25 Foods of France: Top French Cuisines

Who hasn’t heard of croissants, baguettes, ratatouille, foie gras or steak tartare? A cuisine that is considered to be one of the world’s most prestigious, French cuisine is not only well-known but is also sure to appeal to all foodies. French cooking, which has evolved across centuries, relies heavily on formal techniques, excellent presentation, and the use of simple flavours and fresh ingredients. And what makes it even more remarkable is that French cuisine features a mix of countless regional as well as national dishes, which adds to its diversity and richness. The cuisine comprises a variety of vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian dishes, delicious desserts, wines, cheese, bread and so much more!

Here are 25 foods that you must add to your list of things to try out when visiting France.

1. Cuisses de Grenouille

An authentic French delicacy, Cuisses de Grenouille or frog legs are especially popular in Dombes in eastern France but are eaten across the country. This dish is made with frozen frog legs that are thawed, dried, put in flour and then fried in butter along with parsley and garlic. Sometimes they are also fried in a base made of tomato, onion and garlic. Before you eat it, make sure to sprinkle some lemon juice on top; you can use your hands or a fork and knife to have them.

2. Huîtres

If you don’t mind having raw food, you simply must try out huîtres or oysters when you’re in France. Here you would either get European/huître verte or Japanese/huître creuse but both are usually served raw on the half shell along with some lemon juice, pepper and Tabasco that you can sprinkle on top. However, if you don’t wish to have raw oysters, some restaurants also prepare them in the oven. The ideal way to eat huîtres is to raise the shell to your mouth, let the meat slip in; don’t chew it too much.

3. Coq au Vin

Coq au vin, which is believed to go all the way back to Julius Caesar’s time, is a yummy French dish made with chicken. The chicken is braised with Burgundy wine, mushrooms, lardons, onions and sometimes even garlic. It is seasoned with bay leaf, thyme, pepper, salt and parsley and simmered till it is tender. You might come across variations of the dish depending on the region; coq au riesling, coq au champagne, coq au violet and coq au vin jaune are some of the popular ones.

4. Macarons

You must try out Macarons while in France, especially if you have a sweet tooth. These are a kind of confection that are prepared with egg whites, almond meal, granulated sugar, and icing sugar, which make delicate, crispy, light, and chewy cookies as well as meringue that goes between two cookies. Food colouring is added to give them different colours and they also come in various flavours.

5. Jacqueline

Jacqueline is a well-known French cocktail made using white wine, lemonade and grenadine. Put in some ice cubes and a slice of lemon, and you’re good to go!

6. Tarte Tatin

When you’re traveling to France, don’t miss out on the mouth-watering tarte Tatin, which is a classic French tart made by caramelising fruit, usually apples, in butter and sugar and then topping it off with puff pastry. It is made upside down, with the pastry on top of the caramelised fruit, and then flipped at the end so that the fruit remains soft. Have it warm with some crème fraîche1

7. Ratatouille

If you’ve watched the movie Ratatouille, you most probably know about the very well-known French dish called ratatouille too! It is originally from Provence in southern France and is a vegetable stew featuring tomatoes, eggplants, bell peppers, courgette, onions, garlic, and herbs. While you can have it on its own, it is also often served with rice, pasta, lamb or pork chops, risotto, etc.

8. Salade Niçoise

Also called Salada Nissarda in the Occitan language, Salade Niçoise is a famous French salad that originated in Nice and can be used as a starter or as a light meal. Its main ingredients include hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, tuna, anchovies, Niçoise olives, and herbs. You would mostly find that the dressing is made with olive oil, but sometimes vinaigrette is also used. You can have it with Pinot Noir, Rosé, Chenin Blanc or Beaujolais.

9. Croissants and Baguettes

Classic French food items, it goes without saying that when you visit France, you must pop into a cafe to get croissants or baguettes. Croissants are light, buttery, and flaky pastries that are crescent-shaped and are made using dough that is rolled, folded, and finally rolled into a thin sheet. Baguettes on the other hand are a kind of long (about 65 cm) and thin bread made with lean dough. It has a slightly crisp crust.

10. Bœuf Bourguignon

Bœuf Bourguignon or Bœuf Burgundy is a famous French beef stew that was originally made by the peasants. It is made using beef, red wine (usually red Burgundy), beef stew, garlic, onions, carrots, bouquet garni, etc., and often garnished with mushrooms, bacon, and pearl onions. You can have it with French bread, mashed potatoes, green beans or even pasta.

11. Beaujolais

France is renowned for its various kinds of wine and Beaujolais is one that you must try out! A red wine made of the Gamay grape, it is an Appellation d’Origine Contrôllée wine predominantly from the Province of Beaujolais which is north of Lyon. It is a mellow, light, tart, and fruity wine with low tannins.

12. Croque-monsieur

Croque-monsieur is a kind of hot French sandwich that originated as a quick snack in cafes and is made using ham and cheese. Sliced cheese is put between slices of bread (pain de mie) along with baked or boiled ham and then the bread is topped off with grated cheese, salt and pepper. It is then either fried in a pan or baked in an oven till the cheese on top melts. Usually Gruyère, Emmental or Comté cheese is used. You can have it with tomato salad.

13. Galette Bretonne

Wheat or buckwheat crêpes, Galette Bretonne is a yummy dish that is from Lower Brittany and one that you must try when in France. They are made more crusty than regular crêpes and can be served plain or with savory items like grated cheese, eggs, ham, etc. However, you can also have them with something sweet.

