What do they eat in France? Traditional French breakfast: description, best recipes and reviews.

It has long been known that the French are gourmets. They can turn any meal into a gourmet meal with a special charm. Even fast food in their execution acquires a slight hint of the traditions of haute cuisine.

French breakfast

Every Frenchman's morning begins, naturally, with breakfast. But you will never see delicacies and fancy dishes on the table in the early hours. Traditional french breakfast- very simple and conservative. These are usually the famous crispy croissants, jam, tartine, yoghurt, tea or hot chocolate, freshly squeezed juice and, of course, Americano coffee.

Espresso is not usually served for breakfast - it is drunk at a later time. Absolutely all drinks are served in large cups white. Real croissants are made without filling. And they are served with jam, butter or honey. French butter is absolutely amazing and with fresh baked goods it tastes divine.

French traditions

If you are planning a French breakfast, then it is better to buy baked goods in bakeries, of which there are quite a few in any quarter. The products there are always fresh, and they are much cheaper than in a cafe. If a croissant costs 90 cents in a bakery, then in a cafe it will cost 2.5 euros. Interestingly, if you order coffee for breakfast while standing at the bar, you will pay less than if you sit at a table. Such interesting traditions.

In the provinces, breakfast is much more satisfying than in the city. They serve the best different pies, ham, processed cheese, vegetable and fruit salads, baked potato pieces. This kind of French breakfast is more understandable to our people than the city version. However, on Sundays and Saturdays, city cafes also offer a wide variety. Why do you think? Yes, because on weekends the French are not in a hurry and stretch out their meals almost until lunchtime.

French lunch is more like lunch - second breakfast. His time comes at noon. So, it is also very light. Perhaps the French are saving their energy for a big dinner. At this hour it is customary to serve fish and meat plates, salads, light soup, baguette and cheese for dessert.

French wine

France is famous for its wines. It is impossible to imagine any table without them. On average, one resident of the country produces approximately 90 liters of wine per year. Almost everyone drinks wine at dinner, even teenagers. It is customary to select wine with special care because it must be ideally combined with dishes. Often several types of wines are served with a meal, which are intended for different dishes. White wine goes well with fish and appetizers, red wine goes well with meat, and dessert wines- with desserts. But champagne is a drink only for special special occasions. Brandy and cognac are often consumed after dinner.

Where do the French eat?

The French love to eat out. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s breakfast or lunch and dinner. That is why there are so many restaurants and cafes in the country. In them, people not only eat, but also read, talk, and have a good time with friends. But despite all this, local residents really appreciate delicious homemade dishes.

What dishes are served for a traditional French breakfast? Let's look at a few recipes.

French croissants

Any French breakfast is, first of all, a crispy croissant.

Ingredients:

1. One egg.
2. Puff pastry - packaging.
3. Grated chocolate.
4. Powdered sugar.

The defrosted dough should be rolled out into a half-centimeter thick cake. Next, it is cut into triangles. Place crushed chocolate at the base and then roll the croissants into a tube. They are brushed with egg on top and baked in the oven for twenty minutes.

Salad recipe

French Breakfast Salad is prepared from the following ingredients:

1. Fresh cucumbers - 160 grams.
2. Shrimp - 120 grams.
3. A teaspoon of wine vinegar.
4. Onion - 60 g.
5. Sugar.
6. Salt.
7. Olive oil.

The shrimp need to be boiled in salted water and then cooled. The onion must be peeled and cut into half rings, grated with sugar and salt, and sprinkled with vinegar.

Cucumbers are peeled and grated. The vegetables are mixed and placed on a plate. Place shrimp on top and season the salad with oil.

with cheese

It’s hard to imagine any French omelette; its preparation is quite simple.

Ingredients:

1. Milk - a tablespoon.
2. Egg - 3 pcs.
3. Cheese - 60 g.
4. A tablespoon of butter.
5. Ground pepper.
6. Salt.

Beat the eggs with a mixer and milk. Butter is heated in a frying pan. Once the pan is hot, pour the egg-milk mixture onto it. The omelette takes twenty minutes to prepare. IN finished form it is wrapped with grated cheese inside. In this form it is served on the table.

Light fruit salad

A light salad is perfect for what we call a French breakfast. A description of the preparation is given below.

Ingredients:

1. Pear.
2. Pineapple - 2 pucks.
3. Cheese - 150 g.
4. Mayonnaise.

The salad is very simple to make. Pineapples and pears are chopped, and the cheese is grated. The ingredients are mixed and seasoned with mayonnaise.

Baked bread

Ingredients:

1. Half a glass of milk.
2. White bread - 4 slices.
3. Cardamom - 1 pc.
4. Half a banana.

In a blender, mix the pulp of half a banana, milk and cardamom. Dip the bread on both sides in the resulting mixture and bake it in the oven.

