We are starting a series of materials “Gastronomic map of Europe”: we will communicate with experts in our “own” country and learn about the features and traditions of local cuisine. Each interview is a separate story about delicacies and recommended dishes, about regions and their “gastrobestsellers”, about the best restaurants and those where you should not go.
Today we will talk with the head of the France Group company and just a man in love with France, Vadim Grabarchuk, about the “delicious” French regions and find out:
what and where to try in Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg and Nice
why you need to go to the regions for “tasty” France
how to eat delicacies and not pay for them
Vadim: First of all, French cuisine is all about taste and versatility. The most interesting thing is that it opens up for everyone in different ways, but it is simply impossible to remain indifferent!
If we talk about the food of the French, then this, of course, is meat: veal and beef, poultry (duck, goose, chicken) and fish. Do not forget about foie gras and its homeland, Toulouse. Of course, this is a delicacy, but the French love this dish and eat it often.
Next comes the exotic for us – frog legs and snails. Many people wonder: why exactly these dishes?.. Let’s just say, they are not as attractive as meat or vegetables. It’s simple: gastroculture comes from the past, the poor past, when it was easier and less expensive for the French to collect snails and catch frogs than to raise livestock. So for a Frenchman, snails and frogs are not exotic, but traditional delicious food.
French pastries deserve special attention: classic croissants, salty pies, baguettes. Crunchy bread is something that France cannot be without. You easily eat a big baguette at dinner. So, slice by slice, because it is customary to break bread, no one cuts it. And cheeses, many, many cheeses – more than 500 kinds of wonderful varieties. At the head is Camembert, he comes from Normandy. In almost all regions of France, cheeses are prepared: this is where the tourist will feel the taste of real Brie and Robuchon. The French also love sweets and everyone in the world loves their sweets! Parisian eclairs are simply unique.
V .: France is a country where you should not eat in a hotel. Not because the hotels taste bad and bad service, no, by no means. It’s just that with such a variety of restaurants, it’s simply illogical to have lunch and dinner in the same place. Trying the maximum, discovering more tastes – that’s what tourists should be offered. Give yourself a chance to get a taste of the region, don’t get hung up on Paris alone.
In hotels in France, there is practically no full board: often only breakfasts – continental and American. Continental – very traditional, but, as for me, “not for us”, croissant, jam, butter, cheese and coffee. The American breakfast is a classic buffet. It is much more interesting, even in terms of entertainment and impressions, to stay in a small hotel where the hostess cooks and serves breakfast herself.
Q: France is a country where there are no bad restaurants! Reputation is everything.I have one piece of advice – if locals eat in a restaurant, feel free to come in and order.
If we talk about restaurants in Paris, then a tourist may face a problem: where to find a French restaurant? After all, in Paris you can easily find a Chinese restaurant, Italian and Asian, but you can never try your native cuisine. Paris is a tourist Mecca, everything here is arranged for tourists and for tourists. If you want Asian cuisine for dinner – please, have not eaten pasta for a long time – we ask you to go to an Italian restaurant. Paris is beautiful for its versatility and flexibility: even if you are picky, you will never go hungry in this city.
But for all the traditional dishes it is worth going to the regions of France. I want to warn everyone: it’s not enough to choose a good restaurant, you also need to get there on time! Lunch in such establishments is served from 12 to 14, come after – or see the sign “Closed”, or drink a cup of coffee – no one can feed you. Also, the kitchen is closed after 20.00. So we keep track of time, otherwise we will remain hungry.
The average check for dinner is about 35 euros. Plein Mer (22 Rue de Chabrol, 75010) always has fresh oysters. The average check is 25 euros.
You also need to dine at the Au petit riche restaurant (25 Rue le Peletier, 75009), the average bill is 40 euros. You can enjoy traditional French cuisine at the Au chien qui fume restaurant (33 Rue du Pont Neuf, 75001), but the average check here will be higher – 55 euros.
In the gastronomic Lyon, be sure to go to the La Mere Brazier restaurant (12 Rue Royale, 69001) – this is a paradise for connoisseurs of French dishes. The average check is 150 euros, expensive, but it’s worth it, believe me.
In extraordinary Strasbourg, we enjoy Alsatian cuisine at the Maison Kammerzell restaurant. The institution is located at: 16 Place de la Cathédrale, 67000. The average check is 60 euros.
In unsurpassed Nice at Le Tire Bouchon we enjoy seafood and fish. The average check is 40 euros. The address is 19 Rue de la Prefecture, 06300.
How can you talk about France and not mention the wine. Bestsellers, underrated varieties, “waste of money” and timeless classics – what to try and what to leave on the shelf in the store?
V .: French wine is a separate topic for conversation, all the more you should not talk about it, you need to try it! Remember the main thing: that in Paris in an elite specialized boutique, that in a small wine cellar, for example, in Alsace, you will not be forced to wine, in any case. You may be offered to conduct a tasting, but you will personally make the decision. So don’t be afraid to try and trust the winemakers.
As for underestimated varieties, these are single “non-brand” wines, for example, excellent wines from the San Pursan cellar, Aveyron. They are inexpensive but excellent quality. Bestseller in France can be called Bordeaux, Burgundy wines, in general, it all depends on your taste preferences. But what I would not advise taking is white wines from Bordeaux. And so, my advice is to try everything and everywhere, and you will find your wine.
