![]() ![]() Just don't ask for Grey Poupon! Bite into decadent southern French cooking in Toulouse Chez Leon is a lively, welcoming place to try these regional specialities, while those seeking something more upmarket can choose between two jewels in the city’s culinary crown, Le Bistrot de Halles and Le Pré aux Clercs. These include andouillette, a sausage made with pig intestines poulet au meursault garlic butter snails, and dishes that have achieved global fame such as coq au vin and boeuf bourguignon. The intervening centuries have provided ample time to evolve a host of local specialities that go far beyond just wine and mustard (although both find their way into many regional recipes). In fact it has done so for years, ranking among France’s top gourmet destinations since the 15th century, when Burgundy was the ancestral home of Dukes who controlled swathes of what is now France, Holland, Belgium and Germany. Eat out in the world mustard capital, Dijonĭijon is the capital of Burgundy, and so immediately tingles the taste buds of wine and mustard lovers. Visitors travelling from the UK can catch a relatively easy ride to Lille, as it’s one of the stops on the Eurostar. For a stylish eating-out experience, you can’t beat the Art Deco-decked seafood restaurant A L’Huîtrière, while the region’s meat is prepared with consummate skill at the historic butcher’s-shop-turned-bistro Le Barbier Lillois. Terrific meat dishes - carbonnade de boeuf (beer-stewed beef), coq à la bière (beer-stewed chicken), potjevleesch (meat and vegetable terrine) - mingle with superb seafood sourced from port towns to the north and west. This is reflected in the frequent use of beer and hops, alongside the prevalence of delectable chocolate shops such as Guillaume Vincent. Up in the north of France, a flavorful Flemish influence seeps into Lille’s cooking. Alternatively, diners with a taste for seafood and prefer a less formal atmosphere, head to Le Petit Commerce, cooking up sublime, no-frills fresh fish and shellfish Sample the Flemish flavors of Lille For a top-of-the-range experience try Michelin-starred La Gabriel, or for something a little less pricey but equally colorful check out La Brasserie Bordelaise. There are some superb south-west meat dishes, such as wood pigeon, Pauillac lamb, Bazas beef, Bigorre pork and several delicious-looking platters based around tripe – the brave can pluck grenier médocain or tricandilles from a restaurant’s menu. This draws on traditions from around the rest of France, as well as produce from the Garonne River and nearby Bay of Biscay, creating a diverse culinary palette. Enjoy fine wine and great food in BordeauxĬapital of one of the world’s finest wine regions, Bordeaux has developed a gastronomic scene fit to accompany its array of world class vintages. And the sizeable student population ensure there are plenty of decent budget options, too, such as La Fondue, serving the traditional winter food at very reasonable prices. The best fine dining restaurants are found in the city center, such as La Madelon, serving excellent regional dishes, and Les Terrasses, which has two Michelin stars. The city is ringed by walnut orchards, and their wrinkled fruit was awarded the prestigious Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée in 1938 today these orchards produce over half of France’s total walnut crop, which can be enjoyed in carefully crafted cakes and tarts from the city’s myriad patisseries. The most familiar regional specialty is Gratin Dauphinois, a creamy potato gratin served in most restaurants. Situated in the shadow of the Alps in south-east France, Grenoble is something of a culinary cross-roads, bringing together local produce from the surrounding farmland with Swiss-style Alpine dishes and a strong Italian influence. Discover the culinary crossroads of Grenoble From the world’s best walnuts in Grenoble to the rowdy bouchons of Lyon, then, here are ten great places to eat in France. The restaurants and their offerings are also very diverse from region to region, so while many travelers turn up in Paris and start collecting Michelin stars, more adventurous foodies can have a far fuller experience by roaming the country and trying the styles and specialties of different regions based on their natural bounty. It’s the combination of perfect natural topography and an expert hand to produce such staples as grapes for wine, dairy for cheese, and excellent wheat. France is hailed the world over one of the guard posts of fine dining, and no one takes this fact more seriously than the citizens of this country. ![]()
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