Fish brizol

Fish fillet with beaten eggs is a very tender dish, easy to prepare, but at the same time quite filling and tasty. This is a wonderful option for a French breakfast.

Many of us have prepared a similar dish in our lives, but not everyone knows that it is called “brizol”. For this interesting name the fish is hiding in the omelet. This recipe very simple. You need to take a fish fillet, pepper it and add salt, then fry it with a beaten egg.

Ingredients:

1. One fish fillet.
2. Two eggs.
3. Flour - 4 tbsp. l.
4. Salt.
5. Vegetable oil.
6. Ground pepper.

In general, to prepare such original dish you need fairly simple products.

Parfait

Parfait means “beautiful, immaculate.” And indeed, these words are very suitable for wonderful dessert from fruits and yogurt.

This recipe is classic version making yogurt parfait. The uniqueness of the dessert is that you always have the opportunity to change the components and get more and more new tastes. Cereals are important in the recipe. This could be oatmeal, muesli, granola, etc.

Ingredients:

1. One banana.
2. Raisins - ¼ cup.
3. Half a glass of yogurt.
4. Muesli.
5. Fruits and berries.

You need to chill the dessert dishes in the refrigerator in advance. This will give the parfait the necessary freshness. A quarter of the yogurt should be poured into the bottom of the glass. Next, add raisins, berries, chopped banana, and any fruit. You can also add grains. Top everything with the remaining yogurt.

If you decide, you will have to get used to new formats of eating food. Firstly, what the French eat is very different from what Russians are used to eating, and sometimes very contrasting. Secondly, in France they often, a lot and willingly talk about food, and if in Russia they often hastily stuff a sandwich into their mouth, thinking about their favorite work, then in France it’s the other way around - work can wait if a Frenchman is going to slowly chew his favorite baguette with a piece cheese. Thus, there is a difference not only in favorite dishes, but also in the culture of consumption. And if you decide live in France for permanent residence, then all this will be an important moment for you. However, it is not at all difficult to get used to the new format and new attitude towards food in France, as well as to new dishes. After all, most of the dishes in France are very tasty, and even if at first it is not so easy for you to switch to them, then later you will certainly be happy to eat exactly what France offers you, and dishes from other countries, including dishes from your home country, which you were initially accustomed to will no longer seem so tasty to you.

Besides the taste, almost every French dish is healthy. And the French themselves often discuss the usefulness of different foods and make sure that they lead a healthy lifestyle in this regard. So it’s not only tasty, but also healthy.

What do the French like?

Here is a sample list of those dishes and drinks that the French are crazy about.

1) Coffee. The first place should rightfully be given to coffee, because this drink is the most popular in this country. The French drink coffee several times a day, literally at every opportunity. For a Frenchman, the morning is unthinkable without coffee, but during the lunch break the Frenchman will definitely have another cup, and in the evening he will not refuse.

At the same time, the French love to drink black espresso coffee, without milk, despite the fact that it is harmful to the stomach. For lovers of gourmet coffee, Italy with all its cappuccinos is more suitable; in France they drink quite “hard” coffee - but in large quantities. If you come, you will have to get used to coffee, because this is a drink that the French drink all the time.

2) Cheese. Cheese is rightfully included in the list of the most favorite products and dishes for the French. Yes, sometimes there can be cheese a separate dish, in many cafes and restaurants you will be served a so-called “cheese plate” with pieces of cheese different varieties. In France there is simply an incredible number of different types of cheese; in fact, it is the cheese capital of the world. When you arrive, you will learn about such varieties of cheese as Camembert, Roquefort (however, it is well known abroad), and Chevre. Cheese is added to salads and even soups, so you will find its presence in almost every French dish. For someone who comes to France, falling in love with cheese is task number one.

3) Vegetables. The French eat a lot of vegetables because they are healthy. Almost every week the French go to the market for fresh vegetables. At the same time, vegetables in the market are more expensive than in stores, but a conscientious Frenchman is willing to pay more in order to ultimately receive proven quality. Many French people are personally acquainted with the farmers from whom they buy products; they have certain attachments and predilections for the products of a particular farmer-supplier.

Many of the vegetables that the French love take some getting used to. For example, when cooking, a very large amount of greens is often used, which is very useful, but not everyone likes it. Eggplants, zucchini, potatoes and tomatoes are what are familiar to Russians and dear to their hearts. French fries, by the way, are a very common dish that is often prepared in France. And a very tasty dish.

4) Meat dishes. Meat in France is also eaten often and a lot. Pates and steaks are popular. Dishes such as bloody steak with a fried crust and stew of vegetables and meat are common. The most commonly used meats in France are poultry and beef.

