Food in France: a brief gastronomical tour!

Food in France! Surely a topic upon which an unending stream of tomes have been written, especially by the French. However, although the finest restaurants in France scale heights that few others even attempt, some of us might say that many second and third tier restaurants - in other words, where most ordinary people eat - often serve up a rather dated style of cuisine that is now somewhat passé.

Heavy sauces masking the flavour of the produce, dishes over-rich with butter and cream, it all now seems a very old-fashioned and unhealthy approach to eating. And indeed, the finer French chefs have all but abandoned it themselves, as it has already been in most of the rest of the world.

Nevertheless, there can be no argument that the French take their food and wine seriously. And their wealth of regional differences have helped make French food and drink highly regarded abroad. As with most large countries with varied climates, the main reason for the different regional specialities is the fact that the local produce found in each place is so diverse.

Eating and drinking make any travel in France something of a gastronomical tour!

Food in Northern France: Le Nord; Picardy; Champagne; Alsace and Lorraine

Food in Western France: Normandy; Brittany; the Loire Valley.

Food in Southwestern France: Poitou and Aquitaine; Perigord, Quercy and Gascony; the Pyrenees.

Food in the South of France: Languedoc-Rousillon; Provence; Cote d'Azur.

Food in Central France and the Alps: Burgundy and Franche-Comte; Massif Central; Rhone Valley and French Alps.

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Other France pages:

Travel to France for a Europe Tour with Joie de Vivre!

Tour Routes in France

When to travel to France for your tour: weather and seasons

Useful facts, dates and links to help you plan your tour of France

Food in France: a brief gastronomic tour

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