The French have long been considered connoisseurs of taste and gourmet cooking. French cuisine is well-known for the complexity of the recipes, the sophistication of the techniques and the perfect taste of the dishes. From thick and delicious soups to thin and flaky pastries, French cuisine always seems to hit the spot. In this guide, discover the ten ultimate French foods every food enthusiast should taste, where to get the best ones and the estimated prices.
1. Coq au Vin (Chicken in Red Wine)
Coq au Vin is probably the epitome of French comfort food; it is simply chicken simmered in red wine with mushrooms, onions, garlic, and lardons; small pieces of pork or bacon. The chicken is cooked at a low temperature for a long period to make it soft while the sauce becomes thick and tasty. Usually taken with mashed potatoes or boiled bread, it is a filling meal that captures the very essence of French cooking done the old way.
Where to Find the Best:
Le Relais Louis XIII (Paris): Famous for its promotion of this traditional meal made from the finest Burgundy wine.- Bouchons in Lyon: You might get a taste of the local and traditional restaurants in Lyon; the *Coq au Vin* is a dish that is best tasted in this region.
Approximate Cost:
Dining Out: $20-$35 per serving. Homemade: $25-$40 for four servings.
2. Bouillabaisse
A Provençal Fish Stew This traditional fish stew comes from the city of Marseille, which is a seaport. It includes many types of fresh seafood, including fish, mussels and shellfish, which are prepared with tomato, garlic, fennel, saffron and white wine. This leaves you with a delicious soup that represents the Mediterranean more than any other dish I have made. Bouillabaisse is usually taken with some toasted bread and a spoon of rouille– a garlic saffron mayonnaise.
Where to Find the Best:
Chez Fonfon (Marseille): Famous for its really tasty Bouillabaisse which is a local fish dish.
Le Rhul (Marseille): Another great location in the City of Marseille, with a conventional approach to the menu but with a vast choice of seafood.
Approximate Cost:
Dining Out: $30-$60 per serving. Homemade: It costs around $50-$80 for four servings because the main ingredients include fresh seafood and saffron.
3. Croque-Monsieur:
grilled ham and cheese sandwich. A delicious and easy-to-make sandwich with ham, béchamel sauce, and Gruyère cheese, toasted to perfection. When served with a fried egg, it is called a *Croque-Madame. This is a famous food in French cafés and restaurants since it’s a way of providing people with French cuisine in a very short time.
Where to Find the Best:
Café de Flore (Paris): Provides the best Croque-Monsieur with exact amount of cheese and creamy béchamel sauce. Maison Landemaine (Paris):A bakery that has taken this basic meal and made it extraordinary with better quality ingredients.
Approximate Cost:
Dining Out: $8-$15 per sandwich. Homemade: $10-$15 for two servings, depending on the cheese and ham price.
4.Ratatouille is a Provençal vegetable stew
A healthy vegetable dish with eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, onions and garlic with herbs. Ratatouille focuses on the bounty of Provençe, which is a full-fledged summer food film. It can be taken as a meal on its own, as an accompaniment or even as a topping for bread.
Where to Find the Best:
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon (Paris): Provides an improved version with excellent cooked and well-arranged vegetables.
Local Markets in Provence: To get a more down-to-earth feel, try eating this at markets in Provence, and you will find many restaurants using this dish with fresh local produce.
Approximate Cost:
Dining Out: $15-$25 per serving. Homemade: $10-$15 for four people as most of the ingredients used are vegetables.
5. Beef Bourguignon Beef Burgundy
A delicious, thick beef stew prepared with red burgundy wine, garlic, onions, carrots, mushrooms and bacon. The meat turns out so tender due to the long cooking process, and the wine adds depth to the taste of the soup. Served most often with mashed potatoes or buttered noodles, this is one of the best dishes of Burgundy cuisine.
Where to Find the Best:
Maison Rostang (Paris): Well known for the traditional and rich, hearty Boeuf Bourguignon prepared to the finest standard.