5) Seafood. The French here differ from most representatives of other nations in terms of both their love for such products and their diversity. But on the French table you can often see oysters and shrimp, scallops and other seafood. Also, the French, as you know, love frogs, which, however, are not classified as seafood, but are not far behind them. Frogs, however, are a delicacy, and in general are intended for a narrow circle of lovers, and if you come to France, do not be afraid that you will be served frogs on the very first day. By the way, French frogs are not very different in taste from the same oysters, but they are raised specifically for meat in environmentally favorable conditions in special ponds, and mainly the legs of such frogs are used for meat. If you love seafood, then there is a good chance that you will like frogs.

6) Wine. Regarding this noble drink, then France is also his homeland. It is here that there are the most vineyards, which supply the material for the production of the best varietal wines in the world. However, even the cheapest wine in France is very tasty; you can buy a bottle for just 1-2 euros - and already enjoy the full taste and aroma. This is explained by the fact that in France, without exception, all wine is of natural origin. If you arrive live in France for permanent residence, then you can be sure that not only will you not be poisoned by the local alcoholic products, but also get extraordinary pleasure from using it. France is a country of winemakers, and almost every self-respecting Frenchman understands wine at one level or another. You can also have a vineyard and produce your own wine if you so choose.

Despite all this, the French usually do not drink a lot; their goal is not to make themselves drunk, but to enjoy the wine. For this reason, they most often drink it in small sips throughout the evening and rarely drink more than one glass during this time. And it's very French. A Frenchman can drink alone, going out onto the veranda with a glass of wine and savoring it in small sips, while looking at people passing by and thinking about his own. This enjoyment of life, coupled with wine, is very typical of the French, who can generally be called one of the most cheerful nations on the planet.

7) Sauces. Sauces cannot be excluded from the arsenal of French cuisine either. Sauces are served with almost any dish, especially meat. But you can also see interesting and unusual sauces which are served with vegetable dishes. In fact, you can choose your own sauce for almost every dish in France. Which, without a doubt, makes French cuisine much more interesting and varied.

8) Soups. In general, soups in French cuisine do not occupy such a privileged place as in Russian cuisine. However, the French still love soups, although pureed soups are the most popular here. Interesting fact is that, again, cheese (grated) and small crackers are added to almost every soup. It does french soup refined and unique in its appearance. The French eat their soup, just like all other dishes, elegantly and elegantly - taking their time and enjoying every drop.

9) Baguettes. In general, people in France love baking, and despite this, the French are one of the fittest nations in the world. Baguettes were invented by bakers, according to one legend, during the war years, and the advantage of baguettes was that they bake very quickly. But even up to today baguettes are very popular in France. They are made, as a rule, without any additives - only flour, yeast and water. If you want to get up early in the morning to go to the bakery for a fresh, hot, crispy baguette and eat it for breakfast with a cup of coffee, know that you are already half French.

Conclusions

If you are invited to visit France (it’s easier in a cafe, since you can order your usual dishes there), then get ready for a large number everything new. The French rarely put a lot of dishes on the table, but you will certainly be treated to good wine, vegetables and a sweet dessert. French hosts won't force you to eat everything there is - eat and drink little by little and carry on a conversation, praise what you like, and you won't have to try what you don't want.

What the French don't like

Now let’s talk about which dishes the French don’t like and which ones you will most likely say goodbye to when you come to live in France for permanent residence. These dishes should not be offered to the French - they fundamentally do not accept some of these dishes, and some simply do not understand. The sad thing is that almost all traditional Russian dishes are on this list.

1) Tea. This drink is drunk on the other side of the English Channel - in Britain. As for the French, they simply don’t like tea. You will almost never find it in a Frenchman’s apartment, although in a cafe tea will most likely be on the menu. But even then, for the most part, for foreigners. The French are so unaccustomed to tea that some have almost never even tried it. In addition, tea would undermine the “monopoly of coffee,” which rules here almost without limit. In short, don't offer the French tea, but rather make them a cup of coffee!

2) Fatty salads. That salad, which the Russians call Olivier and are proud of its supposedly French origin, is actually a nightmare for any Frenchman! Because this salad includes everything that contains a lot of calories - eggs, sausage, mayonnaise. For a Frenchman, such a salad is simply unacceptable. Just like herring under a fur coat, which among the French who know about this salad is considered a very unhealthy dish, and at the same time not particularly tasty. If you want to make a salad for the French, cut up any vegetables and sprinkle them with extra herbs - your French friends will probably not refuse.

