French Food

The French are known for their excellent dishes. From the preparation to the presentation of the dishes, you can say that French chefs are very meticulous. Below are some of the French dishes that you have to try. Your French experience won't be complete without sampling these two.

Foie gras

Foie gras is a dish made from the duck's or the goose's liver. The duck or goose are especially fattened for this purpose. Usually, the ducks or geese are forced feed with corn. Foie gras is a famous French delicacy. It has a rich, buttery, and delicate taste. The French law declares that "Foie gras belongs to the cultural and gastronomical heritage of France."

Coq au vin

Another popular French dish is coq au vin. This is a French braised chicken cooked with wine, garlic, mushrooms, and lardons. It was said that Coq au vin can be traced back to the time of the ancient Gaul and Julius Caesar. Other accounts state that the recipe dates back to the 16th century. In preparing this dish, the first thing to do is to marinate the chicken in wine, sear it in fa,t and then simmer it until it becomes very tender.

French dishes are really mouth-watering. The variety of ingredients make the dishes really taste good. You can sample these dishes in gourmet restaurants, or you can actually make your own. All you have to do is to follow the instructions in the recipe books. You can also get the recipe for this from online sites specializing in French cuisine.

France is one of the world's famous tourist destinations. This is actually not surprising given the interesting places to see in France. Aside from this, the country is also known for its excellent cuisine and interesting culture. When traveling to France, one of the most important thing to take note of are the restaurants. The French are known for their gourmet restaurants. Read on to know more about this.

LE BRISTOL

Do you want to experience dining in a French gourmet restaurant? Then you can visit Le Bristol hotel. The hotel has a restaurant where you can sample the best French cuisines. Le Bristol restaurant was actually awarded three Michelin stars. There is the Winter Restaurant, which has a distinguished oak woodwork. And there's also the Summer Restaurant, which faces a marvelous French garden. Both serve excellent French cuisines.

LA TOUR D'ARGENT

La Tour d'Argent is a famous restaurant which dates back to 1582. It is said that Henri IV frequented the establishment. The specialty here is pressed duck (Canard a la presse). The restaurant has its farm for ducks. The diners are given a postcard with the serial number of the duck. Another great thing about the restaurant is its wine cellar, which contains more than 450,000 bottles of wine. This restaurant actually served as an inspiration for scenes in the Pixar movie "Ratatouille." The restaurant is also a recipient of the Guide Michelin star.

If you want to experience dining in a French restaurant, you can have your finest experience from Le Bristol and La Tour d'Argent.

If you love anything that's French, then you're probably in love with the French cooking style. French cuisine is recognized all over the world because of its exquisite flavors, stunning food presentation, and variety of fresh ingredients.

French cooking style

The French are known for their love of fresh food. As such, many French meals involve several dishes made of fresh ingredients such as cheese and vegetables. French desserts are also known for their small servings and delectable fruit-based ingredients.

Fresh ingredients of French dishes

Fresh ingredients usually found in French meals include different cheese types, salad vegetables, seafood, and fruits. Because French dishes generally consist of fresh ingredients and less processed food, the French are known for their rich diet and ironically, slim figures.

Elaborate presentation of French cuisine

French cuisine wouldn't be complete without elaborate food presentations. From a simple soup to decadent desserts, the French are known for their lavish food preparations. It is a reflection of the French culture and the importance they put into cooking dishes for their loved ones.

The French people are known for their rich diet and love for delicious food. However, they are also known for their slim figures. If you're wondering how the French people get to eat lots of delicious dishes without gaining so much weight, read on for some tips:

French food guide 1: Eat in small servings.

Even though the French people eat full meals, each meal usually consists of small-served courses. Eating in small servings is one key to eating what you want without gaining weight. This way, you get to enjoy several dishes and concoctions without immediately feeling full.

French food guide 2: Don't eat in a rush.

Take your time when eating your meals. Studies have shown that those who eat in a moderate pace are less likely to gain weight compared to those who eat their meals in a rush.

French food guide 3: Savor the taste and enjoy every bite.

As you take time in eating each meal, you will have more time in savoring and enjoying every bite. Doing so allows you to fully enjoy every meal without immediately getting full.

