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A helpful guide to
French cuisine
for diners and travelers by an established authority
Why French cuisine is special The cooking of France is the best in the Western World.
Famous
regional
cuisines and styles
Click the buttons below to learn about these French cuisine stars.
 
 
 
Overall insights
on French cooking
 Classic French cuisine
(haute cuisine) is one of France's greatest glories.
However, it is not the only
significant cuisine of France. Far less than 1 percent of the dishes eaten by the French are prepared according
to the dicta of classic French cuisine. These rich and elaborate dishes are usually consumed in expensive
gastronomic temples such as Taillevent where the average French person simply cannot afford to dine.
Much of the cooking in France, like
with some other national cuisines, is strikingly regional in character. Each local cooking style has its own set of rules,
philosophies, and basic ingredients - often in marked contrast to those of other regions. For instance, what
do the delicate butter-and-cream cooking of Normandy, the not-so-delicate Mediterranean-style garlic-and-oil
cooking of Provence, and the hearty Bavarianlike sauerkraut-based dishes of Alsace have in common with one
another, save the French name? Not much.
Other well known
French cuisines include ...
Languedoc (southwestern
France) - Home of the Cassoulet (made with slow-cooked white beans, sausages and smoked pork).
The Cassoulet is the world's greatest bean-based dish.
  
Perigord (southwest
France) - Source of the black truffle.
Bourgeoise (nationwide) - La
Cuisine Bourgeoise is the general cooking style of many middle-class French homes. It has borrowed culinary
ideas from both classic and various regional French cuisine modes (particularly, the
area where the bourgeois
cook grew up and/or lives).
Grandmere
(nationwide) - Uncomplicated, delicious cooking in the style of a traditional grandmother who avoids
frozen, canned and otherwise processed foods.
Learn about these
regional French cuisines
Click the 7 regional cuisine buttons:
Also learn
about these
exciting
world cuisines
My food & wine
credentials
My books have been critically acclaimed by major magazines and newspapers. Click
the button below to read a sampling (in Acrobat format).
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