The Beginning

When it comes to the history of French cuisine, it really all started back in 1400AD. This was when the first French cookbooks imitated Moorish cuisine, and sugar was considered as being a serious luxury. During the 1700s the appeal of French food grew incredibly with the prestige of French culture.

There were many 20th century changes, and in fact World War I heralded the beginning of modern French cuisine. Over time as the history of French cuisine continued there were many changes made and in today’s world, ubiquitous bistros and cafes dot the land and the French have their pick of Pain au Chocolat or Brioche daily.

The Importance

There is a serious importance to understanding the history of French cuisine, much more than most people realize. By understanding the history of French cuisine you are able to realize just how much time and care the French people have always made sure to put into the preparation of their food.

The French have always had a great respect for food in general and eating well is of prime importance to most French people, who spend a truly amazing amount of time thinking, talking about and consuming food. The cuisine of France is incredibly varied, with a great many regional differences, based on the produce and gastronomy of each region.

French food is often expensive to buy in a restaurant but you certainly can learn how to cook it yourself. Before you start however you should understand that there is a lot of time, patience and practice that needs to go into the cooking of French food. Almost all of the ingredients that are used in French cooking however can be found at traditional supermarket stores.

Also know that many individuals associate French foods with elegant or elaborate dinners, when really French foods can be served just about anywhere at any time. The diversity of French foods is in fact one of the most revered features about it. Eating popular French foods does not have to be expensive if you cook it yourself but just make sure that you are willing to put the time and consideration that is required into the cooking of these foods.

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There are a number of things that the French are said to do well, and making food is one of them. French traditional food items and meals can be marked as some of the finest cuisine in the world. The flavors, textures and ingredients show the French’s love of life and everything else.

One of the great things about French traditional food is the fact that each region has its own specialties that are traditional and unique to that area. These French traditional food items are based off the available items within that particular region.

Northern French traditional food is primarily based on butter while you will find southern French traditional food is based off olive oil. This creates two distinctive favors even if the same dish is being prepared.

Regional Flavors

Perigord and Alsace offer pate de foie gras, which is the world’s most infamous and notorious kind of liver spread, made from ducks or geese inhumanely. Nougat is a famous white or pink candy that is fairly chewy comes from Montelimar. Dijon produces mustards (of course) that are part of traditional French cooking. Marrons Glaces are produced in Privas.

There is also bouillabaisse, cassoulet, frog’s legs and snails (escargot) that are part of traditional French cuisine. There are also cheeses, which are a definite part of French cooking. The cheeses often bare the name of the town that created them, so there are more than 300 different types of cheeses.  Many are used in the traditional dishes found in each area.

Traditional French foods do not have to take a lot of time and they do not have to be something that is impossible to pronounce. Many traditional French foods are easy to make and do not require a degree in linguistics in order to be able to pronounce. There are plenty of resources on line that can provide you with a number of recipes that can have you cooking traditional French foods in no time at all.

France is one of the centers of cuisine. The best chefs in the world are either from France, where trained in France or have at least spent some time studying there. There are hundreds of variations and the French can make something delicious out of the most simple or complex of ingredients. You can be sure if you are enjoying traditional French cooking that you are eating some of the best food in the world.

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There are many different styles of foods to choose from, but French foods are by far among the most popular of all. This is largely in part due to the fact that there are so many varieties of food and styles of cooking that there is really something for everyone here. There are many great French foods, a few of the most popular which will be discussed here.

Bread

One of the most popular French foods of all time would have to be bread. In particular the baguette is favored, and when eaten as a sandwich it is split into two lengthwise and then filled with a substance such as butter of pate. Bread is truly a staple in France, and is typically included in at least some form at every meal of the day.

A few of the other popular French breads are ficelle, boule, fougasse, gros pain, pain de campagne, pain de mie, pain aux noix, pain aux raisins, pain de siegle, and pain viennois.

Cheese

Even people who are not that knowledgeable on French foods know that cheese is another of the staples. When we think of France two of the things that come to mind first are cheese and wine, as both are incorporated at almost every meal. Whereas in the Western world you would be more apt to consider cheeses and wines as being delicatessens and only expected them to be included on certain occasions, in France they are a regular addition to a meal.

