Luxembourg City: Crémant and Michelin Stars

I'll be honest: I did not have much of a desire to spend a lot of time in Luxembourg since I had always heard that it was relatively boring to the average tourist. I took the high-speed train from Strasbourg to Luxembourg City with the sole purpose of picking up a rental car since France wouldn't let me take one across the border - weird, right? Luxembourg may be the richest country in the world and have the most Michelin stars per capita, but what surprised me the most was that their sparkling wine, Crémant de Luxembourg, is so much better than I remember! It was crisp, clean, and hearty - definitely something I want to have around the house. There are so many other crémant-producing areas that are much more popular, like Alsace and Bourgogne, that perhaps Luxembourg gets a bit ignored in the U.S. 

As an actual tourist destination, I admit it may be a bit boring. It seems like a place where a lot of business, not sightseeing, is done. It is, however, a beautiful city. Very clean. Very quiet. It would actually be perfect for a one-night break between visiting other tourist-infested European cities.

Of course, how could I be in a city with the most Michelin stars per capita and not try one of these restaurants? I took the advice of several people and tried Mosconi, a two-star Italian establishment tucked away on an adorable little street overlooking a river. The food was wonderful and the service was impeccable, of course. I highly recommend it. See below.

Truffle macaron w/ chicken liver; bleu cheese mousse; mortadella cracker

Gnocchi with mint ketchup (Unbelievable. I wanted a plate of these.)

Bacalao

Buffalo ricotta, broad beans, tomato sorbet, basil

Octopus, Parmigiano potato puree, olive oil, squid ink

Keep in mind: the secret to being able to afford many two and three-star dining experiences is to go for lunch on a weekday - many restaurants offer a small tasting menu for a fraction of the price, catering to the "business lunch" crowd. I can hardly handle a seven-course tasting menu anyway, so I love any opportunity to enjoy these dining experiences with much smaller portions and prices. 

The view next to Mosconi, 13 r. Münster, Luxembourg City 

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*all photos by Shauna Burke