French Food & Cuisine is a Must Try
Food is important everywhere in the world. Heck, we need to survive, why would not it be important? But if you had to look across the globe and narrow it down to what, or what country, has the best meal, I think you could safely choose France to win the gold.
Why, might you be asking? Because first off, they have such a long history of established good tasting and looking plates. Even if they have fewer options than other areas or countries, who would not want quality over quantity, anyway?
Second, the dining areas and shops there provide such an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere to their customers. Time is not a primary concern to dining; their main focus is to have customers enjoy their meals wholeheartedly.
But, why do chefs do this? Simply because the dining experience is so important in France.
Why is Food so important in France?
Frenchies spend much more time at the dinner table than most countries do. Not to say that other countries do not spend adequate time at the dinner table. Italy and Spain.
It's easy to love French meals. The time and effort of making each dish are incredibly intriguing. The appearance of their dishes is quite colorful and flattering to the eyes. The taste of each other consumes the taste buds and leaves one wondering what the next bite will taste like.
Below, you will find a few areas that people have difficulty with. When it comes to this country, it's a simple understanding of cooking in this country, things can get a bit confusing.
Take some, or all, of these tips and spread the word. No need to worry, you’ll be a pro when it comes to ordering any dish from France in no time.
Start small, learn how to buy Cured Meat and Cheeses when visiting
First, meat. Yum!
If you’ve ever heard of a charcuterie board, you know that they are filled with a variety of cured meats, pickles, mustards, and crusty baguettes. If you’ve never heard of one, now you know what a charcuterie board consists of. Doesn’t it sound delicious? You might be intrigued by the cured meats. The thought of the aroma of salt and heated meats in the air makes one's taste buds go crazy.
The charcuterie board has been around since long before our time. That’s right, the charcuterie board takes us back in history.
Dating back to the 15th century, the charcuterie term originated from the French word chair, meaning “flesh,” and cuit, meaning “cooked.” This word was created to give a name to the storefronts that prepared pig and offal at the time.
- Fun Fact: At the time when this word was created, storefronts were not allowed to sell uncooked pork.
Later on, the term charcutiers originated. Charcutiers were known as the men and women who made the charcuterie meats. From this point on, cured meat became a rave.
Chefs today learn and add even better ways to cure their meat. A little more salt can be added, or a little more heat, to make the meat taste a different way. Fats are also added to preserve the meats and give them a longer ‘shelf’ life.
- Tip: Chefs here place value on the end result of their dishes, creating incredible flavor profiles that enhance the entire experience. They add and take away ingredients to make the final product the best it can possibly be. Here is where quality over quantity comes in.
For example: In America, potatoes can be listed off in options on a menu, including but not limited to, French fries, mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, and baked potatoes. On the other hand, French shops and dining areas focus on one form of potatoes per menu. Perfecting a recipe may take time for them, but once they find the best one, they add it to the menu to improve its quality.
Check out more tips here how to buy cured meat.
Second, comes sharp, cheesy perfection
This dairy product has its history in the culture, to say the least. As a matter of fact, walking into one of these shops over there can raise your anxiety, if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
Don’t panic. The fromagers, also known as cheesemongers (or the lovely salespeople that sell you the different types of cheeses), are there to help. Some of these fromagers even provide their customers with tours of the shop, showing them where the cheeses are left to get creamy.
Most cheesemongers leave cheeses in rooms filled with ninety-nine percent humidity, to get that rich cheesy flavor. But don’t worry, they’ll let you in on the process they use on their tours, farms that participate in providing ingredients, and they’ll probably give you a few free samples, too!
- Hint: Know your basic cheeses before you visit a shop here. If not, ask questions while you’re there. The fromagers are willing to share their passion with you but don’t think you’re getting their recipes, however, you may be able to score a hint on their secret ingredients if you're persistent. They want to leave you coming back for more. Check out more helpful hints here on how to buy cheese in Paris.
- Additional Hint: Pair the delicious dairy product with some great-tasting wine. Your taste buds will thank you later.
Prefer a litlle something for the sea then hit the raw venues
According to the locals in France, you must try a raw dinner at least once, even if the menu items make your stomach churn.
In a typical kitchen, excluding other ingredients, some examples of raw selections found in these diners are seafood (in the form of oysters mainly), vegetables, fruits, nuts, and grains, just to name a few. A popular raw delicacy found on several menus oysters, prepared all sorts of ways and in combination with a variety of vegetables.
If you’re a sushi lover, many of these options will satisfy your tastes. If you’re a vegan, check out the dishes on the menu that are dedicated to fruits and veggies. If you aren’t either, try it anyways. Cultural dishes may end up being your new favorite recipe to enjoy.
- Helpful Hint: According to Yelp, 42 Degrés and RawCakes are two of the best raw diners in the city. Feel free to try one out, or check this link out raw food restaurants in France.
- Fun Fact: Additional delicacies offered in select places around the country consist of cow tongue, utters, escargot, rabbit, frog legs, calf pancreas, kidneys and stomachs from a variety of animals. Some dishes are cooked, others are slightly cooked or even raw.
Travel to Find Amazing French Restaurant Tours
Eating is more of a social event in France. Why? Because meals take longer to cook and eat. People like company while they enjoy a delicious dish, frequently consisting of small and large size entrees.
If you want to learn more about goodies from this country, such as what foods are popular, where to find the best of the best, and how to order your favorite dish, you may want to take a tour, like the one you can take in a shop filled with cheeses.
The locals definitely welcome all visitors on local tours. Chefs prepare and provide their best dishes for you and whomever you choose to bring along for the ride. While you taste their delicately crafted cuisines, you’ll be able to learn the history behind the recipe.
Some tour options give you the opportunity to walk around the town while learning about your new favorite dish. Click here to learn more on gourmet walking tour.
Other tour options allow you to bring the kids along to try the delicious dishes with you. Click here to learn more on food tours with kids.
Still, other tours will allow you to try the delicious wine while consuming a great dish. If you would like to find one of these tours or look up more tours visit Paris on a food tour itinerary
Last Stop to Understanding the Importance of French Eats
You’ve been informed about the basics of ordering cured meats and cheese. With additional help from the charcutiers and the fromagers, you’ll be a pro in no time.
Now you know which raw delicacies that can be tried, along with the cooked delicacies that can be sampled. With the chef's input and the waiter/waitresses’ opinions, you’ll know what to order in minutes.
You have learned about the basic tour options and have been given an itinerary to further your touring options to the extent you’d like. With the tour guide and chefs help, you’ll find your favorite dish by the end of the day.
What else is there?
The last stop to understanding the uniqueness of the cuisine française is to check out this How to Guide: how to order French food in Paris. This How to Guide will help you the art of ordering great eats when visiting the city. And if you have not visited yet, what are you going to do? They sure will not disappoint!
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