French food ranges from high-end "haute cuisine" found in expensive Michelin-starred restaurants to hearty country-style food and from delicate pastries to robust wines. French food is in general not difficult to make, but using the correct ingredients will make a world of difference. Regional styles vary across the country of France and most depend heavily on seasonally available local produce, as well as other locally-raised ingredients. The sauce-heavy style of cooking popular for a long time has been replaced by fresh, light dishes with an emphasis on flavor and presentation in some circles.
Common regional dishes include the almond butter cookies and many styles of crepes from Normandy in northern France, traditionally served with hard cider or Calvados brandy, quiche Lorraine from the border area between France and Germany, and the ratatouille, bouillabaisse, and salad nicoise from Provence. http://www.frenchentree.com/france-normandy-food-drink/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=24768
Flavors common in French food are the many French wines such as Burgundy, the hundreds of French cheeses from brie to mimolette, seafood from the North Atlantic, Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, and the many fruits, vegetables and spices from France. In Northern France, apples, parsley, sage, chervil and butter are common. In Southern France, lemon and olive trees, and spices like rosemary can grow year round. Provence is famous for its lavender, whose buds are used in Herbes de Provence, along with rosemary, marjoram, thyme, parsley, sage, and summer savory. France is also known for its wide variety of meats and sausages, cooking everything from snails to rabbits.
French Cooking by Julia Child
In the 1960s, now-legendary chef Julia Child had a vision to bring extravagant French cooking to the homes of regular American families. To make this happen, Child, who had little chef training prior to the venture, set out to create a cookbook for home cooks. In 1961, Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking was released, one of the first cookbooks featuring French cuisine in the English language. While promoting the book, Child also found her calling as a television chef, which led to a total of nine television series and nine additional cookbooks.http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/3694953
Famous French Dishes
- French onion soup
- Mussels
- Cheese
- Crepes
- Boeuf Bourguignon
- Quiche lorraine
- Coq au vin
- Cassoulet
- Ratatouille
- Bouillabaisse
- Salad nicoise
Ordering French Food on a Diet
While French food may be full of cream and butter, other healthier options are also available for those watching their weight. Howcast recommends skipping the seafood bisque and French onion soup as appetizers, with mussels as a better choice. They also list a number of terms to avoid on the menu, such as mousse, pate, hollandaise, bechamel and bearnaise as they generally indicate a high fat content. Grilled fish is a healthier option.
