Metz

Stop 136 of 265 · France

One cheese on the loop, with something to drink beside it, something for the driver, and the road either side.

The cheese

Carré de l'Est

  • cow milk
  • bloomy
Drink
Dry sparkling — Champagne or CremantBubbles and acidity scour the butterfat off the palate; a heavy red would be buried by the rind.
Driving
Sparkling apple juiceThe bubbles and acid are doing the work, and these have both.
Eat with
Fresh baguette, and a crisp appleBloomy rinds are rich and complete; good bread carries them and tart fruit resets the palate.

Derived from the milk and the style of the cheese, not from local custom. A local will have opinions.

Carré de l'Est on Wikipedia

The road

Arriving fromArlon90 km (56 mi) by road, about 1 h 06 min driving.
On toStrasbourg166 km (103 mi) by road, about 1 h 50 min driving.
MetzArlonStrasbourg

Every cheese on the loop has a drink for the driver as well as one for the passengers. On a driving tour, somebody is always driving.