French and Francophone Food + Drink
French Food Vocabulary
Eating is fundamental and can also be highly enjoyable. Learn this French vocabulary related to food so that you can eat your favorite foods in France.
How to Read a French Menu
Reading the menu in a French restaurant can be a little tricky, and not just due to language difficulties. There may be important differences between restaurants in France and in your own country, including what food is offered and how it is prepared. Here are some terms and tips to help you find your way around a French menu.
Bon appétit
Learn when to use and how to pronounce the French expression "bon appétit."
Aligot
Aligot is a purée of potatoes and fresh cheese from the Aveyron department. This article is in French followed by the English translation.
Apéro provençal
Introduction to cocktail hour in the south of France - what they eat and drink.
Bread
If you only like one thing in France, it's probably bread.
French cheese
An introduction to the wonderful world of French cheese in a two-part, bilingual article.
Le Fooding
A few words about the Fooding movement in France.
Olives and olive oil - Olives et huile d'olive
Three-part series about these essential foods in the south of France.
Roquefort : village de fromage
Le village de Roquefort-sur-Soulzon (12) est célèbre pour le fromage dont il est éponyme, mais étrangement le roquefort n'y est pas forcément produit.
Spécialités dijonnaises
The region of Burgundy is known for wine and food, but the city of Dijon has some specialities of its own.
Truffles - Les truffes
Out of all the French culinary delights, the Périgord truffle is probably the most delicious - and the most expensive.
Vegetarianism in France
Can vegetarians hope to survive in France?
Eating and Shopping in France, by Pam Bourgeois
For those of us not lucky enough to be born into the wonderful world of French cuisine, new help is at hand in the form of a French audiobook called Eating and Shopping in France.
Restaurants in Paris
Information about some great restaurants in Paris.
Bûche de Noël et Lou Cacho-fiò
You might know the log-shaped cake, but what do you know about the real bûche de Noël and the tradition of lou cacho-fiò?
French Candlemas - La Chandeleur - Crêpe Day
The Catholic holiday of Candlemas, on 2 February, is a feast to commemorate the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of baby Jesus. In France, this holiday is called la Chandeleur, Fête de la Lumière, or crêpe day.
Epiphany and La galette des rois
La galette des rois is a special cake eaten at Epiphany in France.
Fête de la Châtaigne
Dans la ville de Collobrières (Var), les châtaignes sont fêtées durant les trois derniers dimanches d'octobre.
Fête de l'Olivier
The southern French town of Ollioules celebrates the olive harvest by holding an Olive Tree Festival every year during the first weekend of October.
Le Gros Souper et ses 13 desserts
Typical Christmas Eve feast in Provence.
Pompe à l'huile
One of Provence's traditional Christmas desserts.
Vegetarian French Recipes
France is renowned for its cuisine, but much of it is meat-based. Here is a collection of vegetarian French recipes: some that are actually vegetarian, others which have been adapted, and a few with the word "French" in their names, even though they aren't necessarily French.
Books on French Food
This mix of fact and fiction will teach you everything you could ever want to know about French cuisine: what it is, when it began, who helped it along the way, why it's so good, how to make it, and where to find the best of the best.
Auberge Napoléon
Grenoble's best restaurant.
Le Clos Romain
An unexpectedly wonderful restaurant in Moirans.
Cajun/Creole Recipes
About.com's Southern US cuisine guide Diana Rattray brings you this collection of links to Cajun cooking.
Cheese Recipes and Information
The definitive guide to cheese, from About.com Entertaining guide Donna Pilato
French Chocolate History
Unlike most other matters culinary, the French reputation for confectionery prowess, particularly in regards to chocolate, is a relatively new development.
French Cuisine
About.com Guide Anne Cerva shares recipes, ideas, and tons of information about French cooking.
Belgian Recipes
Dozens of typical Belgian recipes: main courses, desserts, everything you can think of.
Ethnic Cuisine: Morocco
Historical information about and a glossary of Moroccan cooking, plus a few recipes.
Ethnic Cuisine: Vietnam
Info about Vietnamese cuisine, with links for online purchasing and restaurants across the US.