How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!

How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!
How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!

It’s a strange thing.

I’m a terrible cook, but I do like writing about food!

I'm a terrible cook, but I do like writing about food! How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!
I’m a terrible cook, but I do like writing about food!
How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!

I have a bookshelf crammed with recipe books from the likes of gorgeous Nigella Lawson – the Domestic Goddess, the Scot – Gorden Ramsey, the local geezer – Jamie Oliver, the wholesome Delia Smith, the hilarious Ainsley Harriott, and the old-time Victorian favourite – Mrs Beeton! I even have German cookery books from such people as the German gourmet chef – Tim Rauer, the everyman chef Tim Mälzer, and his Green Box, the energetic, but pretty nice guy act of Ralf ZacherlMartin Baudrexel and – Mario Kotaska from Die Küchenchefs!

I love watching cookery programmes, devouring fantastic gourmet food, and writing about the delicacy of good food.

I don't like cooking! How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!
I don’t like cooking!
How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!

Sadly, I just don’t like cooking!

But is this a hinderance as far as writing about food is concerned?

Not in the least people.

Not in the least!

It has to be said that even though this blog is about culture, history, and travels around the world, I also enjoy writing about food. Here are food posts that I wrote in the past in alphabetical order:

BELGIUM / FLEMISH:

Belgian mussels flowing in lemon and wine!
Belgian mussels flowing in lemon and wine!

THE CZECH REPUBLIC:

Trdelník in the Czech Republic but also known as Kürtőskalács in Hungary!
Trdelník in the Czech Republic but also known as Kürtőskalács in Hungary!

DENMARK:

Breads & pastries such as smørrebrød!
Breads & pastries such as smørrebrød!

ENGLAND:

Oysters and stout on a wooden table outside a pub, England UK - ©VisitBritain Daniel Bosworth
Oysters and stout on a wooden table outside a pub, England UK –
©VisitBritain Daniel Bosworth

ESTONIA:

Salted and marinated herring on creamy cheese at the Hermitage Restaurant.
Salted and marinated herring in Tallinn.

FRANCE:

Have you ever seen such a fantastic crème brûlée? So creamy, so delicious, so....!
Have you ever seen such a fantastic crème brûlée? So creamy, so delicious, so….!

FINLAND:

Hang onto your seat! Sushi in Helsinki, Finland.
Hang onto your seat!
Sushi in Helsinki, Finland.

GERMANY:

Berlin's most famous iconic meal - currywurst, chips & mayo!
Berlin’s most famous iconic meal – currywurst, chips & mayo!

HUNGARY:

Now this looks a lot like brain, but I'm thinking they're probably Hungarian sausages in a stew! Or are they?!!
Now this looks a lot like brain, but I’m thinking they’re probably Hungarian sausages in a stew!
Or are they?!!

LATVIA:

Pelmeni served with sour in Latvia.
Pelmeni served with sour in Latvia.

The magic drink of Latvia is basalm and I drank it!

LITHUANIA:

Lithuanian soup.
Lithuanian soup.

POLAND:

My fantastic pierogi with a smattering of bacon pieces, sprinkled with parsley.
My fantastic pierogi with a smattering of bacon pieces, sprinkled with parsley.

PORTUGAL:

Scrummy Pastel de Nata or Pastel de Belem, otherwise known as Portuguese Custard Tarts!
Scrummy Pastel de Nata or Pastel de Belem, otherwise known as Portuguese Custard Tarts!

SCOTLAND:

Wonderful British cheese, Scottish oatcake & English cider © Pascale Scerbo Sarro
Wonderful British cheese, Scottish oatcake & English cider
© Pascale Scerbo Sarro

SPAIN:

Spanish tapas galore!
Spanish tapas galore!

SWITZERLAND:

Why you should visit Switzerland, and eat cheese!
Why you should visit Switzerland, and eat cheese!

THAILAND:

Sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf - Bangkok, Thailand.
Sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf – Bangkok, Thailand.

Nom! Nom! Nom!

