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by Francine Black
La Quiche. This savory, creamy custard of gruyere, eggs, and cream baked in a pastry case is truly the stuff of dreams! Ours contains a few extra goodies: mushrooms, baby spinach, and smoky ham.
It was in 1586 that a chef prepared a quiche-like dish for Charles III, Duke of Lorraine – and so the official name, “la quiche Lorraine” was born. (In those days, the custard croustade was baked in a bread case rather than pastry.) We hear of the quiche appearing again in the city of Nancy in 1605, but this time in a flaky pastry case.
The typical quiche Lorraine to this day features eggs, cream, gruyere, and bacon. You may have enjoyed it with the addition of herbs, young spears of asparagus, or broccoli.
In nearby Alsace, both chefs and home cooks offer a divertimento known as the “tarte flambé,” a thin pizza-like dough covered with that same egg and cream custard. My grandmother baked all these delights in her very hot wood fired oven and the memory remains with me to this day.
Quiche is really easy to make and is lovely for brunch alongside a bowl of our favorite cut-up fruit. At lunchtime a crisp green salad is a great accompaniment, and in the evening a slice of quiche is so nice with a hot bowl of soup. It tastes amazing hot out of the oven or even cold, if you’re lucky enough to snag a leftover slice out of the fridge!
High in the mountains above Bally, where the dense groves of treetops seem to touch the sky, is Francine Black, Boyertown’s own version of chef Julia Child. Her daily activities reflect the things she most values: family and friends, music, and lovingly prepared food.
More News from Bally
- Carmelo’s Pizza & Italian Water Ice, New Owner Begin Again Mark Potash needed to make a change; in Boyertown he has a new hobby—making pizza and serving water ice in a beautified, historic location.
- Preston's Pantry: 2025 Recipient of James K. Boyertown Quality of Life Award This encore article shares the history behind Preston’s Pantry and offers congratulations to the 2025 recipient of the James K. Boyer Quality of Life Award.
