Honey in 'The Gibralter of the North' (and a Luxembourgian Salad recipe)
Miel - Marque Nationale du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg
It is time to break out your finest linens, your fine China, and the silverware you keep under lock and key. Today we are going to look at on of Luxembourg's national treasure's - Miel - Marque Nationale du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg (A.K.A. Honey - National Brand of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg). This treasure is in no way your run of the mill, off the shelf in isle 4 of Kroger honey. National Brand is actually protected under EU law. It also has PDO status - Protected Designation of Origin under Geographical indications & Traditional Specialties within the European Union.
What makes it so special? Well, a few things. The harvesting period runs from the beginning of Spring all the way until the end of Summer. To receive the designation of 'National Brand' it can not be adulterated in any way whatsoever - no additives, no introduced sugars, or additional or imported honey to the stock. Further - prolines, residues, or inhibins - no way - they can not be present. It is a multifloral honey made up of a rather unusual mixture - melilot greater bird's foot trefoil, meadowsweet, white clover, fruit trees, and dandelion pollen. Oh, it also must have a water content below 20%.
Where in the country do you find it? A number of bee keepers throughout Luxembourg are able to produce it but you can acquire it but I have chosen to highlight only one - 100% Luxemboug.
Located only 2 blocks from the banks of the Moselle, this shop specializes in food items that are produced within the country (obviously).
National Brand is not the only honey you can find here. You will be pleased to discover all manor of cheeses, sweets, wine, teas, and porcelain. A little touristy - probably. However, touristy for lovers of specialty foods - that is a label I can live with.
A Quick How-To Recipe
Why would I send you all the way to Northern Europe and not give you a recipe pairing for the indigenous honey there. I feel like you guys should know better of me. So here it is:
Luxembourg Salad
- Lettuce 1 bunch, torn
- 3 tbs of Miel - Marque Nationale du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg
- 1 Tomato, chopped
- ½ small Red Onion, Sliced
- 1 small cucumber, peeled and sliced
- 1 carrot, shredded
- 8 pieces of french baguette
- 8 oz goat cheese
- 4 Tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup pine nuts
- Walnut and Riesling Dressing or your choice of Dressing
- In a bowl mix together the lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion and carrot.
- Gently mix the salad greens with Dressing of your choice
- Put each slice of baguette on a oven to prep -
Apply 1 oz of goat cheese on each slice - Put in broiler briefly until cheese is melter
- Plate the Salad Greens with two pieces of the baguette + goat cheese and drizzle with honey (Miel - Marque).
- Sprinkle pine nuts over the top
- Eat it - obviously!
Apply 1 oz of goat cheese on each sliceLike any recipe I put out there for you guys, make any alterations you like. This one is straight from Luxembourg. It is for those of you that want to create something that is reflective of a dish regularly created in that nation. Could you use an alternate honey - yes. Will is be an authentic experience - meh. Miel Marque is a specific flavor - a one of a kind. So I encourage you, especially if you take a visit to the Gibraltar of the North, to keep it true to the experience.