3) Okroshka. This dish seems normal only for Russians. After all, kvass (already an unusual product for foreigners), in which vegetables, eggs and sausage float, looks intimidating and unappetizing. If you offer a Frenchman okroshka, for the first time, divide it into salad and kvass in a glass. However, the dry component of okroshka is too reminiscent of Olivier, and therefore it is highly doubtful that a Frenchman will eat it.

4) Russian soups. Yes, and the French don’t like rich Russian soups either. Firstly, they are accustomed to pureed soups, and in Russian soups everything that has been cut into it is clearly visible. Secondly, the French believe that cabbage soup with sour cream or mayonnaise is literally too fatty. If you want to surprise a Frenchman with soup, then simply grind all the ingredients in a blender, and the Frenchman will be pleased.

5) Mayonnaise. Despite French names Russian mayonnaise, this sauce (and it is a sauce) seems too greasy and artless to the French, while they have dozens of other sauces in their national culture - more tasty and healthy, in their opinion.

6) Buckwheat. It would seem that this is not a dish, but simply a food product. At the same time, buckwheat has many proven useful properties. But the French simply don’t grow it and don’t know it. You will practically not find buckwheat in a French store; moreover, you will need to explain for a long time what it is. If you love buckwheat, bring it to France with you or look for specialized stores for those whose souls yearn for the national Russian flavor.

7) Dairy dishes. Milk and, in general, all products and dishes based on it are not very popular in France. Except, of course, cheese, but that's a different story. Semolina porridge, milk noodles and many other dishes that seem international are also unknown in France or simply have not taken root. Despite the fact that the same semolina or oatmeal is a much healthier breakfast than what a Frenchman usually eats for breakfast - cheese with baguette and coffee. By the way, oatmeal The French don’t eat on the water either, unlike the British.

8) Jellied meat. One of the most striking Russian dishes is, again, incomprehensible to the French. At first glance, it looks unusual and intimidating, and it has a unique taste. Despite the fact that the French, in principle, love all such dishes that have a liquid-solid consistency, such as puddings and jellies, their soul usually does not accept jellied meat.

Conclusions

Thus, if you are receiving French guests, then try to cook not what you are used to eating, but what they are used to eating, so as not to end up as heroes of the fairy tale about the crane and the fox. The ideal set of dishes for meeting French guests is a vegetable salad, a plate with a large number cheese, good wine and any meat dishes. This will allow both you and your guests to have a good time over food and conversation.

A simple answer to the question “What do the French eat?” is that they eat almost everything. In France, as in most developed countries, there are meat lovers and vegetarians, there are people who prefer salty foods and those who love sweets most of all. However, there are a number of aspects related to traditions of French cuisine, which distinguish France from all other countries.

History of food in France

Food is a very important part of the French, making it a huge part of the entire French culture. While the British are famous for their afternoon tea and the Americans are famous for their love of fast food, the French are known for their long, multi-course lunches. This food culture is integral to the dynamics everyday life in France.

The rapidly developing pace of life in the 21st century has brought changes to French lifestyle. For example, huge supermarkets, not unlike large American chains, have only come to France in the last 20 years. While France was once the epitome of multi-point shopping (bread in... boulangerie, meat - inboucherie, cheese - infromagerie, and fruits and vegetables - in local markets), more and more French people plan their diet by visiting weekly hypermarché s.

Despite this trend, the French still very often buy the most important products(bread and baked goods) in independent and specialty stores. While meat for everyday meals is typically purchased at the supermarket, many families still visit butchers for special occasions. the best pieces meat. In addition, many French people stop by the bakery every day for a freshly baked baguette or village bread (pain de champagne).

What do the French like to eat?

Although meals in France tend to take a very long time, breakfasts can be quite a quick thing. Lunch and dinner may seem like a long meal with plenty to eat various dishes, while breakfast is similar to what residents of other countries are used to: cereal with milk or coffee and toast.

French breakfast

As a rule, the French get to the coffee pot before they get to the breakfast plate. While the traditional default morning drink in France is a strong espresso (if you ask for coffee in a restaurant, you will certainly get an espresso), for breakfast it is recommended to ask café au lait. This coffee is served in a large round mug and contains a lot warm milk. Less popular options are tea or hot chocolate.

Usually the first cup of coffee among the French is accompanied by:

– A piece of baguette with butter or jam. As a rule, this is enough for a traditional French breakfast.

– Tartines – favorite food of the French– toast with jam or jam, which, due to their sweet taste, goes well with strong coffee.

– Layered, warm croissants – popular product for breakfast, traditionally reserved for the weekend. On weekdays they are also part of breakfast, but much less often. When in France, don't even think about eating croissants without warming them up first.

– Pain au chocolate– luxuriously delicious morning pastries. On weekends, the rectangular version filled with chocolate is a real treat for children.