Aside from these tips, the French also love to walk, giving them plenty of excuse to burn off all those calories. Along with a healthy diet and an active lifestyle, the abovementioned tips should help you lose weight and enjoy food more.

Part of my traveling escapades would be dining in various dining establishments in a particular area. For instance in Paris, the city is filled with fancy and elegant restaurants that serve delicate and exquisite French cuisines. There are also local bistros that prepare superb traditional French dishes. Of course, if you do not want to go for a stroll in the streets of Paris to look for interesting restos that you can eat at, the well-known hotels in the area have their own specialty diners and fine dining restaurants.

I would never argue with the fact that Paris is among the most romantic locations in the world. Since it's branded as a romantic location, the city is therefore packed with excellent romantic dining destinations that couples will definitely enjoy. Yes, Paris is packed with numerous fancy restaurants that are perfect for a romantic ambiance. The restaurants situated in Paris hotels are also prime dining locations. But the excellent location of all is Four Seasons Hotel's Le Cinq restaurant.

Before you enter Le Cinq, you would instantly feel the romantic aura of the restaurant. You can see a lot of tourists inside the place. Most of them are the ones seeking for a luxurious and romantic dining experience in the famous city. Once you're inside, you will be captivated with Le Cinq's elegant decorations. Moreover, Le Cinq serves the finest and superb contemporary and traditional French cuisines, as well as other international dishes. Hence, if you are up for a romantic honeymoon trip in Paris with your new spouse, Le Cinq is the best French restaurant to dine in.

There are all types of stuff each country boasts of. In Japan, it would have to be their high-tech electronic devices. In Germany, it would always have to be their beer, you know. In France, there are all types of stuff you could probably want but just can't afford it, such as classy clothes, artworks, etc. So I think what you should take from your trip to France are the food they have there - absolutely the best in the world! So, since you're at it, why not consider all types of French food, but don't mind the French fries - you ought to know better. Plus, if you're thinking of what to take from this country, aren't there certain types of what-have-yous that are not allowed on the damn plane?

I know you already plan on bringing along this country's mustard and olive oil. But mind you, don't forget their damn salt! Yes, this country's Camargue sea salt is the best tasting salt I have ever had in my life! Plus, you could easily pack a shitload of it in your damn luggage, you know. Since you're thinking of things that are easy on your pockets yet maintains some sort of familiarity with this country, I'm sure you'd be happy with their salt! Just don't forget to bring along some of the seafood products this country boasts of, my friend, for it would go great with their salt.

I know you're thinking of carrying along some of this country's prime technological innovations, such as their handheld gadgets, HDTVs, etc. But I think you should always choose food over electronic equipment in every trip you take. This is because your own damn country just might already have it! Plus, you won't be getting any functional warranties from the manufacturers of the gizmos you take, you know. No, not as long as you don't go to where you bought the damn tool and tell them the problem with it! But with food, you're either satisfied with it, or just throw the shit out the damn window!

There are a damn shitload of the finest food stuff you could get from this country, but it just isn't worth taking home than actually gobbling it up while you're there. This is because most of those food stuff could just rot in your damn luggage even while your on the damn plane home! Thus, I think you should make it a point to bring along the spices which this country boasts of. Yes, this country has the best tasting spices I have ever eaten, and taking a few spices with you would be like carrying home a Van Gogh portrait - totally priceless!

People don't usually know which products are best to carry along with their luggage on their way home from a holiday in foreign countries. They usually make mistakes of buying high-priced handheld digital devices that are of poor quality when they could get it here cheaper than a damn good gourmet meal in France! Speaking of France, being in Provence is a food shopper's idea of paradise, especially when it comes to taking home food from a holiday in this damn country. But exactly what to take home from France has been haunting most of those food lovers of the world who have been there.

Among the best tasting spices I have ever eaten, I just can't forget how French mustard could actually send you to gourmet heaven. You see, French mustard is what Brazilian heroin is to the world - the best on the damn planet! Plus, it can be found in vacuum-sealed containers, so you won't be having any problems while you're on the damn plane home. Just remember to actually take the mustard that is from this damn country, and not the imported type!

