French Food For Travellers

French Food List For Tourists 

In the following paragraphs, you read about nine distinguishing dishes of French food. This way you get a good impression of the country during your trip. However, what are the most unique dishes of France? Because with only nine French dishes you might detract from tasting the countless other delicacies?

To help you out, I made a selection of French food and cuisine you should know. But the selected menus are to such an extent distinctive from the rest of the world that it is typically called French. I’ll give an example. Of course, mussels are also French, but people in countless other countries eat delicious mussels too. But you will not find them in this overview. However, the following nine dishes are sufficiently distinctive to mention here and to enjoy during your holiday in France.

Enjoying French Food On A Terrace In France

Through my travels, I have become captivated by uncovering the undiscovered treasures of the world for my readers. While many incredible travel destinations are well-known and visited by everyone, there exist these hidden and rare gems that I have had the pleasure of discovering. These are places of exceptional natural beauty and cultural significance that often go unnoticed by most travellers. My passion for exploration has led me to witness some truly amazing sights, and I am constantly driven to seek out new and lesser-known destinations. I am thrilled to share my carefully curated content with you, in the hopes of igniting your sense of wanderlust and inspiring you to embark on your own extraordinary adventures.

Through my travels, I have become captivated by uncovering the undiscovered treasures of the world for my readers. While many incredible travel destinations are well-known and visited by everyone, there exist these hidden and rare gems that I have had the pleasure of discovering. These are places of exceptional natural beauty and cultural significance that often go unnoticed by most travellers. My passion for exploration has led me to witness some truly amazing sights, and I am constantly driven to seek out new and lesser-known destinations. I am thrilled to share my carefully curated content with you, in the hopes of igniting your sense of wanderlust and inspiring you to embark on your own extraordinary adventures.

Haute Cuisine And Star Restaurants 

In addition to gastronomic cuisine, France is known for its ‘Haute Cuisine’. In this way, chefs de cuisines give an extra refined taste to French dishes. Paris has more than a hundred star restaurants. There are very few world cities that come close to this. Those who are gourmets will find a suitable restaurant in Paris. 

And in other French places, you will discover chefs de cuisines famous for excellent cooking too. After Paris, many connoisseurs mention Lyon. For gastronomic delights, you go to Lyon. Paul Bocuse has been a leading top chef in this Burgundian city. As a result, the Halles des Lyon Paul Bocuse gastronomic market bears his name as a tribute. And this way you buy tasty dishes of excellent quality. This makes it definitely one of the tourist attractions of Lyon to experience French food and cuisine.

1) Quiche Lorraine A Hearty Pie

Quiche Lorraine is a delectable French classic. It beckons every traveller seeking an authentic taste of France. The buttery, flaky crust cradles a luscious filling of eggs, cream, and scrumptious bacon, creating a harmonious blend. For an immersive experience while on holiday in France, indulge in Quiche Lorraine. Try this French food during a leisurely brunch or lunch at a charming Parisian café or a quaint boulangerie. The dish’s versatility makes it suitable for any time of day.

Quiche Lorraine Regional French Dish

To enhance this culinary journey, pair the Quiche Lorraine with a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc or a crisp Brut Champagne. Picture yourself seated at a sidewalk table, savouring each bite of this iconic French creation. Meanwhile surrounded by the delightful ambience of a bustling street. The Eiffel Tower as a backdrop. This is a perfect moment encapsulating the essence of French gastronomy.

2) Salade Niçoise in the French Riviera

Time to take a Salade Niçoise in the French Riviera? Nice is obviously the best place. Here you indulge in a burst of Mediterranean flavours. This French food is brimming with fresh tomatoes, crisp beans, briny olives, and of course fresh tuna. Salad Niçoise surprises your holiday with its authentic taste. 

Salade Nicoise Is The Ultimate French Food

Local fishermen catch the best fresh tuna from May to September. Enjoy this during a leisurely lunch on a boulevard terrace overlooking the azure sea. The salad’s lightness complements the sunny atmosphere, making it an ideal choice for a midsummer day. As you relish each bite, the panoramic views of the ocean unfold before you, merging sunlit waves with the vivid Provençal landscape. Pair it with a chilled glass of Côtes de Provence rosé—its fruity notes harmonizing with the salad’s zest—creating a memorable moment in your French Riviera holiday. 

3) Boeuf Bourguignon 

Boeuf Bourguignon in Paris – A Culinary Trip 

Indulging in Beef Burgundy in Paris is a culinary revelation. The hallmark of this typical French food and cuisine lies in its rich, slow-cooked flavours. The French call it: Boeuf Bourguignon. When you order it in a Parisian bistro, expect a fragrant meal arriving at your table, the savoury aroma enriches your taste experience. The tender beef, infused with red wine, shall seize you with each exquisite bite. Besides, the bistro experience in Paris is lively, offering a vibrant atmosphere where locals and travellers alike revel in the joy of French gastronomy. Paris is the epitome of regional gastronomy. It is a city where the charm of a traditional French dish like Boeuf Bourguignon intertwines smoothly with the cosmopolitan flair of its surroundings. When in Paris, a bottle of robust Bordeaux or Burgundy wine is the perfect companion, enhancing the flavours of this distinctive French delight.

