French food, at its best, is well cooked, beautifully presented and a joy in every respect. A lot of visitors to France come home saying "I don’t know what all the fuss is about. We didn’t have a single good meal while we were there" On the whole it is because they choose the cheapest of the set menus in an inexpensive restaurant and are amazed when it is not Michelin-star level.
To guarantee the best food in France, just like anywhere else in the world, you will have to pay. Unlike other countries, although others are beginning to catch up, with a little diligence you should find a small local restaurant specialising in what France does best - using local ingredients, in season, and cooking them perfectly. Such establishments are still remarkably common, but they do need to be sought out.
As is often stated, the best French cooking is regional. It is true that 'globalisation' seems to result in a flattening of quality everywhere and even proud France has not been immune. However, seek for a restaurant serving local produce and you are already half way to the real France. If you are in the south you are more likely to find food cooked in olive oil with tomatoes, aubergines (US: eggplants) and other flavours of the Mediterranean. In Normandy the dish you choose will be cooked in butter and probably have cream in it too. Sauces will be made using wines from the local terroir and the flavour of those wines will dictate whether you get a light, delicate dish or a meaty, rich, dark, warming stew. If your favourite dish is aubergines à la Provençale, wait till you go south to eat it. Don't order it in Picardy. By definition, the restaurant which offers it is unlikely to be dealing with local producers.
Choose cow’s milk cheeses in Normandy (such as Camembert) or Savoie (such as Beaufort) and in areas where lush green fields or high mountain pastures provide the grasses that feed the beasts. In rocky, mountainous regions, stick to sheep or goat’s milk cheeses.
It is true that there is now a greater exchange of fresh products, but the rule of thumb should be to eat lemon sole on the north coast, anchovies on the Mediterranean. Clicking on the regions, provinces and departments listed below will guide you as to what may be available as you travel round savouring the remarkable cuisine of France.
We recommend that you click on the region of interest under 'See places' below to help you to find out about local foods and dishes.
So far, I have made some 9,000 entries in French, but you can bet that the item you are searching for is not among them. If this is the case, please e-mail queries@whatamieating.com and I will try to respond with the information you need.