Frog Legs

A bit more unusual but still very popular in France are frog legs. Of all the French foods frog legs is actually one of the most favored, and are without a doubt one of the better known delicacies of French cuisine. Typically only the upper joint of the hind leg is served which has a single bone that is similar to the upper joint of a chicken or turkey wing.

Frog legs are usually prepared by frying or deep-frying, depending on the chef’s preference really, and they are sometimes breaded and other times unbreaded.

Remember

It is important to remember, regardless of which particular French dishes you are cooking, that you take care with your cooking and remember that there are certain rules that should be followed. The French are a people who really care about their food and who put everything they can into every single meal that they prepare. There should never be a rush to French cooking, and that is really the key.

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The French cuisine enjoys a worldwide reputation as being among the most refined as well as elegant cuisines in the world, and justifiably so. Among the many French dishes known to form a major part of French cuisine, there are some that are nationally recognized and which almost every Frenchman worth his salt consumes while others are known in certain regions, though there is a common thread in all the different French dishes and that is to have ingredients of a high quality which must then are carefully prepared.

Bouillabaisse – A Fish Stew

Among the different appetizing French food recipes that you would want to become better acquainted with, you can include Bouillabaisse that is a fish stew that owes its origins to Marseille and which consists of different fish varieties and also shellfish that make excellent soups and there is also celery and onions as well as leeks and tomatoes included in this particular French food recipe.

Another famous French food recipe worth learning up about is the one that shows you how to cook up French onion soups which obviously are a soup that consists of onions and also beef broth with toppings of cheese as well as croutons. If you believe the legend of this particular French dish, it was the creation of King Louis the fifteenth of France.

For those who want to learn a simple French food recipe, the French toast is most recommended and you can derives much pleasure from trying out the many hundred variations that are associated with it. Thus, you can learn about how to fry or bake French toasts, or they can be prepared for serving immediately, or preparation can be done in advance and the French toast can then by stored for the night before serving it up the next day. There are also various ingredients that can be used and you can choose from sweet or savory French toasts and they can be consumed at breakfast, or make up a main meal or even are consumed as desserts.

What you will need, according to French food recipes for making French toasts are slices of bread which should preferably are slightly stale, egg and milk mixed together and into which the bread must be soaked. You would also need sugar as well as some spice if you want and depending on the particular French food recipe that you are using, you can add them while preparing the French toast or you can add them upon having cooked the French toast.

Some people even prefer Maple syrup as a substitute for sugar and this choice goes down especially well with North Americans. You may also wish to add spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon and also vanilla, and then depending on the French food recipe you have chosen, you can either fry or bake the bread.

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If you have ever considered putting together a French meal for your dinner guests but the thought of all the time and effort and running around stores looking for unusual ingredients has prevented you, you might want to know that there are plenty of delicious French recipes available that are relatively easy to prepare and are quite scrumptious.

If you prefer, you can add a single French dish to your American-style meal such as tian of Provincial vegetables or chick pea soup with cumin or perhaps avocado with sesame and soy. You can choose to serve a tasty coq au vin with a loaf of bread and ice cream or a simple chocolate cake for dessert.

Ingredients

If you are considering cooking French food at home there are a wide variety of French dishes that don’t require fancy ingredients or fancy cookware. If you want to occasionally cook French food without having to run to the store, here are some items you might want to keep in the house: fluer de Sel, a  French salt which is excellent for garnishing purposes. While cooking French food at home, add a little pizzazz to your meals by adding some anchovy paste to foods. When combined with butter it adds a delicious flavor to a piece of toasted French bread.

Crème Fraiche is a thick cream with a distinctive tangy flavor and is a wonderful ingredient to use when cooking French food at home and makes an excellent substitute for sour cream. Lardons are simply very small pieces of bacon that can enhance your pasta dishes, salads and can help you make a delicious stew. When you are making a French dessert its important to have some bittersweet chocolate in the house.

French Cookware and Utensils

A Cocotte is a variation on the Dutch oven and is an excellent choice when preparing French food at home such as stews or meats. A sauté pan is an essential cookware item for French cooking and is quite useful for meats as well as vegetables. You might want to purchase a rasp or grater which is useful for parmesan cheese as well as lemon zest. If you don’t already have one you might want to add a strainer to your collection.

