the preferences of the chef, Quiche Lorraine can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It can also be accompanied by a green salad, dressed up with vinegar or oil. There are different variations of the dish, depending on the region. You can find Alsatian-style quiches with onion and you can enjoy quiche with goat cheese, salmon, leek and broccoli.
Interesting facts about Quiche Lorraine
- Quiche Lorraine became very popular in England after the Second World War and gained popularity in the U.S. in the 1950s.
- The dish has its own holiday. The National Quiche Lorraine Day is celebrated on 20th, May.
- The biggest Quiche Lorraine was cooked in Paris in 1997.
Whether or not you should try Quiche Lorraine is not a debatable issue, as this classic French dish will definitely impress you with its delicious taste!
References:
Mobile Cuisine. 2021. Quiche Fun Facts. [ONLINE] Available at: https://mobile-cuisine.com/did-you-know/quiche-fun-facts/ [Accessed 30 April 2021].
Finedininglovers. 2021. Cooking the Classics: Quiche Lorraine. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.finedininglovers.com/article/cooking-classics-quiche-lorraine [Accessed 30 April 2021].
Foodreference. 2021. Quiche Origins, History & Recipes. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.foodreference.com/html/artquiche.html [Accessed 30 April 2021].
Cnrtl.fr. 2021. QUICHE : Etymologie de QUICHE. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.cnrtl.fr/etymologie/quiche [Accessed 30 April 2021].
Regions of France. 2021. Quiche Lorraine. [ONLINE] Regions of France. Available at: https://www.regions-of-france.com/regions/lorraine/food-gastronomy/quiche-lorraine [Accessed 30 April 2021].
The Courier. 2021. Throwback Thursday: Why the French dish Quiche Lorraine is still a dining table staple. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/food-drink/1377119/throwback-thursday-quiche-lorraine/ [Accessed 30 April 2021].
Written by Olena Khomiakova, Schuman Communication Trainee Terminology Coordination Unit. Currently she is enrolled as a Master student in Learning and Communications in Multilingual and Multicultural Contexts at the University of Luxembourg.