Food & Drinks Highlights of France | French Dishes to Try

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Tipping: In France, a service charge is usually included in the bill, but leaving a small additional tip (around 5-10%) for good service is appreciated.

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Eating Hours: The French typically enjoy a light breakfast, a leisurely lunch between 12 pm and 2 pm, and dinner around 8 pm. Many restaurants close in the afternoon.

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Shopping Hours: Shops generally open from 10 am to 7 pm, with some closed on Sundays and Mondays. Bakeries and smaller shops might have shorter hours.

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Discount Shops: For budget shopping, try chains like Carrefour, Auchan, Lidl, and Monoprix.

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Cuisine Type: French cuisine is known for its finesse and flavor, focusing on cheeses, bread, wine, and pastries. Each region has its own specialties.

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Savoir Vivre: At a French dinner party, it's polite to wait for the host to say 'bon appétit' before starting to eat. Offering to help with the dishes is a nice gesture.

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Main Ingredients: Cheese and wine are staples in French cuisine, along with baguettes and a variety of meats and seafood.

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Most Popular Alcohol: Wine is the heart of French drinking culture, particularly reds from Bordeaux and whites from Burgundy. Champagne is also a signature drink.

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Important Info: To signal you've finished eating, place your knife and fork side by side on your plate. Keep your hands on the table, not on your lap, during the meal.

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Warning: It's considered impolite to ask for a 'doggy bag' in France. Try to finish your meal or leave what you can't eat.

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Farmers' Markets: Visiting local farmers' markets is a must in France. These markets are often full of fresh, regional produce and offer a true taste of French culinary culture. They are usually open in the mornings and can be found in most towns and cities.

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Cooking Workshops: For those interested in learning the art of French cooking, many regions offer cooking classes. These range from professional courses to casual workshops, often led by local chefs.

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Vineyard Visits: France is famous for its vineyards. Guided wine tours in regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Loire Valley offer insight into the wine-making process and include tastings.

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Croissant: This buttery, flaky pastry is a must-have for breakfast. Try it plain or with fillings like almond or chocolate.

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Coq au Vin: A classic French dish of chicken cooked in wine with mushrooms, lardons, and sometimes garlic.

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Bouillabaisse: A traditional Provençal fish stew originating from Marseille, rich in seafood and served with a rouille sauce.

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Ratatouille: A stewed vegetable dish from Nice, typically made from tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, and onions.

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Tarte Tatin: An upside-down pastry in which the fruit (usually apples) are caramelized in butter and sugar before the tart is baked.

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Escargot: Snails cooked in garlic butter, often served as an appetizer in French restaurants.

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Crêpes: Thin pancakes, either sweet (crêpes sucrées) or savory (galettes), commonly filled with a variety of ingredients.

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Macarons: Delicate, colorful meringue-based confections, often filled with ganache, buttercream, or jam.

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Foie Gras: A luxurious food product made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened.

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French Cheese: Sample some of the world's best cheeses, like Camembert, Brie, Roquefort, and many others.

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Galette des Rois: A traditional cake served in January during the Epiphany. It's made of puff pastry and filled with frangipane, a sweet almond cream.

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Moules-frites: Popular in the summer, particularly in coastal areas, this dish consists of mussels cooked in white wine, served with fries.

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Alsatian Choucroute: A hearty dish from Alsace, made with sauerkraut, sausages, and other salted meats.

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Salade Niçoise: A traditional dish from Nice, made with tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, Niçoise olives, anchovies, and dressed with olive oil.

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UNESCO Heritage Meal: France has a 'Gastronomic Meal' listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, emphasizing the ritual of eating well.

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Street Food Culture: Street food is less common in France compared to other countries; dining in bistros and restaurants is the norm.

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Legal Drinking Age: The legal drinking age in France is 18.

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Wine Production: France is one of the largest wine-producing countries in the world, with regions like Bordeaux, Champagne, and Burgundy being globally renowned.

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Protected Pastries and Bread: Many French pastries and bread, like the baguette and croissant, have a protected status, ensuring traditional methods of creation are preserved.

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Terroir Concept: The concept of 'terroir' is very important in French cuisine, emphasizing the connection between food and the specific region where it is produced.

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Culinary Delicacies: Contrary to popular belief, frog legs and snails are considered delicacies in France and are not typically eaten on a daily basis.

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Oldest Cafés: France is home to some of the oldest cafés in the world, like Le Procope in Paris, dating back to the 17th century, where famous figures like Voltaire and Rousseau frequented.

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Largest Cheese Board: France set a world record for the largest cheese board/display in 2015, showcasing over 1,000 different types of cheese.