From Roman pancake to Limburg flan

By now we know that we owe a lot to the Romans. But did you also know that the Limburg flan finds its origin in Roman times? At least if we are to believe our Roman friends Asterix and Obelix. Since the Romans only discovered yeast later, the first breads were flat and resembled pancakes. And these two Roman warriors, with their Burgundian lifestyle, already knew how to make good use of that. They have been a great source of inspiration for today’s generation of bakers. This is also the case for Bakery Emmerix in Riemst. And certainly not only for the name.

How did they come to it, Asterix and Obelix? In their copper kettles the two made all sorts of delicacies. They made pudding and rice porridge from milk, and from the fruit picked in the orchards a kind of jam. They didn’t like everyone just tasting from their kettle of treats, so they decided to fill a pancake with pudding, rice or fruit filling, so they could give everyone a piece. Only centuries later did this develop into the real Limburg flan as we know it.

It is therefore not surprising that the smell of freshly baked flan often appears along the old Roman route. Also in Riemst, where you will find Bakery Emmerix, which truly honours the Romans with its flans. Their specialty? The rice flan. It is prepared in an artisanal way. That is something you will want to taste!