Look Ma, no cutlery!

One of the culinary "specialties" in Alsace is tarte flambee.  It is a form of pizza made with a thin crust, crème fraiche and topped with lardons (bacon bits), Gruyere cheese and onions.  Sometimes you can get a "forestiere" version that has mushrooms on it.  And, the dish gets its name from the dessert version which arrives at your table flaming with eau de vie. 

In Rhinau, there is a restaurant that specializes in them:  Auberge Roettele Schützestuebl.  So we walked there in the +30 degree heat and, as we approached, we could see the smoke pouring out of the chimney.  Clearly the oven was ready but I cannot imagine what working in that kitchen would have been like.  We had planned to go there last night for Eileen's birthday but it was full so this evening (Sunday) we arrived promptly at 6 pm to ensure we got a table.  As it turned out, it wasn't that busy.  The restaurant itself is very rustic with long tables and I expect if it gets busy you would share a table with others.  It has a certain "je ne sais quoi" and it works.  Doug is ready to come back again before they leave.  The only thing is that it is only open Saturdays and Sundays so we will have to make sure we work that into our itinerary!

 

 We started ordering a savoury tarte flambee - and then had two more.  Following that, we had two dessert ones - apple slices, cinnamon and flamed with brandy or eau de vie.  Yum, yum!  What is interesting is that there is no cutlery on the table other than the knife that comes to slice the tarte.  You eat it with your fingers.  I expect (and hope) if you ordered the escargots and some of the other entrées on the menu, you might get utensils but don't expect them with a tarte!

The owner figures out the bill by how many boards you have stacked on your table.  I have to say this was a very reasonable dinner.  We had 3 savoury tartes, two dessert ones, 3 beers, 2 waters, a bottle of red wine and a bottle of white and the bill was 70 Euros or just over $100.  That was for four people!   We're definitely coming back and it within walking distance of Sue and Keith's house!