An Introduction to French
Cuisine
French cooking is all about fresh, locally available ingredients
and cultural traditions. That’s why French dishes are so varied and
diverse—the style of cooking and favorite flavors vary depending on
where the food is being made. Regional specialties are heavily
influenced by the availability of local ingredients and by the
culture of the countries closest to that part of France. Paris is
like a melting pot for all these different types of French cuisine,
so you’ll be able to experience a wide range of traditional French
dishes.
French cuisine is generally broken up into
different categories:
Cuisine Bourgeoise
This phrase is used to refer to traditional,
classically French cuisine and includes almost all of the dishes
that we typically associate with “French cooking”. These dishes are
usually very rich and cream-based and served in large
portions.
Haute Cuisine
“Haute” cuisine is what we would refer to as
gourmet. These dishes are often derived from classic French
cuisine, involve a heavy amount of cream and butter, but are served
in small portions with an emphasis on presentation. The finest,
freshest ingredients are used. These meals are generally
expensive!
Cuisine Nouvelle
This more modern style of cooking produces dishes
that are lighter and simpler than the classic French cuisine.
Portions are smaller and the heavy amounts of butter and cream is
avoided.
Cuisine du Terroir
This refers to the regional specialties that were
mentioned earlier. The “Cuisine du Terroir” will change
dramatically depending on what region of France you are currently
in. Take your taste buds on an adventure by exploring other regions
of France during your weekends!