If you're on cable TV, have a fast internet connection, or both, you would have noticed by now through those movies and pictures how much slim most French women are. If you're an American woman weighing a tad bit over the French standard, then I think you're just too damn big for France! Well, this has been the topic of controversy and debate in the actual field of fashion and health, and I believe American women tend to take this a little too far. I'm not saying that being big is not sexy. I just wanted to share the secret how French women stay sparingly slim even in the modern age of french fries, heavy drinking lifestyle, and other greasy fast foods!

The secret here is their appetite. No, they don't have damn hunger strikes here and again no matter how much active the French are regarding labor issues, you know. Yes, French people have been famous for their feminist principles, but staying slim has nothing to do with their idea of feminine equality, mind you. Joan of Arc didn't die because she wanted the world to know how the French government was influencing the diet of the women on this planet!

The trick here used by most French women is that they indulge in cigarettes and black coffee. I have not yet noticed how much the death rate due to cancer in this country has either risen or fallen , but this may very well be the secret why French women stay as slim as they could be even in this modern age. I believe this is an actual diet which could never be considered healthy by American standards, but this just goes to show how much difference American standards from European standards have. Case in point: the difference between the English standard of measurement from the American measurement scale! But I guess this has no effect whatsoever in determining how much slim a woman is. After all, I think being sexy is more of an attitude and a lifestyle more than a body measurement!

I just love scallops. That is why I fell in love with Gratinee de Coquille. This is actually one of my favorite French food. Thus, let me share with you how to make this heavenly delicacy.

Ingredients:

6 pieces of scallops, big
20 pieces shrimps, small and cooked
100 grams of mushrooms
30 grams of butter
1 cup of water
1/2 cup of dry white wine
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 drop of lemon juice
1 shallot, big
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon of sour cream
6 tablespoons of breadcrumbs, dry
grated nutmeg
salt
pepper

Making this dish is fairly easy. Here's how. You should peel off the shrimps. The same thing should be done to the shallots and then cut it lengthwise. On the other hand, the scallops must be cut in half crosswise. Mushrooms should be sliced thinly. Next, place the wine and water in a saucepan. Add the bay leaf, shallot, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. Afterwards, the scallops should be added. Make sure that the scallops are covered by the mixture. Simmer gently and cook for 5 minutes. Then, strain the scallops from the mixture. However, keep the liquids cooking in the saucepan. Meanwhile, place 2 spoons of the olive oil in a frying pan and have the sliced mushrooms cook for 5 minutes. Make sure to stir this mixture often.

On the scallop dishes, place 2 slices of scallops at the bottom of each dish. 5 shrimps should then be placed on top of the scallops. Mushrooms should be distributed evenly on top. Then, melt butter in medium flame using a medium-sized saucepan. Pour flour. Lower the heat and pour some of the juice that was prepared earlier. Do this for around 10 minutes. Soon, you'll have white sauce ready. Add a dash of nutmeg, pepper, salt, and then some cream. The white sauce needs to be placed evenly on each scallop dish. Breadcrumbs go on top of the white sauce as well as some thin knobs of butter. Oven grill the dish until it is golden brown in color. Serve this wonderful gourmet dish immediately.

Honestly, I do not drink much wine. I either do not have much chance to drink champagne. But, if ever given the choice, I would rather prefer champagne over wine. I am sure that you will have the same choice, too. Why did I say so? Well, as we all know, champagne is always associated with grand celebrations or romantic candlelight dinners. I still remember how I pushed a friend of mine to include in his dinner date a bottle of champagne. Also, champagne is a perfect match with a gourmet cuisine.

However, champagne is expensive. The last time I bought one, it cost $600. Man, that would be enough for me to buy wine for my birthday party. Anyway, champagne is made nowhere else, but in Champagne, France. Champagne is where the first champagne was accidentally discovered, or made, by monks. The place is also the house of lavish vineyards. All the other champagnes around the world are imported from France. Maybe, you get to drink other champagnes, I mean the locally made ones. But, try the French champagne, and I am sure you will never forget its crisp. By the way, there are various manufacturers of champagne. My favorite is Mumm. It is the only brand I get to see in the local liquor shop.

If it is wine, it must be French. Such statement stayed in my mind ever since a friend of mine made that remark when we have gone a short tour in Europe. At first, I sensed that he demands the restaurant owner to give us, at least, a French wine. But, to my surprise, we were literally served with one of the most renowned wines in France.

