The Eiffel Tower, the French countryside, the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and a walking tour of the Seine River are just a taste of the magical experience you can have in France. But the menus, tourist traps and expensive dinner items have many stumped when trying to enjoy an authentic French cuisine. You don't have to let difficult to translate menus or long lines get the best of your vacation when you put a little research into ordering food in France.
Breakfast or petite déjeuner is a casual affair that revolves around drinking delicious coffee and eating a small pastry. Invented in the 17th century in Austria, croissants are a breakfast staple throughout France. They come in several types and are sometimes filled with cheese, ham, chocolate or fruit. French bread and butter are often served together, but you will be hard pressed to find eggs and sausage unless you go to a McDonalds. Simply walk down the street to any cafe or boulangerie. Numerous bakeries are open at 5:00 a.m. You can get the bread when it comes out piping hot or fight the lines in the late morning. If your french is rusty, point to what you want. Or learn this phrase "je envie de croissant et cafe," which means "I want a croissant and coffee." You'll have a hard time finding any 2% milk in France, so you may have to make due with the additional calories.
Lunch was once the largest meal of the day; however, times have changed and many have a medium-sized entree. Baguette sandwiches are the most popular lunch item. They are easy to carry and filled with fabulous local cheeses and meats. You can purchase one at your nearby boulangerie. Other popular sandwich items are the famed Croque Madame and Croque Monsieur. The Croque Monsieur is a hot ham and cheese sandwich sometimes topped with cheese or a sauce on top. The Croque Madame is the same ham and cheese sandwich with either a poached or fried egg on top. Salads, poached fish and soups are other popular lunch options.
Dinner was once considered the smallest meal of the day, due to the large lunch tradition; however, because of the hectic pace of modern society, it has become a time to leisurely enjoy your food and catch up with friends. Many French people choose eateries that provide prix fixe menus. These are menus that have allotted appetizers, entree courses and desserts for a fixed price. They are the recommended way to save money and get a taste of the variety of French food.
Avoid tourist traps by doing your research of French restaurants prior to taking your trip. Public transportation makes it easy to get around in Paris and it won't be difficult to hop on the subway to get away from cafes overrun with tourists. Read more information by John Talbott. (see Resources below)
Cheese plates are not served as an appetizer; they are served as part of the dessert at the end of the meal. Don't expect to see your salad before your meal; it is served after the entree to cleanse your palette after the main course. Waiters will ask for your order than leave you alone for the rest of the meal. They are highly-trained to anticipate your needs and not bother guests. Make a list of the foods you want to eat. It won't make you look like an obvious tourist and you'll know exactly what you want to try.
You will insult the chef by ordering extra condiments for any entree. It is considered in poor taste to hide the delicate spice choices used by the chef. When finished with the meal place your utensils face down. There are rarely bread plates in restaurants. It is is socially acceptable to place your bread on the tablecloth, but never your olive pits. For more suggestions, read the resources below. While it may be daunting to order in a country that considers itself the culinary capital of the world, be courteous and try new things. You'll be surprised with what you find you love.
