LUXEMBOURG-"Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sin"

 

 

This week we are learning about beautiful Luxembourg. Nestled between Belgium, Germany, and France, this pint size country is known for its gorgeous landscape, romantic castles, museums, wines, and many  International banks! Officially the 6th smallest nation, Luxembourg has had a very tumultuous history with many invasions, changes in dynasties, and finally gaining independence. Many cultures have influenced present day Luxembourg. The Romans, Celts, Dutch, French, Belgian, German,  and Austrians all left their mark on this small nation.

 

 

Most citizens  of Luxembourg are trilingual, speaking the Germanic national language of Luxembourgish in addition to French and German. Luxembourg has a rich cultural history, especially in music, painting and photography. Its evolving museums, concert halls, theatres and galleries testify to its citizens' growing appreciation for arts and culture. Citizens of Luxembourg are fiercely independent and proud of their heritage, thus their national slogan is "Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sin" which translated means, "We want to remain what we are".

 

The architecture of Luxembourg extends back to the Treveri, a Celtic tribe that prospered in the 1st century BC. A few ruins remain from the Roman occupation but the most significant contributions over the centuries have been the country's castles and churches. Notable examples are the Vianden Castle and the Echternach Basilica. Today there is a veritable architectural boom as Luxembourg's economic prosperity provides a basis for developments in the financial, EU and cultural sectors with a number of world-class buildings. These include the Philharmonie Concert Hall, the Museum of Modern Art and the new European Investment Bank building.
 

The cuisine of Luxembourg embodies flavors from France, Germany, and Belgium. This week we will cook three traditional dishes. Our main entrée is called F'rell am Rèisleck , Trout in Riesling sauce with Crème Fraiche, shallots, butter, tarragon, chives, parsley, and chervil. We will serve this with a potato pancake that is very similar to a potato latke called Gromperekichelcher. Most Luxembourgers enjoy this crispy treat with applesauce, so that is exactly what we will do. Lastly, we will cook Braised Leeks. I can't wait to get cooking!!!