French cuisine – sometimes elegant, sometimes rustic, and always exquisite – can be intimidating for a beginner to learn. The legendary fare leaves many cooks feeling that they have something to live up to… a certain unattainable elegance and flair for food. Not true. Mastering the art of French cooking is considered by many to be the pinnacle of culinary achievement. It can be done with a few practiced cooking methods, signature ingredients, and just a dash of panache.

Regional Specialties

For French citizens, location makes a difference in what cuisine is prepared. Metropolitan dwellers are likely to sample a wide array of regional and national dishes, while older, settled adults in rural areas adhere much closer to their native regional food. Typical French foods rely heavily on regional products. Fresh apples, berries, haricot verts, leeks, mushrooms, and various squash and stone fruits are among the most commonly used produce. Poultry, beef, lamb, and veal are easily available year round; game meat is especially popular and abundant during the hunting season that runs from early autumn to February. No matter the location, France has an abundance of artisan cheese and wine. Southern France features the rich, sophisticated flavors of mushrooms and duck as well as the dramatic herbs, tomatoes, and olives borrowed from neighboring Mediterranean cuisines. Northern France also showcases a remarkable assortment of tastes, focusing heavily on farmhouse-style specialties using apples, dairy, pork, potatoes, sausage, and beer.

A History of French Cuisine

France hasn’t always been keen on garlic, mushrooms, and truffles. Before the 15th century, seasonings and decorations were used to disguise food that had spoiled. France had what many today consider peasant food, simple fare without extravagant adornment.

In the mid-15th century, Catherine de Medici of Italy moved to France to marry the future King Henri II, bringing with her Florentine-educated cooks and a sense of creative drama and manners. In the coming years, French cuisine turned into a magical art of beautiful presentation and innovative flavors.

The 20th century brought about dramatic changes in French cuisine as well. Traditional haute cuisine (grande cuisine) is the world-renowned food made famous by its intricate preparation and precise presentation. It was the practiced model of French food preparation until food critics challenged it for being too inflexible.

New cuisine (nouvelle cuisine) was a 1970s backlash to the classic heavy French cuisine. It lightened up cream sauces and focused on the pure taste of fewer ingredients. It is evident in today’s general French cooking by flexible preparation methods and more experimentation with non-traditional flavors.

French cuisine is a unique, cultural experience that melds flavorful, nutritious foods with beauty, leisure, and therapeutic preparation. Making and savoring French food is an art that takes a lifetime to master, yet requires that time stand still to appreciate its splendor. Explore French cuisine: an art, a tradition… a way of life.