Discover real French cuisine while staying in properties in France

When you plan a stay in a property in France the one thing you will certainly not need to worry about is being able to find excellent food and wine. In a nation that is renowned for its cuisine, you can look forward to tickling your taste buds with all manner of delicacies.

Speciality dishes such as snails and frogs’ legs may be the first things that come to mind when you think of French food, but there is more to the cooking here than some slightly unusual ingredients. Each region has its own distinct flavour, so wherever your property in France is situated, you’re bound to be able to indulge in a few good meals.

Each part of France will have its own signature dishes and use different ingredients in its cuisine, which is usually dictated by the surrounding area. For example, the south coast is known for its decadence and here you will find excellent seafood dishes.

Meanwhile, the north of the country is known as a farming region, so if your French property is situated here you are likely to be able to try some of the best meat dishes in the nation – particularly those involving lamb.

What food can I expect when staying in properties in France?

Each region of France has its own specialities and due to the host of outside influences, these can be incredibly diverse.

When you stay in properties in France, you will be able to witness how neighbouring nations such as Spain, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland have all had an effect on regional French cuisine.

For example, if you visit a French property in the east of the nation, such as the Rhone Alps region, where the countryside reaches Switzerland, you will be treated to a host of different cheeses such as Reblochon, Beaufort and Emmenthaler.

Meanwhile, if you want to sample some of the region’s cuisine at its best, you may want to book a meal at Domaine de Clairefontaine.

A hotel and Michelin-starred restaurant are housed in a 17th century mansion, providing stunning surroundings for any diner, while the food created in the kitchen uses local produce and even items produced in the establishment’s own gardens.

Meat features in many French recipes and if you decide to stay in a property in north France, then you could sample some of the specialities of the Champagne-Ardenne region.

The town of Troyes lends its name to one of the dishes famous in the region – Andouillette de Troyes. According to AFTouch Cuisine, you cannot visit the town without sampling this pork-based dish, which consists of strips of the large intestine and stomach of a pig slow-cooked in a basic sauce, allowing all the flavour from the meat to come through.

Combine French wines with your meal

France is just as well known for its wine as it is for its food and choosing the right bottle to go alongside your dinner is all part of the French culinary experience – so don’t be afraid to take some advice from the locals or waiting staff.

Eating out in France is an experience to be savoured, so when you sit down for a meal make sure you leave plenty of time to enjoy the food, taste the wine and see how the two can complement each other.

You may even want to incorporate a vineyard tour into your stay in a property in France if you are visiting one of the wine-producing regions such as the Loire Valley or Bordeaux. As well as being able to sample some of the wines on offer, it is also a great way to explore some of the picturesque French countryside.

Staying in a Loire Valley property could be ideal for this kind of excursion – situated just a short distance from Paris the area is home to some of France’s most beautiful castles as well as a wide range of vineyards.

To combine history and wine, you may want to visit Sancerre, which is not only home to numerous vineyards producing the famous tipple, but also to the Chateau de Sancerre that can be seen sitting in amongst its vineyards.

Bring a taste of France home after your stay in French properties

If you fall in love with French cuisine while staying in a property in France then you may want to consider taking a cookery course before you return to the UK.

Many prestigious restaurants and culinary establishments run courses designed for amateur as well as professional chefs and staying in a property in Paris will give you access to some of the most famous.

Le Cordon Bleu – the oldest private cooking and pastry school in Paris – is one example and you can book lessons with the master chefs here who will teach you some of the secrets to fantastic French cooking.

But if you are staying in property elsewhere in France, you will still have some options open to you if you want to learn – although some establishments will only provide tuition in French so make sure you brush up on your language skills too.