French cuisine

According to many food connoiseurs, French cuisine is considered to be the best in the world.

It is inseparably linked with the nation’s culture and is the cradle of culinary art and a paradise for cooks. Its fame, known throughout the world means that all French people, regardless of education or social background can talk at length about food topics. Cuisine is an inherent element of everyday life for the average French person and it is not just a coincidence that the French created the art of savoir-vivre.

Ratatouille – vegetable stew

This is a dish straight from Provance, from Nice, to be exact. Vegetables are the main ingredients of ratatouille. Tomatoes, onions, aubergines, zucchini and peppers are the base of this dish. This tasty stew is fine by itself or as a side dish with other food.

French culinary delights

Similarly to other national cuisines, the French cuisine is famous for mouth-watering delicacies at their mere mention. However, it also includes specialities that are an acquired taste, i.e.: French offal sausages. However, if the most characteristic specialty of the French cuisine had to be chosen then it would without a doubt be the baguette. The characteristic approach of French people to bread certainly influences the baguette’s popularity. It is an accompaniment to almost every meal.

Escargots..

Escargots owe their popularity in the French cuisine to Antoine Carem – the creator of the ”The art of the French cuisine”. These small snails prepared with butter, garlic and parsley sprigs have become so popular that special escargots plates with tongs have been designed that allow the hot shells to be held while snails are scooped out with a pitchfork.

Those fond of escargots sometimes do not realise how complicated the escargot preparation process is before they end up on the plate. Snails must endure a 10-day fast in order for their organism to become cleansed of food remains. Next, they are rinsed, boiled, starved and again boiled three times. Once cooled, they are placed in sterilized shells that covered with garlic butter can then be served on a plate.

The richness of cheese

The incredible regional diversity of France together with the disparate weather conditions, landscape and variety of domestic animal breeds are reflected in the impressive number of cheeses, of which there are about 370. Depending on the means of production, the following cheese types can be listed: fresh cheeses, soft cheeses covered with white mould, cheeses with removable skin, blue cheeses, goat’s milk cheeses, matured and non-mature pressed cheeses. Cheese is an inherent part of a French meal and it is served on a wooden cutting boarding for lunch and dinner.

Wine

The French drink wine instead of water, milk, tea or beer. It would be difficult for them to manage without even just a glass during a scrumptuous meal. Normally, less well known wine brands are consumed, most often from a small, local vineyard whereas better, more well known wine brands are consumed on special occassions. It is estimated that the average Frenchperson drinks 100 litres of this noble beverage per year.

Daily menu

The French chose very carefully the products for each meal – the menu is dependent on the calendar holiday, its importance, the time of the day or simply the whim or imagination of the cook. Meal times differ according to region but in general, breakfast that consists of coffee, tea or hot chocolate together with a jam croissant is served between 7 and 9am. Lunch is consumed at midday and dinner, starting with soup – is eaten around 8pm.

How to eat frogs legs?

Is the reason you never order the frogs legs because you’re afraid of the complicated technique of eating them? Find out a genteel way to eat this French delicacy.

How to eat snails?

Snails are among the foods which haven’t yet become popular at our tables. Eating them properly may be troublesome. So, how should they be eaten?

What glasses to use to serve champagne, wine, vodka or cognac?

Do you know which glasses are appropriate for red wine, which ones are good for white wine? Which glasses are right for cognac? Find out the proper rules for choosing glasses for alcohol.