French Eating habits

   

The French consider eating well an essential part of their national birthright. Above all, the French like nothing better than to sit around a table with friends to dine and to chat.

 

    

 Three Meals

 

French people start the day with the petit déjeuner (breakfast), which consists of bread, baguette, croissants or brioches, with a café (coffee), a café au lait (coffee with milk), or a chocolat chaud (hot cocoa).

Then comes the déjeuner (lunch), enjoyed between noon and 2:00 pm.

In the evening, the dîner (dinner) is served not earlier than 8:00pm.

A French meal is always served with bread and accompanied by wine and water.

Regional cooking

 

 

 

One of the great pleasures of traveling in France is sampling the country's regional cuisine. In every département of France, menus will nearly always include local specialities, which reflect predominant local products and agriculture. Each region takes great pride in its own cuisine.

Restaurants

 

Reading the menu and ordering:

When the menu is presented, you'll usually be asked if you'd like an aperitif. Opening the menu, les entrées or hors d'oeuvre are starters. Les plats are the main courses,and most restaurants will offer a plat du jour, or daily special; these are often seasonal or local dishes of particular interest. Cheese is served as a separate course between the main course and dessert. Coffee is served black, unless you specify "crème". Alternatively, you can ask for a tisane, or herbal tea.

Water:

Tap water is supplied on request free of charge, and is perfectly safe to drink.

You can also find a wide range of mineral waters. Favourite mealtime brands include Evian and the slighty fizzy Badoit.

Tips:

A service charge is always included in the price of your meal, but most French people leave a few coins or an additional 5 to 10 per cent of the total bill.

Children:

French children are introduced early to restaurants and as a rule are well-behaved. Consequently, children are well-received everywhere in France.

Cheese

  

There are about 400 varieties of French cheese! Every region has its own cheese. Among the most famous are Camembert, Cantal, Roquefort, and Brie.

The French say, "A good meal must always end with a good cheese!" And a good wine is an indispensable accompaniment for cheese.