– Sometimes the bread/toast/croissants are accompanied by some fresh fruit or plain yoghurt.

French lunch

To the question “ What do the French like to eat? for lunch? the most awaits you huge amount options. Some French people interrupt their work for a couple of hours to have a delicious lunch, accompanied by wine's vocals. But not everyone can afford such a luxury, and not always. For example, the frantic pace of modern life forces workers in business centers in big cities to quickly grab sandwiches bought from street vendors.

Restaurant lunch: This option is limited only by your imagination and budget. Three or four courses may include appetizers (salad, soup or pate), meat or fish accompanied by potatoes and warm vegetables. All this is topped off with dessert and sometimes a cheese plate. As a rule, such a dinner is accompanied by exquisite wines of France. Of course, there are restaurants that offer lighter lunches with popular menu items.

– Oysters lying on ice in half shells. The class of oysters is very important, for example the quality of the oysters Spé ciale de Claire an order of magnitude higher thanFine de Claire, while Spé ciale Pousse en Claire – premium, better than all the others combined.

– Salade Niç oise appears on the menu of many cafes. Named after the famous city on the French Riviera, this salad consists of tuna and hard-boiled eggs, potatoes, tomatoes, olives, capers, green beans and sometimes anchovies.

– Soupe à l‘ Oignon Gratiné e nowhere in the world can it be as delicious as in France. Flavorful and caramelized to perfection, topped with a crispy crust. swiss cheese gruyere, French onion soup is a true classic.

– Charcuterie– an assortment of hand-made air-dried sausages, dried ham and pate. Expect that company cold cuts will consist of Dijon mustard, gherkins and small pickled onions along with baguette and cheese. Add a bottle of red wines of France… et voilà , you have a French picnic that you can have right on a bench in the nearest park.

– Various restaurants and street vendors sell traditional French pancakes (crê pes) , which here can be both sweet and savory, both as a main course and as a dessert.

– Croque Monsieur is a not-so-distant relative of the American grilled cheese sandwich. This open sandwich with toasted ham and cheese, topped with velvety béchamel sauce. Its variation is Croque Madame, involves adding a fried egg on top.

– Don’t forget french potatoes fries!

Homemade lunch: Some French people are accustomed to dining at home, and don't want to break this tradition, even though at home they won't have the same fancy and gourmet multi-course meal as in a restaurant. This practice is more common in rural areas, especially in outdoor physical work where lunch provides an escape from the midday sun.

Street lunch: As work schedules become increasingly hectic, many French people have started buying sandwiches on the street or at train stations. The most popular sandwiches are those what do the French like to eat?, consist of a baguette, and the traditional filling cheese or ham are considered. Also now you can find as a filling boiled eggs, tuna and salami.

French dinner

Dinner in France varies depending on the day of the week, the time of year and how big the meal was. Couples who dine at home often have a rather austere dinner, while those who simply snack on a sandwich at lunch can afford a varied and rich dinner.

Since France is large enough that its climates and geography can be reduced to a single denominator, it is logical that the staple food differs in the north and south, along the sultry Mediterranean coast and in the cold Alps. Yes, on weekends or holidays the whole family gathers for dinner, sometimes in an expanded composition, then the meal becomes longer, more dishes are prepared, and dining table decorated with beautiful tablecloths, cutlery, napkins and plates. When dinner is ready and the head of the family says “ à table", everyone goes to the table and takes their places.

Tip: If you're not a fan of steak or fish, try them in France and you might change your mind. Seductive, artful sauces are not far from perfection.

– For the famous bistro steak steak au frites, entrecote (ribeye) is grilled or pan-fried (a couple of minutes on each side) and immediately served with a generous piece of cheese Roquefort or with aromatic sauce bé arnaise, which is poured over a piece of meat. A mountain of crispy fries is a must, plus a simple green salad.

– Fresh fish, purchased the day of preparation at the local market, lightly grilled and served with potatoes and salad, is another popular option for a French dinner.

– Fried Normandy clams can be served with shallots and thyme in a white wine sauce, followed by dipping slices of toasted baguette.

– Bouillabaisse, originated on the Mediterranean coast of Marseille, is a classic French fish soup. This is one of the key symbols French cuisine.

– Blanquette de veau, the softest veal, stewed in white sauce, is the main homemade food and one of the most popular dishes in France. Sometimes the dish can be varied and the veal is replaced with lamb.

– Simmering chicken, Burgundy wine, mushrooms, onions and lard pieces combine to create legendary dish coq au vin, the centuries-old “highlight” of French gastronomy.

– Boeuf Bourguignon, sister dish forcoq au vin, also coming from Burgundy. It basically uses the same method, but uses beef instead of chicken.

