The wing or the thigh? The delicacies of the French cuisine!
French cuisine is no longer just about food and drink, it is art on its own. Variety and high quality make it so mysterious and desirable all over the world. So much so that it was even declared a UNESCO World Intangible Heritage Site and part of the UNESCO World Heritage List nearly ten years ago. It is also very varied and different from all other cuisine of the world! Healthy and low in calories, especially compared to other cuisines. Eating french food is not about necessity, but pleasure. As a result, even large-scale catering offers healthy menus.
written by: Kosza
Who hasn’t heard of the croissant, that is already popular in every single country, and which is an essential ‘dish’ for French breakfasts, accompanied by a good hot coffee or cocoa. This is the French way to finish off breakfast. Lunch is more a reflection of the French attitude to food. The famous onion soup, low in calories and low in calories to the extreme, served in a crispy loaf, can be a royal feast. We cannot talk of second courses. There are different meats with more and more delicious sauces such as mushroom sauce, and of course salads are not to be missed during a good French lunch.
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Get together
But a French dinner is no longer just about treats, it’s also an essential part of the traditional family meal, where you discuss what’s happened to whom, help solve problems, and in short, get together. Of course, the food itself is not negligible. The French don’t believe in the saying “eat like a beggar”. An appetiser, main course and dessert must always be on the table. And desserts include almost everything and every flavour, from the creamiest to the most delicious tarts and burnt pastries. A variety of French cheeses and fruits are also an essential part of a true French feast. French speciality cheeses are probably known all over the world, although some are quite divisive, with many people reluctant to eat a cheese that is covered in mould and smells of six-day-old socks at a very high price. But the French do. They don’t mince their words because they know it’s really special and healthy. You can see that the French like to have their way with their food, but we can’t talk about an obese nation. The reason for this is that, compared to others, French cuisine is relatively low in calories and, of course, I should add that some dishes are eaten in what could be called bird portions. It’s more the enjoyment value than the quantity that is important. Of course, light red wines are also an indispensable part of the meal, which aids digestion.
Healthy and light
Of course, I must also mention the really special French dishes, such as mussels, oysters, shellfish or foie gras and various stuffed meats. These are mostly eaten only on holidays. The food is not over-seasoned, they like their food to retain its original flavour. They use butter and olive oil, and because they eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, most of the food is healthy and light without being heavy on the stomach.
If you visit the French countryside, you can get a really special selection of meats, and enjoy the perfect preparation of the justly famous truffle and its pairing with different meats.
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…and what about fast food
Most of you will have seen the famous comedy “Wing or Thigh” by Louis de Funès, in which the main conflict is whether traditional French cuisine, based on tradition and pleasure, can be surpassed by the artless, tasteless and, as the film clearly shows, terribly unhealthy fast food of the large-scale industry. The answer, in the film and in reality, is simple: no!
The French are the ones who are most concerned about avoiding the proliferation of fast food, or at least, if they are an inevitable part of development, to introduce some variety into them. I don’t know if it’s because of this, but when I’ve been out and about, and I’ve walked into a McDonald’s as a real ‘jerk’, I’ve found the burgers and fries I’ve had there to be much fresher and more succulent than what we get here. Maybe it was just sensory disappointment, but who knows?
Specialities
To my credit, of course, I stopped in at a real French diner to try some French specialities. I shouldn’t have, because although everyone encouraged me not to miss the oysters and snails or the frogs’ legs when I went out, it was a shame to listen to them. Even though I didn’t break out in a rash like poor Funés in the film from the oysters, I wasn’t able to eat any other food that day. I’m certainly not up to French artisanal cuisine yet. Of course, if you go, try it and see if you get further than I did.
If you want French cuisine! Don’t miss their French onion soup, beef bourguignon, parmentier, piperade and cassoulet!
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Did you know?
Most restaurants in Paris and the surrounding area will serve baguettes as a free side. The best part about this is that they are also served in unlimited quantities in most circumstances. However, keep in mind that although baguettes are a wonderful treat, you should still focus on your starter, or main dish.
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Source(s):
Original article: Szárnyát vagy a combját? Avagy a francia konyha ínyencségei Translated by: Bogi – CONTINENT SURFER
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