France Fine

France Fine

Visiting France - A Nation Of Gourmets

This article is dedicated to travelers visiting France wanting to gain the kind of knowledge that denotes finesse. An issue must first be disclosed, however. Italian, Spanish, and Greek have meals with a concept in mind: "Are you hungry? Eat this." French meals is fine cooking using well-conceived and serious recipes yielding meals meant for those with more refined taste.

 

France is a large European country blessed with prevailing weather conditions and soils that give life to fine produce. Although fine produce is not exclusive of France, French people use it wislely along with centuries-old traditions, well-thoughtout recipes, and healthy habits. It results in them becoming passionate cooking their meals. So much so that in small towns ~and some not so small~ businesses close around noon and re-open three or four hours later. To French people, it is mandatory to dedicate time to eat, and to eat in the peaceful environment of their homes with family members; or with dear people at a cozy local bistro.

 

When visiting France, there is something vital to consider: Quality of Ingredients. French folks are deeply convinced that only the freshest locally-grown ingredients yield better and tastier foods. In addition, that kind if ingredients are loaded with nutrients when compared with foods transported from afar; or arriving in cans.

 

Northern coastal regions favor ocean fish which is used it more often and in more varied ways than inland areas. Central-area Burgundy is wine-country, and they have rich red meat dishes with creamier sauces - [Burgundians excelled at raising cattle and enjoyed economic prosperity for centuries.] More remote areas such as mountain regions have traditionally exceled at making most of the 950 recorded cheeses of which 246 are recognized as uniquely French. Throughout the south and Mediterranean coast, however, French foods are cooked with less red meat but more Olive Oil, vegetables, fruits, Herbes de Provençe, and sea fish as opposed to ocean fish.

 

When visiting France, one must know the French main cuisines.

 

* Haute Cuisine - It is the classical French food cooking. It is tasteful, sophisticated, and delightfully presented. There is an emphasis on uniformity and elegant presentation. Color is taken well into consideration. The type of cooking of this French cuisine, the grandiose taste, the presentation, and the finest ingredients make Haute Cuisine costly by comparison; but worth it.

* Classical Cuisine - It is also known as Cuisine Bourgeoise. This cuisine is about French meals which used to be regional, but they are no longer regional. Foods are rich, filling, and many dishes use cream-based sauces.

* Cuisine du Terroir - This cusine is becoming less popular. It is somewhat rustic, and French people is traditionally used to a more elaborated cuisine.

* Cuisine Nouvelle - The new kid in the block was born in 1970s to counter-act Haute and Classical schools. Foods are less elaborated and quicker to prepare. It shares with all French cuisines emphasis on local, super fresh, and seasonal ingredients.

 

Something Vital - Wine & Cheese - French people have a true relationship with wine. They make it part of everyday meals. Their wine is neither expensive nor reserved for special occasions. Cheese is also very special, and expect it to be served as a course in itself. Cheese is served after the main meal ~along with slices of a baguette~ but before dessert. As expected from the French, wine must match cheese AND food being served with.

 

This article is meant for travellers visiting France who already know why they must have basic knowledge of French cuisine, and what it means when they denote to have that knowledge. In addition, they deeply enjoy the cuisine this magnificent European country and its people have to offer.

 

Bon Voyage when visiting France. It is the land of Louis Pasteur, Pierre Renoir, and Gustave Eiffel !

 

About the Author

* George Josserme
* Editor-in-Chief
* The View - Cooking

This author passes on to his readers what he considers mandatory
to be known before visiting France.

Another successful articles are Mediterranean Diet Does Not Exist,
and Are French People Rude ?

His articles may be used as content in family-friendly web sites. The
HTML code is available at each articles' web page at ArticlesBase, or
may be requested at The View above.

 

What do you think if i were to complete high school in France as a student in the U.S. now?

I am currently a high school junior in the U.S. and i want to graduate in France by completing 11th and 12th grade. I want to be a catholic priest in the future and i thought this would be a good way to learn french. i have family over there. I am aware of the baccalaureat, but with hard study i think i would be fine. i appreciate your advice:) Any methods or things to keep in mind while in Paris? Thanks

tbh, it's really not a good idea. The french education systems bacalaureat is very hard, and as you won't have studied french geography, history or language, this would put you at a disadvantage for coming out with a good grade. As for being a priest... re isn't taught in french schools.
The french education system is also more advanced than the american one so the equivalent of grade 11 in america is 3eme in france... so you may even need to go back a year first to catch up.
And I will now add on here about the language barrier.... Unless you speak FLUENT french... as in from near birth, then you really don't stand much chance of coming out with a good grade. You would be better to study the International bacalaureat, in english, but maybe in an international school in france.
As for paris... you would be better somewhere, where it's cheaper to live and english isn't a popular language if you want to learn french fluently.

I know all this as I speak french also, I'm bi-lingual... and I have been to both english and french speaking schools. Last year I went to a 'lycee' to see if I wanted to do the bac, and after a few days, I was well out of my depth, because they study such a range of subjects in detail, and the french terms, even for me, were beyond me, as I hadn't studied in france for such a long time.. I didn't know the technical vocab.. ie in science lessons!!!

Hope this helps.. don;t want to put a downer on it, but I think you would be better to graduate in english, either as an IB student, or in an american high school!... You can always wait 2 years, then move to france for a while and learn french! =D

Morgan Parra ♥ | Ooh boy You so fine | ♥ [Part 1]