– Cassoulet, a divine one-pot dish that spread around the world from southwest France. Rich, slow-cooked roast is a recipe built around meat ( pork sausages, pork, goose or duck) and white beans.

Enjoy unique traditions of French cuisine

Although there is no specific diet that is common to all French people, many homes and restaurants have a range of typical foods and traditional dishes. Coffee and wines of France are also closely related to food culture. Travelers and visitors to the country will appreciate the excellent food and simple, fresh ingredients.

The French are famous in the world as true gourmets. Who, like them, knows a real sense in the kitchen and understands the subtle combination of products and the variety of tastes. Later in the article we will tell you not only what the French like to eat, but also provide information about the food that they most likely would not eat.

True gourmets

Food is an integral part of the life of this people, a kind of ritual, of course, food is necessary for all people, but... with the French everything is different. They, first of all, look at it from the aesthetic side - for them it is a kind of creative object. Moreover, everything should be beautiful - both the internal taste content and the external beauty of the presentation of the food.

Understanding what the French like to eat, first of all, it is worth mentioning that they do not have ordinary dishes - even the simplest ones have their own zest. This is the standard of delicate taste and a special, unique sophistication. So, what do the French like and don’t like to eat?

Russian dishes they wouldn't try

Each nation has its own preferences in food: what is good for one may be beyond all reasonable limits for another, or at best, will not be something tasty. Russian and French cuisine, of course, differ from each other, and they have certain dishes that our people will not understand or accept, and similarly on their part.

For example, the French do not like herring, but in our country it is a very common product that is in good demand. And the residents of France call it nothing more than “rotten fish.”

The next product is jellied meat, however, it is not only incomprehensible to foreigners, but not even all Russians find it appetizing. Its strange consistency, smell and color are confusing. Buckwheat with milk is also beyond their understanding. Many French people have never tried this cereal at all, and even more so in combination with milk.

Lard is also a controversial product. They eat it, but not in pure form- most often it is bacon, with a small layer of fat. The French also did not like jelly - its consistency resembles the same jellied meat, for the same reasons it was rejected from the list of taste preferences.

Now it will be interesting to consider what the French eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

How does the morning start?

It is customary for Russians to eat a hearty meal in the morning, but the French do not have this habit. Their breakfast is as light as possible. In the classical sense, it looks like this: Orange juice, croissants, and also... coffee. Also on this list may be dried bread, honey, confiture, and butter. Naturally, not everyone eats this way, but this is, so to speak, breakfast in its classic version.

Let's see what's for lunch

A standard French lunch consists of three parts:

• entrance (first) dish;
• basic;
• dessert.

Many people deviate from this rule and can order one thing: a sandwich, salad, some dish or soup. The latter, it should be noted, began to lose its popularity. However, it is still used as an entrée dish. The most popular of them are onion and white cabbage. Puree soups are in greatest demand:

• vegetable;
• leeks with potatoes;
• from young peas;
• gazpacho soup, originally from Italy.

Aperitif

Traditional homemade lunch It starts with an aperitif (it can be whiskey, etc., or just juice). The aperitif is delivered to the table with the so-called des amuse-gueule. Their role is played by salted cookies, canapes, and salted nuts.

First things first

And now it’s the turn of the entrance dish, which is often some kind of salad. The list of the most popular looks like this:

• "Niçoise" (it includes green beans, tuna, olives, lettuce, boiled eggs, tomatoes);
• tomato salad;
• green salad (mixed greens);
• grated carrots with dressing;
• eggs with mayonnaise;
• beet salad.

Next, different types of pate (pate), charcutry (sausages, servelat) are served along with gherkins. Popular here and open pies, for example, with cheese, leeks, jambon, as well as those made according to an individual recipe.

Another dish that is valued by the French is snails (Burgundy) with garlic; for us this is definitely an unusual dish. Of course, it is worth noting seafood - oysters, scallops, mussels, shrimp, crabs.

Favorite French table is the dish "Fruy de mayor" - salad with shrimp, mussels and salmon, dressed with yogurt. Sardines with olive oil and lemon juice are also popular.

By the way, for the curious, the recipe for Niçoise salad is as follows: 140 g tuna (canned), 10 olives, 200 g green beans, 8 anchovies, 4 tomatoes, 2 eggs, 1 head onions, 2 cloves of garlic, salad - to taste, 1.5 tbsp. l. wine vinegar.

