If you like to eat, France is sure to be your best friend, as French cuisine is one of the finest the world. There are so many specialties to choose from, that you won’t know where to start. Here are some of the ten best French specialties, from starters to desserts, that you should watch out for if you go to France.
Starters
Starting with an easy one that you can cook at home: the Quiche Lorraine. Simply done with lardon, eggs, cream and dough that can be bought pre-prepared, this appetizer is the perfect meal to eat when you don’t have much in your fridge and don’t want something too complicated to cook, while feeling like a real French. The best idea is to eat it in France because the ingredients will be the right ones, as lardons are often replaced by bacon in other countries, which is not quite the same. A piece of advice: never eat one in a bakery, it definitely doesn’t have the same taste as the real home-made quiche.
Another starter is snails, or escargot in French. The name will maybe make you think twice before eating it but aside from the name, it is actually really good. You can eat it in restaurants or at home, even though French people don’t eat it often and usually need to celebrate an event with family members in order to cook it. With parsley and butter, you can eat 6 or 12 depending on your appetite. You definitely need to try it while in France to make your French experience complete.
A last starter dish that you will struggle to find in the US is the foie gras as several states and cities banned its sale because of the way foie gras is made. If you want to try it, being in France is the opportunity to taste it either as “terrine,” meaning that it is cold, or “poêlé,” served hot. Cooking it yourself is really difficult so going to a restaurant is the best option you have. Served on grilled toast, this is one of the most famous specialties of France and it is delicious!
Main course
In France, main courses depend a lot on which region you are in. For example, the choucroute is the specialty in Alsace in the east of France. Made with sauerkraut (cut cabbage), potatoes, meat, sausage and other charcuteries, it is mainly eaten during the cold months of winter when you are really hungry. You can reproduce it at home but the authentic choucroute can only be found with meat coming from France and especially from Alsace.
Another specialty, coming from Savoie, which is the location of the Alps, is the tartiflette. Once again, you better be around during the winter when this dish is most likely to be served. With potatoes, reblochon cheese, lardons, and onions, this is not the lightest meal, but definitely one of the best to eat. Coming back from a day of skiing in the cold snow, tourists and locals alike love to eat a good tartiflette close to a fire pit.
Aside from the snails, another thing that you may think of as gross and slimy is grenouilles, or “frogs”. Not the easiest to eat as your fingers will be full of butter and parsley by the time you end your meal, this is also one of the most famous specialties of France’s gastronomy. Cooking it is very difficult and ordering them at a restaurant is the best chance to eat good ones. If you visit France, eating grenouilles must be on your to-do list.
Another must is the quenelles, a speciality from Lyon. Either plain or with fish dough, this is kind of like gnocchi but bigger. You can eat it with tomato sauce or béchamel, and you can easily find it in French supermarkets in the region of Lyon. Therefore, if you go to Lyon, eating quenelle in a “bouchon”, a typical restaurant, is the ultimate French experience. Plus, finding it in other regions of France can be difficult, therefore, you will be able to say that you ate quenelles, a thing that not many tourists or even French people have the opportunity to taste.
Desserts
Alas, the best part of the meal, and arguably French cuisine! If you are more of a cheese and dessert person, France will more than satisfy you. Beginning with cheese, which is an important part of a full meal in France, one that the French eat after the entree and before the dessert is the Saint Marcelin. This is a creamy cheese and if you are not used to real cheese (cheddar doesn’t count) you may find its taste quite strong. But it is in reality quite soft and really good with bread and a glass of wine. You can find it in France but also in every supermarket in the US, although the price will be higher. But it is worth the try!
In terms of a real dessert that the French eat all the time, we must mention crêpes. Originally from Bretagne, this is now spread across France as the major dessert or snack of choice. You may know it by name but real crêpes in France or made by French people are the best. It kind of looks and tastes like pancakes but they are thinner. You can eat it either as a dessert or as an entree with ham, béchamel, and mushrooms. All toppings are delicious! Crêpes are fast to prepare and you only need eggs, milk, and flour and then whatever toppings or fillings you fancy. This is the best deal to eat something sweet and easy to cook for you and your friends and family.
The last dessert worth talking about and worth tasting are bugnes. This is just fried dough with sugar on top but it is delicious. We mainly eat it for “Mardi Gras” or “Fat Tuesday”. This is traditionally to celebrate the day before the 40 days of the Lent, when Christians are not allowed to eat rich food. Indeed, bugnes are not really a healthy dessert but when you like to eat don’t restrain yourself and enjoy good food, especially French food!
photo credit: avlxyz Mango Crepes – close-up – Green Tangerine VND169k set lunch via photopin (license)
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