I could still recall how we laughed at our failure to pronounce the name of the wine. It was called Beaujolais nouveau. Obviously, the wine came from Beaujolais, and is one of the finest. According to the label, it is harvested during fall and is immediately sold before spring time comes. I am not really aware as to how wines are made, but as far as I understood, the Beaujolais undergoes the process of maceration and pasteurization.

If I am not mistaken, wines should be kept in barrels or new wine bottles, and left to ferment for a relatively long time. This process, which eats much time, is the secret of some of the best wines in the world. Anyhow, I tasted the Beaujolais and it proved to be exceptional. I also learned that Beaujolais is actually made to be consumed immediately. If stocked over time, the wine will lose its crisp.

One amazing thing about France is the language. There are so many food terms that are adapted from the French language. The reason behind this is that the language captures the true meaning of the recipe and one French word already identifies the ingredients.

Once, I got hold of a cook book with a chapter dedicated to French cuisines. I love seafood dishes so I searched for one. I found Sea Fricassee that requires the following ingredients:

8 scallops
250 grams salmon fillets
250 grams doversole fillets
9 ounces sour cream
10 ounces white wine
2 carrotts
40 grams butter
4 tablespoons olive oil
salt
pepper

The fillets must be cut into strips, while the scallops must be cut thickwise. The butter and olive oil will be used for frying the scallops and fillets. On the other hand, the carrots must be grated and sauted with the wine for fifteen minutes. In follows the cream while simmering everything in five minutes. Afterwards, the scallops and fillets can be added to the sauce. In five minutes or less, the Sea Fricasee is already set for serving. It sure looks simple to prepare, but requires time. Anyway, for a more beautiful presentation, I suggest that boiled or steamed potatoes be used as side dish.

France is a country that is very popular to many travelers because of its natural beauty. There are many tourists' spots that the French people are very proud of, like the city of Paris. There are many places you could go when you visit France but it would not be complete if you do not taste their delectable local delicacies like the Grilled Salmon with green mayonnaise. But if you want to prepare it in your home, here's how.

Ingredients
4 steaks of salmon, at least 1 inch thick
pepper and salt
green Mayonnaise
1 cup of spinach, packed firmly
1/2 cup of watercress, packed firmly
1/2 cup of parsley, packed lightly
1/4 cup of taragon, packed lightly
1/4 cup sour cream
2 cups of your chosen mayonnaise

Procedure:
Salmon Preparation
1. Put small amount of oil in the grill rack then preheat.
2. Remove the scales of salmon if there is any, rinse and let it dry.
3. Season the sides of the salmon with pepper and salt then grill.
4. Grill it for at least 4 minutes each side.
5. To test if the fish is already cooked, get a skewer and insert to the part of salmon that is thick. Pull it out and touch. The fish is cooked if the skewer is hot.
6. Put it to a platter but keep it warm.

Mayonnaise Preparation
1. Wash thoroughly all the vegetables. Drop in the pot with water that is boiling and let it cook for at least 3 minutes.
2. After 3 minutes rinse the vegetables in cold water. Dry them and finely chop.
3. Mix them with the sour cream then puree into the blender.
4. Mix the mayonnaise with the puree

So if you cannot go to France, bring it home by grilling the French way. This French food is ideal for various outings and campings.

For the French, cooking is considered an art. French haute cuisine (gourmet cooking) has set a standard that is followed in many parts of the world since the 1700’s. French chefs have produced many delectable appetizers. Some French appetizers include the famous escargot in garlic butter sauce, scallops and mushroom in a creamy wine sauce, and puff pastries filled with chicken in cream soup. Sausages and pates are also served as appetizers. Goose liver pate with truffles is considered an exquisite delicacy.

Sometimes, cooks put fillings of cheese, vegetables, shrimp, ham or bacon into omelettes, crepes, and quiches. Other French specialties include the bouillabaisse and cassoulet. These are sometimes treated as full meals. Bouillabaisse is a chunky fish soup with six or more kinds of fish and shellfish.