So without further ado, let’s talk about Luxembourgish food!

Here we go!

HOW TO EAT CHEAPLY IN LUXEMBOURG!

I don't like potato pancakes or Gromperekichelcher, but millions of people do! How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!
I don’t like potato pancakes or Gromperekichelcher, but millions of people do!
How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!

Like Switzerland, trying to sample local food while on a modest budget is downright impossible, so one just has to bite the bullet, and run with it!

Luckily, we were hosted by the Visit Luxembourg Tourism Board so we could stay at the luxury Meliá Luxembourg Hotel, and not have to worry that we would starve!

As such, we didn’t have to rely only on sandwiches, salad and cake, but could afford to splurge here n’ there!

IF YOU’RE ON A BARE-BONES BUDGET READ ON:

If you can't spare a penny, then you really shouldn't be in Luxemebourg!
If you can’t spare a penny, then you really shouldn’t be in Luxembourg!

If you really can’t spare any pennies, then the best option is to make sure you have a hotel or hostel that includes breakfast so that you can have your fill, and then go to a local supermarket.

Be warned, because at first, we couldn’t find any!

Now, let me re-phrase that. What I mean to say was that we couldn’t identify what the local supermarket looked like from the outside, as most of the shops looked quite expensive fancy!

We couldn't identify what the local supermarket looked like from the outside! How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!
We couldn’t identify what the local supermarket looked like from the outside!
How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!

When we did find them, the supermarkets were based in buildings that I would classify as a bank or a financial institute, as many of them had revolving doors leading to the supermarket itself! I’ve been to many a country and you tend to have an idea of which business happens to sell food, but it’s Luxembourg. And like Switzerland, it’s pretty neat and tidy with few straggly bits of dirt and grime!

We went to a local supermarket called City Delhaize Gare.

We bought:

A Caesar Wrap ©Kraft
A Caesar Wrap
©Kraft

A Caesar Wrap – €3.59

A box of doughnuts – €3.40

We found a French supermarket – CarreFour Express.

This brand I knew!

We bought:

We love anything made from blueberries! How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!
We love anything made from blueberries!
How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!
  • A bottle of Arizona Blue Berry Tea  – €2.79
  • A salad – €4.99
  • Nonna Thon Piquant Baguette – €3.59
  • A bottle of 7 Up Cherry – €1.24
  • A can of Orange Tango – €1.10
  • A cheese salad – €3.00
  • A packet of pistachio nuts (not for me of course!) – €2.86
  • A Nonna Anc Thon pasta salad – €3.59

IF YOU’RE ON A MODERATE BUDGET READ ON:

Part of the Luxembourg summer spirit! Luxembourg: A smart guide to the Grand Duchy of one of Europe's smallest countries!
Part of the Luxembourg summer spirit!
Luxembourg: A smart guide to the Grand Duchy of one of Europe’s smallest countries!

Last week, I told you that in the summer season, Luxembourg has an annual summer programme called Summer in the City, organised by the Luxembourg City Tourist Office (LCTO).

This programme offers a series of summer events, which turn pavements and public squares, into open-air stages of cultural festivities that are mainly free of charge!

Refreshments at an urban music festival. How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!
Refreshments at an urban music festival.
How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!

As such, we spent a lot of time wandering around, and strolling through various parks, open-air markets, and urban music festivals.

In one of the parks, we stumbled onto an international initiative called the street food Tabor Food Concept in which trucks selling international street food are based in locations around the city, on specific days. We stumbled on one, on our way to the Villa Vauben museum….!

It was an Ethiopian food truck.

I’ve only eaten Ethiopian food twice in my life,  so I was intrigued…!

Ethiopian food ©Tabor Food Concept - Luxembourg
Ethiopian food
©Tabor Food Concept – Luxembourg

We wanted to try out the Doro Wot (chicken) sautéed with onions, garlic, ginger, cardamom, chili powder, and a herbal butter stew, served with a boiled egg on an East African sourdough-risen flatbread, and the national dish of Ethiopia and Eritrea, but I had run out of cash!