Don’t be intimidated by cooking instructions such as deglazing when preparing French food at home. Deglazing is simply the process of adding water, wine or other liquids to a hot pan that has been used for preparing your meal. Deglazing removes some of the tasty bits of food that have become stuck to the pan and adds them back to the meal you are cooking.

If the recipe asks you to reduce, this is simply the process of boiling away some of the liquid. Sautéing is the process of cooking with just a little bit of fat. If the recipe suggests you refresh something you simply place it in very cold water. Cooking French food at home can be relatively easy and will provide you and your family some scrumptious meals.

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Prepare Your Own Dishes

If you don’t have the money to take your loved one to the high priced restaurant, buy a good French food cook book and prepare the dishes at home. It’s fun to prepare your own dishes because you can experiment with different foods, you can attempt your own ways of presentation and you can prove to your family that you can actually cook gourmet. You’ll love the variety a cookbook offers and your family will love sampling the different foods France is known for. So if you know how to cook, or even if you’d just like to try your hand at cooking, try to cook from a French food cook book and see why many people find French food to be their favorite.

Don’t Forget The Wine

It’s no wonder the French love their wine. Many French foods go great with certain types of wine. A good cook book will let you know which wines go best with what meals. If you are fortunate enough to sample real French food from a trained chef, the restaurant will also typically list the wines that go best with a meal right next to it on the menu. That makes it very easy to find a good wine that compliments your meal. Of course, you’re free to try different wines with different French foods. It’s fun and delicious and makes you feel like you’re really in France, trying out the local cuisine.

So whether you’re cooking the food yourself, or you’re eating in a fancy restaurant, don’t miss out on the French food. It’s some of the best in the world and you’ll likely find you have a new favorite type of food.

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If you love French food, then you should know that there are a few French cuisine recipes in particular that you may want to try out. These French cuisine recipes are not only beautiful and delicious, but easy to prepare as well.

Cherry Soup

This has always been one of the most popular French cuisine recipes to make at home. To prepare this dish, you simply need 1 ¾ lb black cherries, 3 tbsp. sugar, 2 tbsp. butter, 1 tbsp. cornstarch, water, 6 slices bread, and 2 tsp. kirsch.

To prepare you simply clean and drain the cherries and remove the stems. Next you want to place the cherries into a saucepan with the sugar and kirsch, and bring this mixture to a boil over medium heat. Once the mixture gets hot you want to allow it to cook for about 15 minutes, and then melt 1 ½ tbsp. of butter into a skillet. Add the bread slices and then sauté this until browned on both sides. Drain with a paper towel to remove some of the oiliness. In a bowl you want to blend 1 tbsp. of corn flour and 1 tbsp. water.

Now that you are almost finished, you want to remove the cherries and add the mixture of corn flour and water to the cherries. Return the cherries to the pan, just for a few seconds, and then put the bread slice into a bowl and pour the soup over the bed.

Frog Legs

Another of the most popular French cuisine recipes is frog legs. The ingredients are 12 frog legs, 2 eggs, 1 tbsp. lemon juice, 1 parsley sprigs, dried bread crumbs, salt, pepper, and oil. Start by preheating the oven to 375ºF, remove the skin from the frog legs and then wash them thoroughly.

Now you want to add the lemon juice, salt and pepper, then beat the eggs in a bowl and add the chopped parsley. Soak the frog legs in the eggs. Roll the frog legs into the crumbs, add oil to a pan and fry the legs here for about four or five minutes, until lightly browned.

There are many other delicious French cuisine recipes that you can prepare as well, but these two are definitely two of the most authentic and well-loved. Whichever French food you decide to prepare, the most important thing is that you use the freshest ingredients and put time and care when preparing the food.

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Normandy for instance is famous for its rich creams and apples, while Brittany is home to crepes. Then there is regional French food as well, which never really goes out of fashion.

The Basics

There are a few things that are important to know about this style of cooking. French cooking is much more than just food it is truly an art form. Anyone can cook French food but only one specially trained by an expert French chef can make great gourmet French food.

French cuisine is considered as being the most refined cuisine in the world and mainly includes breads, pastas, cheeses, desserts, sauces, soups, rice, and herbs.

