This hearty, meat-studded entrée is often confused with pâté Lorrain, another classic French meat pie. But unlike pâté Lorrain, cream and egg custard is added to the filling of Tourte Lorraine. Apart from this, according to Larousse Gastronomique, one of the prime reference books on French cuisine, both are baked in pastry and include a chunky pâté of pork and veal marinated in an aromatic bath of wine, shallots, cloves, and flavorful Herbes de Provence – a classic blend of dried thyme, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, chervil, tarragon, lovage, savory, sage, bay leaf, and fennel.

Best enjoyed fresh out of the oven, Tourte Lorraine is traditionally served as an appetizer with a side of green salad, and is typically paired with a chilled glass of wine. In Lorraine, it is also particularly popular among the working class as an early morning meal.