Traditional french country kitchens
19 Most Gorgeous French Country Kitchens
If there’s one type of kitchen that I continue to fall in love with, it’s French country kitchens. I find them super charming and elegant in so many ways. French country decor is known for its vintage elements and old European style. Good news! There are so many creative decorative elements that you can easily copy even if you don’t live in a real “French” country home!
The kitchen is a place where we prepare meals for our family and friends. It’s such an important part of the home, and most of all, it’s one of the most functional spaces we need! Check out some of our favorite kitchens in the French farmhouse style below!
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Let’s talk about design trends in French farmhouse kitchen decor. Here are our favorite French farmhouse kitchen decor ideas and designs.
1. Crystal Chandelier
This is the ultimate kitchen lighting fixture if you’re going for the French farmhouse look. The light will gently reflect off the crystals hanging near the lightbulbs, giving the room an elegant glow.
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2. Checkered Floor Tile
This flooring design is quintessentially French! It works in many rooms, especially the kitchen.
@cat_in_france3. Fleur de Lis Backsplash Tile
Go for a classic French motif like the famous fleur de lis for your backsplash kitchen tile.
@simplyfrenchmarket4. French Louis Counter Chairs
The Louis chair is a beloved French furniture design that has stood the test of time. Luckily, a counter chair version is easy enough to find!
@decoratinglife.ca5. Apron Front Sink
You’ve got to have a farmhouse style, apron-front sink in your kitchen. It’s even better if it has a beautiful engraving on the front!
@somuchbetterwithage6. Blue Pitcher and Flowers
Ceramic pitchers are handmade in the south of France and sold at markets by artisans. Get yourself a replica if you can’t get an original! Flowers are very welcome as well!
@frenchlarkspur7. Gray Floor Tile
@white_and_faded8. Light Blue Cabinets and Chairs
@provencepoiriers9. Wood and Marble French Island Table
@frenchcountrycottage10. Wood Ceiling Beams
Leave the wood ceiling beams in your home exposed for a rustic chic look.
@sanctuaryhomedecor11. Copper Pots
Unknown12. Blue Lacanche Range
Lacanche is a celebrated French range maker to know.
@frenchcountrycottage13. Marble Top Wood Table Island
Unknown14. Checkered Backsplash Tile
Maison Creative15. LaCornue Range
Another popular French range manufacturer, LaCornue ranges have stood the test of time. They are shipped around the world, but you’ll need to plan about 6 months in advance for this chef quality range.
Unknown16. Wooden Island
@simplyfrenchmarket17. Open Glass Shelves
Show off your French china on beautiful glass shelves.
@the_fox_group_18. Sink Skirt
Brocantelle19. Open Shelving
Keep the room airy and fresh with open kitchen shelving.
UnknownI hope you found these French country kitchens as inspiring as we did! We’re always on the hunt for the best interior design we know will inspire our readers. You can subscribe to our email list below to be notified of new posts. We love sharing with you popular design style guides, furniture buying guides, and other decorating tips!
More French Country Decorating Ideas
Don’t miss our other room decorating guides to get French country style in your home. We have lots of budget-friendly recommendations that you can easily incorporate into your own home!
- French Country Dining Rooms
- French Country Bedrooms
- French Country Bathroom Decor Ideas for Your Home
- French Country Entryway Decor Ideas
- French Country Coffee Bar Essentials
- French Country Living Room Decor Ideas
Happy curating!
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Curated Interior
We share the best home decor ideas, furniture recommendations, coolest products, and interior design tips for America's most stylish women.
28 Chic and Timeless French Country Style Kitchens
By
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel is an interior design expert who has covered architecture, interiors, and decor trends for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Lonny, and the American and international editions of Elle Decor. She resides in Paris, France, and has traveled to over 30 countries, giving her a global perspective on home design.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 08/12/22
Becca Interiors
The decorating aesthetic known in the English-speaking world as French country style is an homage to the charms of the French countryside. While it may be hard to replicate the beauty of the surrounding landscape or the aged patina of a Provençal farmhouse, a rustic thatched cottage in Normandy, or a provincial chateau, architects, interior designers, and home decorators around the world have long sought to transport a bit of the charm and elegance of the French countryside to their own backyards.
The resulting mashup known as French country decor emphasizes an easy take on rustic but refined aesthetics and natural materials, and an embrace of timeless everyday objects. Much of what we think of as traditional or farmhouse style interiors that are so ubiquitous today have roots in French country aesthetics, which can add character to a modern interior, easily translating to any room in the house from the living room to the bedroom or bathroom.