Cooking Techniques

When it comes to French cuisine there are a few cooking techniques that are commonly used, and for instance fats and oils are often used here. Fats are used to provide tastes and textures to the food and oils allow the cook to use a wide range of cooking temperature to prepare food. Sautéing, stir-frying and deep-frying are the most commonly used cooking techniques using oil.

A few of the other preparation techniques that are often used for the cooking of French foods are brining, drying, grinding, julienning, marinating, mincing, pickling, salting, sprouting, sugaring, and seasoning.

Get Cooking

If you are interested in French cuisine and would like to try cooking some yourself, there are some great dishes you may want to try out. Quiches are always popular, and are egg custards with additions such as bacon or cheese and then baked in a pastry shell.

Cognacs and champagnes are always favored as well and a true part of French tradition. Whatever food you serve you should always serve the proper beverage with it as well. Manners go hand in hand with French cuisine and etiquette is a major aspect here.

The French are very conscientious of their appearance and the French have a great respect for their food and consider it an art form in itself. So whenever you are cooking French food make sure you give it the respect it deserves.

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Considering Carbohydrates

One thing that France is best known for is their delicious breads.  French bread is made of four ingredients: flour, yeast, salt, and water.  There are even laws stating that these ingredients comprise the definition of French bread — perhaps that is why the bread is one of the most famous French foods.

The baguette, particularly, is a staple in French cuisine.  A baguette is long and skinny with a thick center.  It is also characterized by its crunchy crust.  Baguettes are popular for any meal of the day — whether served with butter and jam for breakfast or with ham and cheese for lunch and dinner.  They are also a popular side dish with soup or salad.

Delectable Dinners For Famished Diners

French dinners are large and luxurious affairs.  The meals are usually served late in the day, and families spend a long time eating them while enjoying each other’s company.  However, many famous French foods are served for dinner in American households as well.  Coq au vin is one of the most famous French foods beloved by Americans.  Bouillabaisse, a seafood stew made from fish, shellfish, garlic, wine, and herbs, is also considered a French delicacy.  French fries, although originating in America, are just as popular in France as in America.

Simply Scrumptious

The French desserts are a perfect way to top of a delicious French meal.  Rich and luscious, French desserts are another famous part of French food.  Crème brulée is one of the most well known French desserts.  However, delicious treats like chocolate mousse and tarte tartin are also popular.  After you have tasted a French dessert, you will understand why they are famous not only in France, but throughout the world.

Taking Matters Into Your Own Hands

If you are missing out on famous French foods, you should take the initiative to make some yummy meals yourself!   French cuisine is not merely food, it is an experience that everyone should have and enjoy.

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Regional Dishes with Fresh Ingredients

French food varies from region to region; the influences of geography, economy and history are evident in French cooking. Dishes from the French Mediterranean feature olive oil, tomatoes and plenty of herbs while cooking in the northwest of France uses a lot of butter, sour cream and apples. Neighboring countries also influence the cuisine, Alsace is close to Germany and there is a strong German influence in the food with sauerkraut and beer being common.

Although regional dishes are enjoyed everywhere in France the French prefer to enjoy regional food in the place of its origin. Doing so means that the ingredients are fresh and the dishes are better than they would be if ingredients were subjected to long hours of transport. This is something to keep in mind when cooking French food; try and use the freshest ingredients, locally sourced if possible.

French Slow Cooking

A good place to start with French cooking is rustic dishes, these dishes are simple yet delicious and the perfect introduction to French cooking. Coq Au Vin is a famous and popular French dish and an example of French cooking that is relatively easy to make. This dish which ‘rooster in wine’ is traditionally made with rooster but you can easily substitute rooster with chicken. This dish is cooked using a slow cooking method, there is very little preparation and the cooking process is simple enough that you don’t need much cooking experience to pull it off.

Beef bourguignon is another example of a rustic French recipe that uses the slow cooking method. It is basically a beef stew that has been slowly absorbed into haute cuisine and refined to suit the standards of sophisticated French cooking. However sticking to the original recipe will yield a hearty stew that is not at all labor intensive to prepare. Both these recipes are now popular in expensive French restaurants but you can easily cook them up in your own kitchen with spectacular results.

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