14. Galette de Rois

Galette de Rois, also known as King Cake, is traditionally served on Epiphany or the day the Three Kings visited baby Jesus. It is a delicacy made with buttery and flaky puff pastry that is filled with creamy almond frangipane and jam. What’s interesting about this cake is that just like the Mardi Gras king cake, there is a small prize or fève inside the filling; it is usually a tiny plastic or porcelain figure. You can have Galette de Rois with tea or coffee.

15. Soufflé

Dating back to the 18th century, the soufflé is a well-known French dish that is also said to be very difficult to master! It can either be sweet or savoury and is made with two primary ingredients - egg whites and a base that can be flavoured crème pâtissière, cream sauce, or purée. The egg whites are whipped or beaten to a soft peak with the other ingredients and then poured into a glazed porcelain container called a ramekin and then baked till it is fluffy; it will fall soon after being baked too.

16. Steak Tartare

If you’re up for trying some raw meat, then steak tartare is definitely a French dish to have. Made with raw ground beef that is served with a raw egg yolk on top, it is seasoned with salt, pepper, shallots, capers, sliced pickles, Worcestershire sauce etc. This dish usually comes with French fries or mixed greens.

17. Coquilles Saint Jacques

A classic French starter, Coquilles Saint Jacques is essentially sautéed scallops; it is prepared by sautéeing scallops in butter, white wine, mushroom slices. They are then added to their original shells with leeks or small brown shrimp and bechamel sauce. Finally, they are topped with breadcrumbs and Gruyère cheese to be broiled under a hot grill. It pairs well with white wine.

18. Foie Gras

A French delicacy, Foie Gras is basically a starter made out of duck liver that is often served at Christmas or during special occasions. The liver used normally comes from a duck or even a goose that is fattened by gavage or forced feeding. It is buttery, rich and delicate and can be made into a pâté, mousse or parfait. You might like it with steak, sandwich bread, canapé crackers, farmhouse bread or brioche; make sure to only place the Foie Gras on the bread and not spread it.

19. Crème Brûlée

If you’re looking for a dessert to have after your meal, crème brûlée is the perfect choice! A custard-based dessert that is traditionally vanilla-flavoured, it is made with egg yolks, cream and sugar and is topped off with a layer of hardened caramelised sugar. This dessert is served cold in a ramekin and can sometimes be garnished with fruit. Moreover, you might come across different flavours of crème brûlée too.

20. Mueniére

Ideal for seafood lovers, Mueniére is a light and moist dish prepared with Dover sole that is either a fillet or whole. The fish is coated with flour, pan fried in butter and then served in the same brown butter sauce along with lemon and parsley. It is usually boned once it is done being cooked.

21. Bordeaux

Produced in the Bordeaux region in southwest France, this is a famous French wine that is mostly red but you might also find some white wines. Red Bordeaux is predominantly made with grapes such as Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, amongst others while other variations may be made using Sémillon, Muscadelle and Sauvignon blanc. You would find that this is a dry, medium to full-bodied wine with medium acidity and high tannins. Moreover, it has a strong earthy aroma along with that of plums and black currant.

22. Quiche Lorraine

Quiche Lorraine is a yummy French tart that is prepared by filling a pastry crust with savoury custard as well as bacon, Swiss cheese and eggs. There are other variations available with other kinds of meat or seafood and vegetables like onions, mushrooms, spinach, olives, tomatoes etc. but the traditional Quiche Lorraine is made without them.

23. Crêpes

A dish to try without fail when in France, crêpes are a kind of very thin pancakes that can either be sweet or savoury. They are made with wheat flour if they are sweet or with buckwheat flour if they are savoury, along with eggs, milk, butter, salt and water. The batter is then spread out on a pan and then flipped. Some of the common fillings for sweet crêpes include fruits, preserves, custard, hazelnut cocoa spread, whipped cream etc. while those for savoury crêpes are mushrooms, ham, eggs, cheese, artichoke and sometimes even ratatouille. While crêpes are mostly had for breakfast, you can have them at time of the day.

24. Bouillabaisse

Bouillabaisse is a traditional Provençal fish soup that was originally made by fishers in Marseille. The main kinds of fish used to make this dish include the European conger, red rascasse and sea robin, although others like the European hake, monkfish, mullet or gilt-head bream may also be used. Other ingredients used are seafood like octopus, sea urchins, velvet crabs or octopus, onions, potatoes, leeks, tomatoes, celery and special Provençal herbs and spices. This broth is traditionally served with rouille which is made with garlic, saffron, olive oil and cayenne pepper which is spread on grilled bread slices.

25. Ti-Punch

For those looking for a cocktail to try out, TI-Punch is a great choice! It is a well-known drink in many Francophone island nations such as Haiti, Réunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana. Similar to daiquiri, this drink contains only three ingredients, namely rhum agricole (made from fresh sugarcane juice), lime and sugar cane syrup. It is made in the same rocks glass that it is served in instead of being stirred or shaken.

French cuisine is synonymous with unique and delectable flavours and offers a great deal of variety, whether you prefer vegetarian or non-vegetarian food! So if you’re visiting France, make sure to pop into as many cafes, restaurants and bakeries to taste their mouth-watering food including desserts, beverages and cheese.

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