French food and French wine – a big draw for buyers of property in France
French food and French wine are two of the great attractions for regular holidaymakers and for those buying a property in France. Indeed, the French table is respected the world over, largely because attention to detail is paid in the preparation of even the simplest peasant dishes, and also because its wine is just so darn good! The cuisine is remarkably varied across the regions but no matter where you are living in France, the secret to success is the use of locally produced, fresh ingredients.
Living in France – the eating day
French food -- breakfast (le petit dejeuner): this is usually a light meal. It consists typically of milky coffee or hot chocolate with breads or croissants spread with jam or sweet pastries such as pain au chocolat or brioche. Meat, cheese and cereal do not feature in traditional French breakfasts, but cereal has grown in popularity in recent years.
French food – lunch (le dejeuner): Lunch is eaten at some point between noon and 14:00hrs and most people eat it at a restaurant or café table. The notion of a sandwich eaten at the desk is anathema, even in corporate Paris, and the midday meal is nearly always honoured with a minimum 90-minute break from work. Although many workers now opt for a lighter one or two course meal at lunchtime, a four-course meal with a glass or two of wine is still not unusual. The first course is typically crudités or salad. The second course consists of meat or fish with side dishes of vegetables, pasta or rice. A slice or two of cheese follows before the dessert, which is usually fruit or tart. This is rounded off with an expresso coffee.
French food – dinner (le diner): While lunch used to be the main meal of the day, the traditional four-course meal is now often not eaten until dinnertime – 18:00hrs and 21:00hrs. If you own property in France’s southern regions you will find dinner tends to be later than in the north.
Living in France – eating out
Eating out in France is not so much cheap as good value because unless you are extremely unlucky, whatever you eat will be well prepared, well presented and delightfully tasty. You may come across a number of different types of menu.
- Fixed price menu: Menu prix-fixe or ‘Menu a xx Euros’. By law, every French restaurant must offer a fixed-price meal with a choice of dishes at each course. These meals usually consist of four courses and may include a glass or small carafe of French wine. Some restaurants offer several set menus at different price points. While coffee is rarely included, tax and service usually are. The best value, and often the freshest food, will be on the menu du jour.
- A la carte: This is the traditional menu of individual French food dishes and usually includes a dish of the day (plat du jour). A meal consisting of dishes chosen from la carte will be more expensive than the fixed price menus, and service will be added to the bill.
- Menu dégustation: This is a tasting menu that allows you to sample a wide range of French food and flavours in several (usually between seven and twelve) small dishes. French wines may accompany each course. All guests at the table usually have to have the same meal. It is set price meal, sometimes with both coffee and service included.
While cafes serve light snacks such as croque monsieur, omelette, salad and sandwiches, brasseries serve full meals, often with regional French food dishes. Both types of establishment serve hot and cold drinks, French wine and food throughout the day and evening. Bistros tend to serve a fairly traditional, sometimes limited, menu while the term restaurant encompass the full range of French cuisine. Both bistros and restaurants cater to diners wanting full meals, with French wine, at traditional eating times.
French food – some regional and national specialities
Living in your property in France: shopping for French food and French wine
If you own your own property in France, sooner or later you are sure to want to try your hand at cooking one of the famous French food specialities. If your chosen recipe is from a region far from where you are living in France, you may find it difficult to hunt down the ingredients. Generally, the basic ingredients of regional specialities are best bought in the areas where they are famous.
Most fresh French food is sold local to where it was grown. Markets are a popular outlet for vegetables, fruit and cheeses but they also sell a wide range of foodstuffs.
French wine is sold in grocers and supermarkets but it also possible to buy it at the vineyard if you book an appointment.In large towns, French food shops and bakers typically open early and close at about 19:00hrs. They close on Sunday afternoons and on one day during the week. Most other shops are open by 10:00hrs and closed by 20:00hrs, Monday to Saturdays. Outside of the cities, many stores close for lunch and do not open on Sundays and Mondays.
Although small local butchers, bakers and other specialist French food outlets continue to survive, French hypermarkets are where the main grocery shopping tends to be done. These stores rarely open on Sundays. They rarely provide free carrier bags, either, so bring your own bags or a basket.
Living in France – soft drinks and beer
A small cup of black coffee (expresso) is the pick-me-up of choice for most people living in France, but tea, especially with lemon, is also a popular hot drink choice. While a wide range of soft drinks is also available, French people tend to prefer mineral water above all other cold drinks.
Despite the fame of French wine, young French people like to drink beer when meeting up with friends in bars, cafes and clubs. This is particularly the case in the north and northeast of the country where a number of new, small breweries have opened in the last five years. Although cans of beer can be bought in supermarkets, home consumption of beer is not typical of the French.
French wine
French winemaking dates back to before the Romans making France one of the oldest wine-producing countries in Europe. During this time, French wine producers have acquired an intimate knowledge of their soils, their vines and their local microclimates and continue to use their expertise to preserve quality. Wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne are the most important economically.
Choosing French wine is always a difficult exercise. The French find it tricky, too! But the most important issue in terms of quality and price is to understand the designation. There are three:
- Appellations d’Origine Controllée (AOC). This designation applies to the highest quality French wines. Strict production regulations and maximum yields apply.
- Vin de Pays. These French wines offer exceptional quality for the price. Production regulations are not as strict as for AOC wines so wine growers can be a little more creative.
- Vin de table. Often marketed under a brand name, these wines have a consistent flavour. They are considered the entry-level French wines.
Getting to know the local French wines is a favourite pastime of many Brits who own property in France, and wine-tasting trips attract many of those who travel to France on holiday. French food, too, is a major attraction for all visitors. Indeed, any would-be gourmets would be happy living in France! Sante!
