Mireille Oster Pain d'épices

Mireille Oster Pain d'épices is a gingerbread shop at 14 Rue des Dentelles in the Petite France district of Strasbourg, in the Alsace region of France. It is named in Do Eat Better's guide as the city's gingerbread specialist and is classed as a bakery rather than a sit-down restaurant, so it is a place to buy and taste rather than to book a table. Pain d'épices is the spiced honey bread long associated with Alsace and with Strasbourg's Christmas markets, made with honey, rye or wheat flour and a blend of warm spices such as cinnamon, aniseed and ginger. It is the shop's signature product, sold as loaves, slices and gifts, and it keeps well, which makes it a popular edible souvenir. The prices are low, in the budget band, with small purchases typically costing a few euros, although exact prices are not recorded in the available data. The shop is small and busy with visitors, and the atmosphere is that of a specialist boutique with a pleasant spiced smell. There is no dress code and no seated dining programme, though tastings may be offered, which is worth asking about at the counter. Pain d'épices pairs well with tea, coffee, foie gras or cheese, and the shop may suggest serving ideas. Hours, phone and website are not recorded in the available data, so visitors should confirm opening times through a current directory before making a special trip. No reservation is needed. The Rue des Dentelles sits in the heart of Petite France, a short walk from the canals and the Ponts Couverts, so the shop is easy to combine with a walk through the quarter or lunch at a nearby winstub.