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What Are Traditional French Foods?

by Louie Doverspike

Overview

French cuisine has gone through a great deal of change over the centuries. It has reflected the politics, cultural mores and influences of each generation. French cuisine is one of the most admired in the world, and French restaurants are usually associated with class and talent. French cuisine doesn't have to be snooty, it just has to have the traditional dishes and styles that have been typical throughout the nation's history.
Breads

One of the most famous elements of French cuisine is excellent bread. Used to soak up sauces, French bread comes in many styles, varying primarily in thickness. The thinnest is ficelle, the French word for string, which has a crackly crust and lots of air pockets. Next is the baguette, the famous long, thin loaf with inner softness and outer crispness. There is also the pain Poilâne, a round, grainier bread used alongside hearty dishes.

Meats

French cuisine was once largely defined by its meats. It was a nation of hunters rather than ranchers. This meant that lots of meat came in the form of hunted game, including pheasant, duck, deer, boar and goose. The tough meat was often softened and made more palatable through liberal use of sauces and seasoning. This is still a defining element of French cuisine, informing such dishes as blanquette de veau, or veal in white sauce. White sauce is made with flour, eggs, cream and stewed vegetables and can be found cooked with a wide variety of meats. A similar dish is coq au vin, which replaces white sauce with a red wine sauce. Coq au vin is made with chicken, pork fat, garlic and red wine. Similar to coq au vin is the beef stew pot-au-feu.
Cheese

One of the most famous categories of French cuisine is the remarkable cheese. A long tradition of dairy farming has produced a number of the world's most famous cheeses. France currently produces over 1,000 varieties of cheese. Fifty-six are protected and regulated under French law, ensuring a very high standard of quality.
Pastries

The French are also well known for their pastries. Patisseries are common throughout France, with eclairs, croissants and pain au chocolat widely available. Other famous French pastries include brioche, a sweet bread; profiterole, a cream puff; and tarte, which is similar to an open-faced pie.
Beverages

The French have long been known as wine consumers, although that trend has lessened in recent years. Wine was once consumed with both lunch and dinner, but coffee has largely supplanted alcohol as the daytime beverage of choice. Even in the libation category wine has seen a decline. Younger people in France increasingly drink beer, cider and aniseed drinks.