And they didn’t take cards so we had:

We had this Ethiopian burger instead! How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!
We had this Ethiopian burger instead!
How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!
  • An Ethiopian burger and a soft drink was – €6.60

We also went to a place called the Urban Bar for a bit of a drink, and to do some people-watching. It was a bit of a hipster enclave and quite busy, but there were plenty of spaces, and you could sit outdoors.

We didn’t know this previously, but the Urban Bar is considered to be a retro find, and quite the place to be. In fact, it’s one of the world’s best bars with fabulous cocktails, and the young and beautiful all around.

Just the right place then!

Everywhere in Luxembourg is utterly expensive, including my Luxembourg beer! Luxembourg: A smart guide to the Grand Duchy of one of Europe's smallest countries!
Everywhere in Luxembourg is utterly expensive, including my Luxembourg beer!
Luxembourg: A smart guide to the Grand Duchy of one of Europe’s smallest countries!

It was very hot in Luxembourg so the open air terrace seating was a priority!

  • A small Luxembougish beer was €3.50
  • A small glass of cola was €3.00

Yep! We truly felt a part of the Luxembourg summer spirit!

I really do like river-side living!
I really do like river-side living!

For dinner we went to a lovely historical place near the river. You know how much I like water-side living!

We were actually looking for a completely different restaurant, which we never actually found, but we stumbled upon this little treasure instead! A restaurant called Brasserie Bosso.

It’s a popular restaurant so I recommend that you make a reservation!

The Brasserie Bosso Restaurant. ©Brasserie Bosso
The Brasserie Bosso Restaurant.
©Brasserie Bosso

Luckily, they were able to squeeze us in as we were only a party of two. But be careful, if there’s a group of you, you do need to make a reservation especially if you prefer Al fresco dining! We observed a number of people who were put on a two-hour waiting list, so do yourself a favour and don’t leave the restaurant booking until the last-minute!

We were excited to finally get our teeth into a local speciality, so we opted for the Bosso Spätzle.

A most delicious Bosso Spätzle! How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!
A most delicious Bosso Spätzle!
How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!

A spätzle otherwise known as Spatz, is a kind of soft egg noodle found in the cuisine of Southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, France, and Northern Italy!

The linguistic origin of Spätzle is highly debated but in Germany, spätzle is considered to be a Swabian speciality, from the German state of Baden-Württemberg.

The Booso Spätzle is a dish of fried egg noodles in a gorgonzola-mozzarella-white wine-sauce, combined with bacon, onions and a Bologna sausage, otherwise known as a Lyoner. A fried egg is also placed right on top of the dish!

We loved it!

I’m familiar with Spätzle, but this meal was delish!

A delightful Poulade Auflauf! How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!
A delightful Poulade Auflauf!
How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!

We also had a Poulade Auflauf which is a sort of chicken bake!

It was served on a griddle and had chicken stripes, potatoes, cheese and herbs involved! It was lovely!

  • Bosso Spätzle – €13.50
  • Poulade Aufluf – €15.00
  • Two (2) small glasses of fanta – €5.00
  • Two (2) small glasses of wine – €6.00

Not too shabby me thinks!

If you're really broke, just go for doughnuts, and be done with it! How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!
If you’re really broke, just go for doughnuts, and be done with it!
How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!

That’s all for now.

Next week, I’ll be writing about our travels to Slovakia, with travels to the German Baltic Sea to come, as well as a comprehensive post on how to use the train in Europe!

In October, I’ll be preparing to go to the TBEX ASIA travel conference in the Philippines, and an extra Asian country, but I’m still not sure where, but heavily leaning towards a Chinese-speaking country!

HOW TO EAT CHEAPLY IN LUXEMBOURG!

Pea soup or Bouneschlupp, can be nice too! How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!
Pea soup or Bouneschlupp, can be nice too!
How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!

