A Borrowed Grand Prix and Riesling Sauce

Luxembourg lent its name to two Grands Prix held in Germany, and its own kitchen sits between French finesse and German heartiness, with Moselle wine never far away.

Like San Marino, Luxembourg has a Grand Prix to its name without ever having hosted one at home. The Luxembourg Grand Prix was held twice, in 1997 and 1998, and both times it ran at the Nürburgring in Germany: the name traveled, the race did not. Jacques Villeneuve won the first and Mika Häkkinen the second, each late in a title winning season.

No driver in our records has raced under the Luxembourg flag, and no Luxembourg team appears either. Bertrand Gachot, who made 47 starts between 1989 and 1995, was born in Luxembourg according to our records, though he is listed under Belgian and French nationality.

Luxembourg's food reflects its place between the Latin and Germanic worlds. It draws on neighboring France, Belgium and Germany and, more recently, on the many Italian and Portuguese families who have made their homes there. Everyday dishes tend to come from peasant cooking, hearty and generous, while French cuisine fills many restaurant menus. River fish such as trout and pike are often cooked in Riesling sauce, and small fried fish from the Moselle arrive with the local white wine.

The Moselle valley has made wine since Roman times, so the Riesling in that sauce comes with a long pedigree, and beer from local breweries is popular too. Pork, potatoes, beans and fruit tarts fill the rest of the table. For a race weekend, a plate of smoked pork with broad beans and a plum tart to finish would be very Luxembourgish indeed.

A taste of Luxembourg

• Judd mat Gaardebounen, Smoked pork collar with broad beans
• Bouneschlupp, Green bean, potato and bacon soup
• Gromperekichelcher, Crisp potato and onion fritters
• Kachkéis, Melted cheese spread on mustard bread
• F'rell am Rèisleck, Trout baked in Riesling cream sauce
• Friture de la Moselle, Crisp fried small river fish
• Glühwäin, Hot spiced mulled wine
• Viz, Fresh cloudy orchard apple juice
• Quetschentaart, Open plum tart

Circuits

• Nürburgring

Drivers