1. First you need to prepare the sauce using olive oil, wine vinegar, fresh ground pepper, garlic, basil leaves, salt. All this must be thoroughly mixed and set aside for now.
2. Now you need to boil the beans in salted water over low heat. Rinse it cold water. To make it more tasty, you can lightly fry it for 1-2 minutes with olive oil and garlic.
3. Tomatoes and boiled eggs need to be cut, preferably in the same way - it will look more beautiful. Olives, if they are small, do not need to be chopped.
4. Let's move on to the final part. Place the torn lettuce leaves on the bottom of the plate. Next, go with thin onion feathers and pour a little sauce over them. Distribute the beans over the dish and add a little more dressing on top. Place the tuna in a mound in the center. Place slices of eggs and tomatoes, as well as anchovies, around. You can add freshly ground pepper and prepared sauce to taste.

Main course

We have looked at the entree options, and now we move on to the main course, which must certainly contain protein and carbohydrates. It could be a piece of meat or fish with a side dish. Beef cutlets, steak fried chicken, baked veal, tartare, salmon fillet, flounder, duck breasts- in general, there can be many options here.

French fries are traditionally served as a side dish. cauliflower, beans, artichokes, lentils, pasta, rice, steamed vegetables. As a seasoning - sauce, sour cream, butter or olive oil, spices.

After the second course, the cheese platter will be used, and as you know, this product is simply extremely popular in the country. Here they are produced in a wide variety of forms and for every taste.

Dessert

And finally, if you go to a French lunch, you will be treated to coffee and dessert with cream, pastries and fruit. What can fruits have to do with in different forms, for example, flambéed in cognac, rum or strong wine.

Let's now consider what the French prefer for dessert. In the lead - melting chocolate dessert(fondant au chocolat). Also on this list chocolate mousse, pancakes - again with chocolate, banana and even cognac.

Simple to implement, but no less delicious dessert"Floating Islands" made from whipped egg whites, milk, vanilla sugar and caramel, in addition to this you can add the famous tiramisu, yogurt with sugar or jam and also “strawberry”.

What does u look like? gin?

What do the French like to eat for dinner? The French prefer to have dinner at home, as well as lunch, but as an exception they can go to a bistro or restaurant. Unlike lunch, which they pay a lot of attention to, in the evening they eat light meals.

This could be some kind of vegetables for the first time; in the cold season they can be replaced by hot soups, and they can also be added to the main course, followed by dessert or cheese.

Differences in French cuisine depending on region

There are differences in the same recipe in different areas of the country. However, regardless of the region, there are common features that are inherent in French dishes. Typically, a lot of vegetables and root vegetables are used, and there is generally very little use of dairy products (the exception being cheeses). So what do the French like to eat in different parts of the country?

For example, Lyon cuisine is famous for its delicious onion soup- gratin, a popular dish in Lorraine are open pies with slices of smoked lard and ham with melted cheese, as well as stewed cabbage with pork and smoked breast.

In Burgundy, wine is used in many dishes - it is added to sauces and gravies. Snails marinated in wine are served without shells with onions and parsley.

Widespread in Provencal cuisine different vegetables, garlic and all kinds of seasonings. Meat consumption is limited here. Vegetable dishes The food here is very hearty. They often eat fish - halibut, pike, carp. They love seafood - mussels and oysters.

Desserts are in particular demand here: chocolate, nuts, nougat, creme brulee, cookies and cakes are always on the table.

What do the French like to eat in Normandy? Here they use dairy products in cooking - butter, cream and Camembert cheese. Even meat and fish are always cooked with cream.

We now know what the French like to eat, but still, each part of the country has its own characteristics, and this is why they differ from each other.

Some of the most famous dishes

What other dishes are worth trying when you find yourself in the country of real connoisseurs? gourmet cuisine? Reviews from gourmets about the cuisine of France indicate that the dishes here have unique combination flavor shades, in addition to this, they look very aesthetically pleasing. Only used for cooking fresh food, pays attention to detail and design.

The French favorite dish is foie gras. It is a very popular delicacy that can be prepared at home. There are many recipes for it, and we will look at the most common one. It is easy to prepare and requires a minimum of ingredients.

For fried foie gras, you need 500 g of duck or goose liver, green salad leaves, pepper and salt.

1. First, the liver must be carefully washed and divided into parts.
2. Place the pieces in the refrigerator for a while.
3. Then add pepper and salt, place in a frying pan and fry for 1-2 minutes on each side.
4. After it appears golden crust, you need to remove the liver from the pan. In this case, there is no need to add oil, because it itself is very fatty.
5. Roasted foie gras must be placed in a baking dish and cooked in the oven.
6. The delicacy is placed on a plate, which is decorated with lettuce leaves, and served immediately to the table.