This article is part sponsored, and even though Visit Luxembourg Tourism Board very kindly offered to book us a complimentary stay at the luxury Meliá Luxembourg Hotel, and provide us with Visit Luxembourg tourist pass City Cards, all opinions and the yummy Luxembourgish food that we stuffed into ourselves, are my very own!

Please also note that there is now an Amazon affiliate link UK and Amazon affiliate link DE (for the very first time) connected to the cookery books. I told you that I liked reading ’em! Everytime a book is sold via my link in Amazon UK or Amazon DE, I get a little percentage, but at no extra cost to yourself! A win-win for all!

Berlin Art Week will take place from 13.09.16 – 18.09.16, so if you like contemporary art, this is the place for it!

The Down Under Berlin Australian & New Zealand Film Fehttp://amzn.to/2gcJSspstival, will also take place from 14.09.16 – 18.09.16, which is the largest film festival in Europe dedicated to Australian and New Zealand film!

STRICTLY STAND UP – The English Comedy Night is going to take place on 21.09.16 at the Quatsch Comedy Club in Berlin.

Save the Date!

September is going to be over-flowing with art and film!

I’ll be there. Will you?

As usual, you can also follow me via daily tweets and pictures on Twitter & Facebook!

If you’re not in Berlin in September, you’ll miss out!

Watch this space!

How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!
How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!

Have you ever eaten food from Luxembourg? Do you think that a small budget is manageable? Noodles or beer? Have your say!

See you in Berlin.

If you like this post or if you have any questions send me a tweet, talk to me on Facebook, find me on Linkedin, make a comment below, look for me on Google+ or send me an Email: victoria@thebritishberliner.com

19 Comments on “How to eat cheaply in Luxembourg!

  1. Oh my! All the nosh up in here makes my mouth water! I’ve been to Luxembourg ages ago on a university trip..I can’t even remember how we got around the food, but I guess since it was majorly subsidized, we got round eating well on a study budget.
    I often dash to supermarkets when I’m in ridiculously expensive countries..though during my backpacking Eastern Europe trip, I dashed to supermarkets to buy bread, doughnuts juice etc for breakfast. I missed cooking and my daughter moaned alot about missing home cooked food as I cook alot, so she’s one happy camper now that we are back home. Great tips!

    • Thanks so much Caroline! ‘Glad you liked it.
      Yay! The Supermarket Dash! So handy, although I’m more into local restaurants where they do all the hard work, as I really dislike cooking lol!:)

  2. I think you do food posts really well and I love the cost breakdowns. It definitely looks like you managed your budget well in what I think of as an expensive country. I’m excited to hear about the conference in the Philippines!

    • Thanks so much Amy! You’re so sweet…! 🙂
      I’m so glad that we managed to keep our budget together this time, unlike in Copenhagen where I ended up shelling out almost €200.00 to pay for the bus, and taxi since we missed our original-very-nicely-priced one….!
      p.s The Philippines trip will be to attend TBEX and I’ll be staying on for a week after, before flying out to a local country nearby. I just haven’t utterly decided where lol!

  3. Wow I find this super interesting as Luxembourg was a destination I visited this year (it was my fifth trip but the older I get, the more cognizant I become of things like food prices). I was expecting Luxembourg to be SO overpriced and unaffordable, but I realized it wasn’t too bad when I was there. In fact, some of the prices were cheaper than Frankfurt. Beers were kind of pricey in areas of the city (we stuck to craft beer though, so probably our fault!), but the food in the grocery store was reasonably priced. I didn’t stay in a hotel when there (just a long day trip), but next time I go, I definitely want to experience the nightlife and have a nice dinner in the city rather than running around eating grocery store food 🙂

    Thanks for a great recap!

    • Thanks so much for the lovely words Megan! Yep! We too were braced for the horrors to come. We were so pleased when that wasn’t the case, and managed to eat fairly well, and spend a little bit more with pleasure. It really was nice to hang out with the locals in nicer places without worrying about the potential bill! The key to this? Preparation! 🙂
      p.s. Luxembourg 5 times. Wow!

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