Le Bœuf Couronné (Lyon): Specializing in regional beef dishes, which include a simple style of Boeuf Bourguignon.
Approximate Cost:
Dining Out: $25-$45 per serving. Homemade: WAY: $35-$50 for four servings (beef & wine will affect the price).
6. Quiche Lorraine
It is also known as Savory Tart. A type of baked pastry from the Lorraine province containing a crisp, flaky pastry shell with a filling of eggs, cream, cheese and lardons (bacon). Quiche Lorraine can be taken at any time of the day and is particularly popular as a brunch food all over the world.
Where to Find the Best:
Paul Bakery (Worldwide): Serves home made, baked to order Quiche Lorraine with a taste of French cuisine.
Café des Artistes (Strasbourg): It is in the Lorraine region, offering a typical and filling kind.
Approximate Cost:
Dining Out: $10-$20 per slice. Homemade: $15-$20 for a full quiche, 6 to 8 servings.
7.Escargots de Bourgogne
French for Burgundy Snails. A garnish, indeed, escargots are snails cooked in a mouth-watering garlic, parsley and butter sauce. The softness of the snails and the taste of the sauce will make any fast food lover who is willing to try it have a good time. As a starter they are a delicacies, which show the best features of French cuisine.
Where to Find the Best:
L’Escargot Montorgueil (Paris): Serves snails and has the simplest yet most delicious preparation– with garlic and parsley butter.
Le Procope (Paris): Often referred to as the oldest café in Paris, one can get some excellent escargot in a very traditional setup.
Approximate Cost:
Dining Out: $15-$30 for a dozen. Homemade: $20-$30 for a dozen.
8. Tarte Tatin (Apple Tart Caramelized on the Bottom and Reversed to Serve)
An apple tart prepared by sautering the apples in butter and sugar and then baking it with a pastry cover at the top. Once baked, the tart is inverted to show the golden brown apples on the surface. Tarte Tatin is a delicious dessert that is usually eaten with a bit of cream or vanilla ice cream.
Where to Find the Best:
Tarte Tatin Bakery (Lamotte-Beuvron): This is the birthplace of this dessert, where you can get the real deal with the best-caramelized apples.
Boulangerie Poilâne (Paris): Known for its pastries and offer a traditional, crisp Tarte Tatin.
Approximate Cost:
Dining Out: $8-$15 per slice. Homemade: $10-$15 per tart for a whole tart that will yield 6-8 serving sizes.
9. French Onion Soup Soupe à l’Oignon
A soothing soup of the onions which are first caramelized in butter and then slow cooked in a beef stock. Topped with baguette slices and a good amount of melted Gruyère cheese on the top it is. Soupe à l’Oignon is one of the oldest dishes that one can have, especially during the cold season.
Where to Find the Best:
Au Pied de Cochon (Paris): Popular for the Soupe à l’Oignon, served with a layer of cheese melted on top.
Les Philosophes (Paris): Serves a great onion soup made from real onions in a small bistro-like setting.
Approximate Cost:
Dining Out: $10-$20 per bowl. Homemade: $10-$15 for four servings.
10. Moules-Frites (Mussels and French Fries)
Boiled mussels in white wine, garlic, shallots and herbs served with some French fries on the side. Moules-Frites is one of the most popular brasserie dishes which unite the tender smell of the sea and the crispy golden fries.
Where to Find the Best:
Léon de Bruxelles (Paris): Noted for its Moules-Frites’, mussels cooked in different gravies.
La Closerie des Lilas (Paris): A legendary brasserie that has always been famous for its rich seafood menu, as for a delicious Moules-Frites.
Approximate Cost:
Dining Out: $20-$35 per serving. Homemade: $20-$30 for four servings.
From hearty Coq au Vin to the caramelized Tarte Tatin, there is much to expect from French cuisine. As to where the best versions of these dishes can be found is important whether you are dining in France or cooking at home. Happy exploring these famous dishes and tasting the real taste of French cuisine!