Naturally, besides this dish, there are many others in the national cuisine that will answer the question of what the French actually eat and what else they prefer:

• “bloody steak” - the meat is fried on the outside, but the inside remains half-raw. Served with potatoes and vegetables;
• roti - beef roast;
• kok-o-ven - rooster in wine;
• Frog legs are a famous French delicacy. The legs of these amphibians are fried in breadcrumbs or deep-fried. However, not everyone dares to try them;
• escargot - gourmet dish, which is prepared from snails.

Here's another one popular dish- Ratatouille. Let's take a closer look at this vegetable dish, simple, but very tasty.

To prepare ratatouille, you need to take one piece each of eggplant and zucchini, 4 tomatoes, a third of red pepper, 3-4 cloves of garlic, half an onion, vegetable oil, ground black pepper, salt, bay leaf, greens.

1. Next, cut the zucchini, eggplant and three tomatoes into thin slices.
2. Place the vegetables in a greased form. At the same time, they should alternate in color. Add bay leaf, pepper, sprinkle with oil.
3. Cut the onion and pepper into small cubes, which then need to be fried in oil.
4. The remaining tomato must be peeled, finely chopped and mixed with pepper and onion. Pour in half a glass of water. Cook the sauce for 5 minutes. Add chopped garlic and herbs, as well as salt and pepper to taste.
5. Pour this sauce over the vegetables and bake them in the oven for an hour at 180°C.
6. Now you need to place it beautifully in the center of the dish and pour the sauce over it. Bon appetit!

It should be noted that this feature national cuisine: Almost all dishes are served with sauce. There are thousands of sauce recipes here, and for the French this is not just a gravy for a dish, but a very complex recipe and a certain sacrament. However, here it is customary to treat the preparation of any dish this way, putting your soul into creating incredible combinations of flavors that conquer the world.

French cuisine can rightfully be called the most exquisite in the world, and the process of cooking itself is a real art. Knowing this, you will understand that the French love to eat.

If you answer the question: “What do the French eat?”, it turns out that they eat everything. Meat lovers, vegetarians, sweet tooths, and salty lovers live here.

Food is a very important part of life in France. Here food is not just eaten. Here it is beautifully decorated before serving, and the dishes are served in a certain order, and not all at once.

Although French cuisine is traditional, it great influence provided by other countries. For example, if previously there were only small grocery stores in France, in the last 20 years huge supermarkets have appeared, where you can buy an unimaginable amount of food in one go. Previously, the French went to the bakery for bread, to the butcher for meat, and to the local market for vegetables and fruits. Now they all visit supermarkets once a week and buy everything they need at once.

True, despite the abundance of supermarkets, for special occasions the French still flock to stores designed to sell goods of a particular category. Many families prefer to take meat from the butcher for a family celebration, and baguette lovers will definitely visit the baker in the morning to get some crunch at breakfast French bread.

Despite the fact that the French do not like to rush at the table, they usually have breakfast quite quickly. They sit longer at lunch and dinner.

French breakfast

Breakfast in France is usually quite light. The French drink coffee and eat no choice of the following foods:

• Tartines, which are toast with jam.
• Croissants. They are more often eaten for breakfast on weekends.
• A piece of baguette with butter and jam.
• A piece of bread fresh fruit or yogurt.
• Before breakfast, the French prefer to drink a cup of coffee. If you order coffee in a cafe in the morning, they will serve you expresso. It is served to everyone by default. If you want coffee with milk, you should say so. Coffee with milk is served in a huge bowl, and there will be really a lot of milk in it. Sometimes the French drink tea or hot chocolate in the morning.

French lunch

Lunch in France lasts about two hours. At this time, some go to a cafe, where they eat a multi-course lunch and drink wine, others go home, and still others buy a couple of sandwiches from a street vendor.

• Lunch at the restaurant. The restaurant usually serves three to four courses. These include salad, soup, main course and dessert. Often, instead of dessert or along with it, a cheese plate is served. Wine is usually ordered during lunch.
• Lunch at home. Those who eat at home eat a couple of hot dishes. Their food, of course, is simpler and less varied than that of those who eat in a restaurant.
• Lunch on the street. If your work schedule does not allow you to go to a restaurant or go home, in France you can always buy sandwiches on the street at lunchtime. Typically they consist of a baguette with cheese and ham. You can also find boiled eggs there, canned tuna, salami, ham and cheese separately.

French dinner

IN different days Weeks in France there can be different dinners. Those who dined at a restaurant during the day usually eat little. Those who snack on a sandwich during lunch eat more heavily.

On special occasions, lunch can be quite long. The table is covered with a beautiful tablecloth and decorated with flowers or candles. Dishes are placed in beautiful plates.

Despite the fact that there are no clearly defined dishes for different meals, the French eat approximately the same food in restaurants and at home. Coffee and wine are almost essential products at every meal. Tourists are always happy to taste delicious French dishes and fresh products.