Dieffenthal: La Table du Verger

Autumn is a delightful time to travel in Alsace, which also happens to be one of the most assiduously gastronomic regions in France (see "A Taste of Alsace"). Along the region’s celebrated Route des Vins, a perfect halt is Alsatian restaurateur Philippe Bohrer’s La Table du Verger, the restaurant at Le Verger des Châteaux, a handsome Alsatian-style hotel overlooking the vineyards in Dieffenthal, just north of Sélestat. The hotel has two different restaurants, a winstub—a traditional Alsatian bistrot—serving dishes like choucroute and coq au Riesling, and a gastronomic restaurant offering some really excellent food. Stopping for lunch, I began with a generous portion of herring marinated in cream with a side of sautéed potatoes, and then a delicious roulade of lobster and zucchini with satay sauce. A vacherin glacé, an iced meringue cake, concluded the very good meal, a light time-out from hearty Alsatian cooking.

Le Verger des Châteaux, 2 route Romaine, Dieffenthal, 03.88.92.49.13. Menus at €18, €21, €31 and €90.

Prices are per person, without wine.

Originally published in the October 2010 issue of France Today

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