Tuesday, September 10, 2013

French Food - September 2013


It is no secret that the French love their food. Most of our gourmet cooking comes from a French background, and modern Paris has a tremendous amount of very good food on nearly every corner. Where else do you see a fruit stand in a subway station? Our residential street in Paris had at least 5 bakeries, 3 cheese shops, several produce vendors, many butchers, and lots of cafes. Walking around Paris, there are always many options for eating.


I love cheese. The French love cheese. It is a match made in heaven. The above cheese tray was found in the local supermarket and has a sampling of many cheeses. The orange cheese in the center is Mimolette which is banned in the USA since the exterior uses dust mites to add flavor to the rind. The center portion is wonderfully unique like a cross between Edam and Parmesan and gets nuttier with age - like most of us! The chevre (goat cheese) feet are also a specialty and an acquired taste for those in the cheese world. Yes, many French cheeses stink and some have rather strong tastes. However, most are very good and excellent ways to get some dairy in your life.


We ate many sandwiches in Paris. They are a little different than those found in the USA. Most are served on baguettes with meat, cheese, and produce. You can actually find traditional sandwich bread in the stores labeled as American Bread! Another unique item is the hot dog with cheese. It is a hot dog on a baguette coated in melted Swiss style cheese.


This was probably the best meal I had in France. Pictured is the main course of grilled veal with roasted potatoes. Everything about this was great, even soaking up the juice with the fresh bread. The first course was a sliced apple layered with marinated tomatoes and feta cheese, and the dessert was a chocolate torte that was pure fat and pure deliciousness. Interestingly, the dinner was only about $40 each since there is no extra tax and no tipping. This was just a little restaurant around the corner from the apartment.


Yes, they have wine too in France. We took a day trip to the Champagne region where I got a little bottle for the train ride back. The packed train was a little spooked to hear a rather loud popping cork, but not surprised to see two Americans drinking Champagne out of the bottle. The apple tart was a perfect afternoon treat to accompany the wine. Most French wine is done in a regional style rather than a single grape and tends to be less fruity and more subdued than California wines. If you want a Chardonnay, order a Chablis; interested in a Cabernet, try a Bordeaux; prefer a soft Merlot, drink some Burgundy wine.

French fries are actually a major thing in France. Many restaurants serve them as side dishes on a regular basis. They vary from thin McDonald's style to fat steak fries. Rotisserie chicken is also very popular with birds rotating in the street waiting for the next hungry customer. If you enjoy a crepe, they have many places serving both sweet and savory versions. My favorite had cheese, ham, mustard, and creme inside a buckwheat crepe. Very tasty!


I finally ate horse meat on this trip. I could not find it on the menu at most places, but the supermarket sold steaks. I fried one up at the apartment and enjoyed it with a nice glass of red wine. The taste is like sweet, gamey beef, maybe a cross between lamb and beef. Unfortunately the French trim their steaks rather lean and do not age the meat so the taste is a little different than a traditional American steak.


If dessert is your favorite meal, then you will love Paris. The pastries are simply amazing. What they do with flour, sugar, and butter will make you crazy. The above picture was from a famous chain of gourmet bakeries - Eric Kayser - with a croissant and macaroon pastry stuffed with cream and raspberries. I tried nearly all types of pastry including lots of tarts, croissants, macaroons, and chocolates. It makes a nice treat in the afternoon while burning calories walking across Paris.

One final thought, even though France is rightfully famous for their food, living in Northern California has also spoiled me. Our bread, cheese, and wine are just as good if not better than their French counterparts. Even in Sacramento, I can easily get food of French quality, but I cannot easily reproduce the landscape and sights and sounds associated with eating in Paris. Enjoy the rest of my food pictures below.









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