Cassoulet is a casserole of beans, sausage, poultry, and pork. A typical French meal has several courses, starting with the appetizer. Popular main courses are steaks, chops, and roast chicken served with potatoes. A fresh green salad usually follows the main course. To finish the meal, pastries, tarts, or crepes filled with whipped cream are served as the dessert.

Perhaps one of the most famous French cuisines known to the world is Escargot. Literally translated, it means snail but because of the inherent beauty of the French language, the term Escargot is used to name the dish. There are over 100 species of snails that are edible, but not all of them are used to prepare this French dish. The two species native to France is normally used to prepare escargot. Snails are found in soils and eat decaying matters, so obviously the contents of their stomach are poisonous to humans. Before they are cooked, the contents of the digestive systems of these snails are carefully purged. This process involved fasting and purging the snails which can take several days.

Traditionally the mollusks are baked with a sauce of garlic, shallots, parsley and butter in their shells. The cooking process of this dish involved removing the snail from its shell. It is then gutted and cooked with garlic butter. It is then poured back into the shell with butter and sauce. It is served with a special tong to hold the shell and a snail fork to extract the meat.

If you want to bring a taste of France in your own home and kitchen, then you need to try cooking the Creamy Oyster soup. This is one of the easiest French foods I have tried making, and it is certainly one of the tastiest dishes. To start making this dish, you need to gather all its ingredients. These are the:









-Three tablespoons of butter
-Three tablespoons of flour
-Half a cup of onion, minced
-One-fourth cup of green pepper, chopped finely
-Two leaves of bay
-One-eighth teaspoon of thyme, dried
-One-fourth teaspoon of Tabasco sauce
-One tablespoon of parsley, minced
-One and a half cups of oyster liquor
-Three dozens of oyster, finely chopped
-One and a half cups of half and half

To start cooking this tasty meal, heat pan and put butter. Put the flour and mix for about five minutes. In this stage the thing you are cooking is called the roux. After a few minutes, mix the onions, celery, Tabasco sauce, thyme, and pepper. Make sure that when you are cooking this, the heat is low. This is done to avoid overcooking your vegetables.

When these vegetables are already in their right texture, mix the oyster wine and stir it properly. Season it using pepper and salt. The next step is to put the oysters with the rest of the ingredients and cook them for about ten minutes. When it is already cooked, mix it. Let it simmer for a few more minutes before you serve it.

Bread is a vital food in the country of France. They eat this for breakfast, lunch, and even dinner. A typical French bread or une baguette in their language, is usually 60 cm in its width and is a bit long. One reason for this is that the French people want their breads to be really crusty. With this kind of length and width, its crustiness will definitely be maximized for their eating pleasures. Aside from that, this bread usually weighs about 500 grams.

One thing that is unique about this French food is that it does not contain any fat. As such, those people who eat it all the time do not have to worry about gaining a few pounds. Its no fat content is also the reason why the bread easily becomes stale. For this reason, the French visit their local bakeries or Boulangerie everyday.

If ever you get the chance to visit this wonderful country, you would see the importance of bread in their daily lives. No matter what time of the day is, you will usually people walking or riding their bikes with the bread in one arm. These are the people who can't get enough of this delicious and tasty French food.

Scallops and avocado? What a delightful treat dont you think? This is a different but delicious entree that is totally French. What you need are 2 ripe avocados, 8 kernels of scallops, 1 lemon, 2 Tbspoons olive oil, fresh dill , pink peppercorns (if youw ant) and of course, some salt.

First, cut the scallops into thickwise slices and place them in a big plate, squeeze a little lemon on it. Then peel and cut the avocadoes in roun slices, squeeze some lemon on it too. Place the kernels on the plate and spread a few drops of olive oil and some rock or sea salt. Garnish with fresh dill and peppercorns.

Remember, in this dish, it's a matter of presentation, so try your best to make it look pretty and palatable.

The French people are known to be great cooks. As such, it is quite interesting to know what is inside every French chef's kitchen cupboard. One ingredient that is very common in their kitchen is the olive oil, known to be perfumed oil. They use this for salads, fish dishes, and vegetable dishes.

Other popular ingredients of are the different kinds of vinegar such as red wine, reims, etc. A French kitchen would never survive without onions, nutmeg, garlic, hot mustard, sugar, and flour. These are just some of the chef's cooking ingredients they use most of the time.