Beef Burgundy French Food Cuisine

Boeuf Bourguignon in Burgundy – Heartland of Tradition

Venturing into Burgundy, you’ll find Boeuf Bourguignon at the heart of authentic French tradition. The difference between Paris and Burgundy is palpable. With Burgundy embracing a slower, more rustic pace. In the region’s charming restaurants, expect Boeuf Bourguignon to be a culinary masterpiece, deeply rooted in Burgundian heritage. The dish here is a manifestation of Burgundy’s dedication to local ingredients and time-honoured cooking methods. Surprisingly, while Paris offers cosmopolitan allure, Burgundy presents the most renowned authenticity in its culinary offerings. In Burgundy, savour the dish with a glass of the region’s exquisite Pinot Noir, as the terroir of Burgundy is intricately woven into every aspect of this classic French experience.

4) French Cheese Plus Wine Combinations

French cheese has such an exquisite taste that it distinguishes itself from other cheeses worldwide.

The tasty French cheese is part of the Holy Trinity; du pain, du vin, du fromage or: baguette, wine, and cheese. So if you are on holiday in France, be sure to take the time to taste cheese somewhere. That seems pretty easy and it is. Were it not for the fact that France seems to distinguish at least twelve hundred kinds of cheese. So you have to take some time to taste it.

Because the flavours of wine and cheese mutually reinforce each other, it is recommended to use the following combinations with a cheese plate:

Cheeses Belong To The French Food Culture

5) Galettes from East Britain

Savoury crêpes, also known as galettes, are traditionally baked in eastern Brittany. This French food resembles ordinary pancakes. But they are just a little bit different. The difference is that the crêpes from Brittany are baked with buckwheat flour. Anyone who tried to bake a pancake with buckwheat flour knows it is not that easy.

Galettes French Food From Brittany

The bakers in a French crêperie are masters in keeping the pancakes airy and elastic. A galette should be eaten with a savoury topping. Otherwise, it’s not a galette. Do you want to eat quality crêpes; then go to a Crepe Gourmande; they have an official quality mark.

There are several annual celebrations where the crêpe is central. Gourin: the feast of the crepe. The Catholic festival La Chandeleur is also all about crêpes throughout France. This is celebrated, for example, during your skiing holiday on February 2nd.

6) French People Love Escargot

You can also get acquainted with eating snails in France. Called Escargots by the French themselves. A delicacy for some, but unappetizing for others. Provided, the French eat often a lot of snails. About five hundred million annually. Usually, this is the Burgundy vine snail, but there are also other species. If you are on holiday in France and you have enough courage to eat snails, you should definitely do that.

A French Food is Eating Snails

The taste of the escargot is earthy. Because the snail is so soft, it melts on the tongue by itself. As a result, you usually eat escargot with lots of herb butter, mushrooms, and soft cream cheese. But so many people, so many flavours, and Escargot can be prepared in many different ways. The way of preparing escargots determines the type of wine served. A local Burgundian wine fits very well with Burgundy vineyard snails.

7) Tarte Flambee from Alsace

A variation on the pizza is the relatively different Tarte Flambée from the beautiful rural region of Alsace. So if you decide to go on holiday to Alsace, then take the time to taste this countryish delicacy. Because Alsace used to be German, the Tarte Flambée is also known as Flammkueche. There are several variations, but usually with bacon, cheese, creme fraiche, and onion. Sometimes also with delicious salmon.

Tarte Flambee Regional French Dish

Selected, more expensive variants include foie gras, lamb ham, canard, or escargots. The best Tarte Flambées are made with cheese from Alsace such as Munster. Very suitable for lunch on a terrace in the Alsace in the sun with a nice glass of white wine. A wine that tastes good with Tarte Flambée is made from Pinot Blanc or Riesling grape. Enjoying this goes very well with this characteristic French food.

8) Croissants Shaped Like The Moon

A frequently eaten unique sandwich in France is the croissant. The croissant is typical French food indeed. However what do you think makes the croissant so distinguishing?

If a croissant is baked well, then the taste is excellent. The dough is sweeter and fatter than regular bread, making it extra tasty. In addition, the shape of the bun is incomparable. Because it is in the shape of a crescent moon.

Authentic French Croissants

So if you go on holiday to France, enjoy the tasty crispy and airy bun even more.

Imagine waking up in Paris. It is spring, and the sun is shining. You are on vacation. Take the time to enjoy your late breakfast with a croissant with Niçoise Salad on the balcony of your hotel room while overlooking the Eiffel Tower, a street near Montmartre, or the magnificent Parc des Buttes Chaumont.

9) Baguette: An Iconic Bread

Perhaps the most iconic bread France is known for is undeniably the baguette. This is an elongated slender piece of bread. Since the end of two thousand and twenty-two, in addition to the entire gastronomic French food, it can also be found on the World Heritage List. The baguette as bread has existed since time immemorial. However, the name baguette has only been officially assigned to the baguette since nineteen hundred and twenty. According to French President Macron, it is a magical bread. For that reason, he also made a strong case for the preservation of this selected piece of culture.

French Dish With Baguette And Wine

It is nice to know that the French word: baguet means magic wand in our language. If you are a tourist in France, you buy a baguette everywhere.

Taste France during your vacation

So, now you know what to do when travelling in France. A country that you understand best by eating their French food dishes. France is fortunate to have something remarkable that sets it apart from many other nations. Because an authentic French dish is more than a meal; it’s a cultural journey. It is also crucial for the French to enjoy their food and to take their time. For them, conviviality while eating is essential. Therefore a French dish should be enjoyed thoroughly.

Another habit is that people in France eat later in the evening. Restaurant kitchens often are open from 22:00 pm to 22:30 pm. So do you already have an appetite for the excellent cuisine of France?