https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Drinking 2026 Champagne might give you a heftier headache as France's record heatwaves are forcing some producers to up the alcohol levels, industry officials said on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.com/20260909/heat-forces-french-champagne-makers-to-increase-alcohol-content Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:29:07 +0200 heat-forces-french-champagne-makers-to-increase-alcohol-content Widespread drought and record-breaking heatwaves have forced France to relax some of its famously strict rules on cheese production, with authorities announcing on Wednesday special measures for abondance, beaufort and comté. https://www.thelocal.com/20260826/france-to-relax-cheese-making-rules-due-to-record-heatwaves-and-drought Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:11:48 +0200 france-to-relax-cheese-making-rules-due-to-record-heatwaves-and-drought Wine harvesting season is underway in Austria, and that means the time window is open to try the sweet and semi-fermented alcoholic drink called Sturm. The Local spoke to a wine expert to find out more about Sturm season. https://www.thelocal.com/20230918/sturm-why-you-should-try-austrias-traditional-autumn-drink Mon, 18 Sep 2023 16:06:02 +0200 sturm-why-you-should-try-austrias-traditional-autumn-drink Autumn is here, which means one thing ‒ mushroom season! Richard Orange discovers five things you need to know about how to mushroom-hunt like a Swede. https://www.thelocal.com/20200903/how-to-pick-mushrooms-in-sweden-even-if-youve-never-done-it-before Thu, 03 Sep 2020 09:59:59 +0200 how-to-pick-mushrooms-in-sweden-even-if-youve-never-done-it-before The price of a litre of the good stuff at Munich's Oktoberfest goes up a bit each year. But beer is not the main expense that most visitors shell out for. https://www.thelocal.com/20260820/in-numbers-how-expensive-are-drinks-at-oktoberfest-in-2026 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:49:16 +0200 in-numbers-how-expensive-are-drinks-at-oktoberfest-in-2026 The smell of warm bread hangs in the air at one of Benoît Castel's patisseries in Paris, where the newly crowned world's best pastry chef was hard at work testing new recipes. https://www.thelocal.com/20260811/breton-born-world-patisserie-champion-reveals-secret-of-his-success Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:14:21 +0200 breton-born-world-patisserie-champion-reveals-secret-of-his-success The vineyards of Bordeaux escaped the huge wildfires in the region, but the smoke has blown over a large area - so will this affect the taste of 2026 vintages? https://www.thelocal.com/20260805/factcheck-will-this-years-french-wines-really-taste-smokey Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:58:08 +0200 factcheck-will-this-years-french-wines-really-taste-smokey It is a paradox in a country which is almost synonymous with the word ‘cheese’ that an increasing number of consumers opt for imported, rather than domestic, product. https://www.thelocal.com/20230808/why-do-swiss-consumers-prefer-to-buy-foreign-cheese Tue, 08 Aug 2023 13:55:56 +0200 why-do-swiss-consumers-prefer-to-buy-foreign-cheese In an effort to improve safety for train travellers and railway staff, Germany's national railway operator says it will enforce a blanket alcohol ban at all of its stations. https://www.thelocal.com/20260721/deutsche-bahn-wants-to-ban-alcohol-at-every-train-station-in-germany Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:26:43 +0200 deutsche-bahn-wants-to-ban-alcohol-at-every-train-station-in-germany Winemakers said on Wednesday they were struggling to shift a year’s worth of produce after a drop in exports to the United States. https://www.thelocal.com/20260709/italian-producers-downgrade-bottles-as-wine-piles-up-in-cellars Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:10:07 +0200 italian-producers-downgrade-bottles-as-wine-piles-up-in-cellars Compared to the country's beer festivals, Germany's wine fests are lesser-known gems offering a more relaxed cultural experience, writes The Local editor, Paul Krantz. https://www.thelocal.com/20260619/four-reasons-to-visit-a-german-wine-fest-this-summer Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:18:05 +0200 four-reasons-to-visit-a-german-wine-fest-this-summer March 25th is a landmark on the Swedish calendar as it marks Våffeldagen (Waffle Day), when Swedes like to eat even more waffles than usual. Now you can too, thanks to these straightforward recipes from Swedish food writer John Duxbury. https://www.thelocal.com/20180323/how-to-make-traditional-swedish-waffles Fri, 23 Mar 2018 06:59:00 +0100 how-to-make-traditional-swedish-waffles Hej and welcome to the latest instalment of The Local's Fika Calendar, where we guide you through the most important cake, pastry and other food-related days in the Swedish year. https://www.thelocal.com/20250325/swedish-fika-calendar-what-do-waffles-have-to-do-with-the-virgin-mary Tue, 25 Mar 2025 08:59:44 +0100 swedish-fika-calendar-what-do-waffles-have-to-do-with-the-virgin-mary A recent survey by the Pew Research Centre delved into what people feel proudest about in their country, with Europeans pointing to history, food and culture among the main reasons. https://www.thelocal.com/20260228/culture-politics-food-what-makes-europeans-proud-of-their-country Sat, 28 Feb 2026 12:49:34 +0100 culture-politics-food-what-makes-europeans-proud-of-their-country Ernest Hemingway famously said that Spaniards “delay the day”, and when it comes to eating, this is certainly applicable. https://www.thelocal.com/20241002/why-do-spaniards-eat-so-late Wed, 02 Oct 2024 14:32:56 +0200 why-do-spaniards-eat-so-late Sweden is battling to win Norrland and East Coast Baltic herrings EU 'Protected Designation of Origin' status ‒ joining a stable of fishy specialities that is starting to rival France's list of cheeses. But a lot of the other specialities are pretty weird. How many of these have you heard of? https://www.thelocal.com/20260112/calf-dance-and-boiled-bread-the-weirdest-swedish-foods-to-get-eu-protection Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:30:39 +0100 calf-dance-and-boiled-bread-the-weirdest-swedish-foods-to-get-eu-protection Many French supermarkets have empty shelves in the egg section, with retailers blaming bad weather and bird flu for the shortages. https://www.thelocal.com/20260112/egg-shortages-continue-in-france-despite-chicken-boost-plan Mon, 12 Jan 2026 12:04:49 +0100 egg-shortages-continue-in-france-despite-chicken-boost-plan An Italian national has been arrested after attempting to smuggle dozens of panettones into Switzerland as part of an undeclared 100kg cross-border haul. https://www.thelocal.com/20251217/italian-caught-trying-to-smuggle-66-panettones-across-swiss-border Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:17:44 +0100 italian-caught-trying-to-smuggle-66-panettones-across-swiss-border A French supermarket has made a strong entry into the competitive field of Christmas advertising with a viral animated clip about a vegetarian wolf that has wracked up tens of millions of views internationally. https://www.thelocal.com/20251211/french-supermarkets-veggie-wolf-christmas-ad-goes-viral Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:12:07 +0100 french-supermarkets-veggie-wolf-christmas-ad-goes-viral Germany's Christmas markets brighten up the cold and dark winter season. As well as picking up homemade gifts and ornaments, make sure you try these delicious snacks and drinks. https://www.thelocal.com/20241210/10-food-and-drink-treats-you-have-to-try-at-a-german-christmas-market Tue, 10 Dec 2024 09:44:23 +0100 10-food-and-drink-treats-you-have-to-try-at-a-german-christmas-market