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On the occasion of the Spanish-Luxembourgish film “Lemon and Poppy Seed Cake” in theaters on June 1st, we met Tommy Schlesser who plays a Luxembourgish doctor in this feature film.
The film, directed by Spanish director Benito Zambrano, deals with the story of women over several generations in a strong and realistic way, with cooking as the backdrop. And in particular, those family recipes that are passed down from generation to generation and that allow us to recover, in one bite, a multitude of memories.
So we asked Tommy Schlesser about his culinary memories and his taste in food.
What are the culinary memories you have from your childhood?
Two recipes come to mind that remind me of my grandmother! She made apple cake like no one else. We have the recipe but it was never as good as the one she made.
She also made a divine semolina pudding with sultanas. I’ve never wanted to try another one since she’s been gone!
There are also of course the bouchées à la reine which are associated with my childhood. I used to eat them on Sundays when we went to restaurants with my family.
Which restaurant did you used to go to with your family?
We used to go several times a year to the restaurant of the Leweck Hotel in the north of the country. It is also a wellness hotel, but we used to go there on Sundays and on certain occasions to eat traditional Luxembourgish food. I still go there today!
What are your favourite places in Luxembourg?
I live in Remich and I love going to the Pavillon Desom. For me it’s one of the nicest terraces in Luxembourg with its incredible view of the water and the boats. There is also a wine bar where they offer tastings of their own crémant and wine (editor’s note: Pavillon Desom has its own winery, Domaine Caves Desom).
I am also particularly fond of Léa Linster’s restaurant, now run by Louis Linster. I usually celebrate my birthdays there! And if I’m in town for coffee, I can’t resist going to their shop to drink it with her delicious madeleines.
What Spanish recipes did you get to try during the shoot (in Mallorca)?
I loved the patatas bravas, served with a spicy sauce that is divine! I especially enjoyed the meals where they really take the time to eat and talk too!
Do you cook?
I mostly like to eat! But I did make the lemon poppy seed cake recipe from the film. I baked it with my daughter and I loved it.
You can find the recipe for the cake in the film in our next KACHEN, on sale from 8 June.
A special giveaway to win the book by Cristina Campos from which the film is adapted and tickets to see the film at the Utopia cinema will be soon shared on our Instagram account!
Film synopsis: Two sisters who haven’t spoken to each other in years find themselves on the island of Mallorca to manage the sale of a bakery they inherited from a mysterious woman. As the two sisters try to uncover the secrets behind their enigmatic benefactor, they are forced to confront old family conflicts that will also allow them to make up for lost time.
