Pâtisserie Chocolaterie Kuntzmann Leichtnam (Moulins-lès-Metz, FRANCE) ★★★☆☆

We have a relatively light schedule this afternoon. Like the previous few days, it’s a travel day, so after a brief walking tour of central Metz, we hit the road again toward Reims. There was one extra stop I wanted to make before joining the highway — Château de Vaux – Vignobles Molozay in Scy-Chazelles, a winery just a short 10-minute drive from Metz.

Because Château de Vaux – Vignobles Molozay doesn’t open until 2pm, we had about 10 minutes to spare in an area called Moulins-lès-Metz. Fortunately, I had already done my research on where to go during that short window.

Pâtisserie Chocolaterie Leichtnam Kuntzmann, also known as Maison Leichtnam Kuntzmann, is a family-run pastry and chocolate shop that has been operating in Moulins-lès-Metz since 1988.

In their pastry section, it’s not hard to spot what they do best besides their signature homemade chocolates — chocolate-themed cakes.

Chocolate meringue (€3.5) — I decided to get something really simple here. A gluten-free meringue covered with chocolate buttercream on the outside.

The rich chocolate buttercream on the exterior was clearly the star here. Very comforting and indulgent.



After enjoying my third piece of cake today, we drove up to Château de Vaux - Vignobles Molozay as planned. This is a prominent, family-owned wine estate located in the Moselle AOC region of Lorraine, France. 

The estate isn't a big one. Just 14 hectares across 26 distinct parcels spread over 7 communes along the hillsides overlooking the Moselle River but it offered a perfect opportunity to learn more about wines from the Moselle AOC, a region we knew very little about.

Apparently, it’s not easy to get wines from this area shipped directly to Hong Kong due to the overall small production. Their wines still predominantly supply the local French market, especially the top labels, including their Pÿlæ Pinot Noir, widely considered the flagship red from Vignobles Molozay. I had come specifically for the Pÿlæ Pinot Noir, but was disappointed to learn that it was sold out.

The silver lining? We were able to visit their cellar in the basement, so at least we got a small taste of the estate’s wine-making heritage.

Food Rating: 5.6/10

Price: €€

Address: 26 Rue de Metz, 57160 Moulins-lès-Metz, France

Tel: +33 (0)3 8760-5664

Website: https://www.instagram.com/patiss_choco_leichtnam/?hl=en

Opening Hours: 7:00am - 6:00pm (Wed - Sat), 7:00am - 5:00pm (Sun), 8:00am - 4:00pm (Tue)