Four months back in Chine now, and despite the merits of Cantonese gastronomy, there's no denying that French cuisine is sometimes sorely missed. Good news: Guangzhou is a city brimming with Western restaurants. Among these, Alsace Village clearly stands out from the crowd.      

Contests and Gastronomy

  A few weeks ago, we entered a contest organized by our friends Hugo and Lila from the excellent blog Rions Cantonais. If you haven't discovered it yet, we urge you to visit right away: you'll find interviews with entrepreneurs, insights into Chinese society, and beautiful travel stories ;-)

The concept was straightforward—answer three questions related to an interview with Christophe Bilde, the director of Alsace Village restaurant, which they had previously conducted. One of two winners would receive nothing less than a meal voucher for two people at this restaurant. For us, having spent a year in Alsace during our studies, needless to say our entry was submitted without hesitation.

And with her legendary luck, Charlène was drawn! The perfect opportunity for us to visit this little gem that had caught our eye for over a year but which we had never quite found time to try.  

Alsatian Terroir in Chine

  Alsace Village is located in the heart of Guangzhou in the Tianhe district. It is the result of work by two French entrepreneurs, Christophe and Rudy, who have been based in Guangzhou for several years and one day had the idea of joining forces to launch their own brewery and tavern. The original vision was to introduce Chinese diners to several aspects of French culture—not just gastronomy—while offering expatriates a place where they could relive the familiar flavors of home. From the moment we arrive, we're captivated by the façade, which stands out distinctly from neighboring restaurants—a testament to particularly refined graphic design that promises only good things. The interior lives up to the exterior, as we find carefully curated décor and a clear commitment to highlighting Alsatian heritage: pottery, traditional costumes, antique tools, checkered tablecloths... it's all there, and the immersion is truly enhanced.

The welcome is wonderfully warm, and we have the pleasure of being attended to by smiling English-speaking Chinese staff in uniform. The clientele is equally diverse, with both local and Western diners sharing tables. The various dishes on display make our mouths water, and it's with considerable anticipation that we take hold of the menu, delighted at the prospect of finally enjoying a proper home-style meal. It is as carefully crafted as everything else, with several pages dedicated to introducing Alsace and the restaurant—something sure to delight French culture enthusiasts among the Chinese guests. The menu exceeded our wildest expectations: flammekueche, raclette, quiche lorraine, tartiflette, sauerkraut, foie gras, beef bourguignon, moules marinières... You can judge for yourselves on their website: Alsace Village Menu.

With such drastic choices to make, it took us nearly ten minutes to settle on a good old raclette: the desperate longing for cheese made the decision for us! The price is a touch higher than anticipated (250 RMB for raclette for two), which prevented us from sampling another excellent dish, but it was truly worth every penny...  

Varied and Quality Dishes

  High-quality TEFAL equipment, cheese directly imported from France, Parma ham, salami, rosette... all the elements are in place for a culinary delight. Although the charcuterie selection is somewhat limited, we take the time to savor every bite and appreciate our good fortune.

Around us, screens broadcast images of Alsace, and we delight in rediscovering familiar places while savoring our meal. Our only regret: we had to forgo wine due to our limited budget—despite the voucher! Next time, without hesitation! For dessert, a chocolate fondant that awakens our palate and almost tempts us to catch the first plane to Paris (almost, that is...). A brief conversation with the chef, who is exceptionally warm and attentive, further convinces us that Alsace Village is a genuinely convivial place where variety goes hand in hand with quality. The experience lived up to all our hopes, and we wholeheartedly recommend Alsace Village to all French gastronomy enthusiasts. A place you'll be reluctant to leave! Our thanks once again to Hugo and Lila of Rions Cantonais for this wonderful gift!  

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

Address: 75 Tianhe East Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou (中国广州市天河东路75号负一层) Phone: (+86) 13922754046 Website: http://www.alsace-village.cn/ Opening Hours: 11:30–23:30