Adding some French country-inspired decor to your own kitchen can help you to add a sense of history, timelessness, and simple beauty to your home, no matter where you live. Check out these interiors that demonstrate how to borrow a bit of French style to make your own kitchen design into the warm, charming, effortlessly chic gathering space it was meant to be.
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Use Gilded Finishes
Design by Mindy Laven Home
This French farmhouse-inspired kitchen from Mindy Laven Home is decorated with elegant details like lantern-style pendant lights and scattered paintings with gilded frames on the walls that contrast with the wood beams, cabinetry, and flooring.
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Add a Statement Oven Hood
Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer
This kitchen from Marie Flanigan Interiors has pale neutral tones, natural wood floors, and a monumental oven hood with classical curves that lends the space a French country-inspired vibe.
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Collect Copper Cookware
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra Ribar
This all-white kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors has a black metal pot mounted to a painted brick wall that houses a collection of copper pots that are as pretty and shiny as they are useful, and will be the last pieces of cookware you will ever have to buy if cared for properly.
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Opt for a Butcher's Block
Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer
This kitchen from Marie Flanigan Interiors gets some French country street cred thanks to a French-style butcher block placed in the center of the room in lieu of an American-style kitchen island.
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Highlight Ceiling Beams
Design by Anne Rae Design / Photo by Jenny Siegwart
The vaulted ceilings in this spacious California kitchen from Anne Rae Design are highlighted by dark stained wood beams that add definition and a refined take on rustic style that adds character to the large, airy space.
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Swap the Island for a Farmhouse Table
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Amy Neunsinger
An easy way to add a French country sensibility to your kitchen is to skip the kitchen island and install a farmhouse table instead. This 1920s Los Angeles hunting cabin from Leanne Ford Interiors has a laid back and unpretentious air, channeling French farmhouse spirit with a rustic medium-toned wood table surrounded by simple white chairs.
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Decorate with Vintage Tools
Design by Anne Rae Design / Photo by Jenny Siegwart
Decorating your kitchen with utilitarian accessories like vintage or antique wood cutting boards and metal cooking utensils and molds is a simple way to add a sense of history and create a layered feel in a modern kitchen, like this space from Anne Rae Design.
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Incorporate Patterned Tile
Design by Charlie Coull Design
Adding pretty patterned tile in soft shades of blue, bentwood bar stools, and vintage-style pendant lights adds a little bit of French country flair to this kitchen from Charlie Coull Design.
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Prioritize Natural Materials
Design by Anne Rae Design / Photo by Jenny Siegwart
This kitchen from Anne Rae Design highlights natural materials like wood and stone, with a rustic oven surround and wooden bar stools that add French country finesse.
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Use Mismatched Cabinets
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra Ribar
This kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors channels French country spirit with its mismatched storage pieces including open wood and metal bracket shelving and stacked vintage cupboards with an aged painted patina that add interest and character while providing a place to store supplies and add clutter.
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Use Checkboard Flooring
Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer
This family style kitchen from Marie Flanigan Interiors has checkerboard flooring with an aged patina that looks like it wasn't installed yesterday, adding an aged patina to a new kitchen.
The Best Peel and Stick Tiles for Easy Renovations
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Highlight Original Features
Design by Jessica Nelson Interior Design / Photo by Carina Skrobecki Photography
You might not live in a French country farmhouse, but embracing original features in your home is one way to channel some timeless Gallic charm no matter where you live. In this kitchen renovation, Jessica Nelson Interior Design turned a dark kitchen into an open and airy space, exposing the original brick chimney that adds character to the kitchen and the dining room on the other side of the wall.
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Keep It Rustic
Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer
Chunky wood ceiling beams, a stone-topped wood island, and a row of copper pots hung above the kitchen sink window add rustic charm to this kitchen from Marie Flanigan Interiors.
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Bring on the Bistro Bar Stools
Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer
A pair of classic French bistro bar stools sitting side-by-side at the end of a peninsula creates a cozy seating area in this kitchen from Marie Flanigan Interiors.
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Use Industrial Light Fixtures
Design by Rashida Banks for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Keyanna Bowen
Simple industrial-style pendants, a framed painting leaning casually against the backsplash, and an oversized vase filled with flowering branches adds some refined rustic charm to this timeless modern kitchen designed by Rashida Banks for Emily Henderson Design.
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Add a Bistro Table
Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer
This kitchen corner banquette from Marie Flanigan Interiors introduces some classic French style into a modern American kitchen thanks to a marble and iron bistro table and some industrial French metal Tolix-style chairs.
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Use a Wooden Island
Design by Jessica Nelson Interior Design / Photo by Carina Skrobecki Photography
In this kitchen from Jessica Nelson Interior Design, a French-style wooden two-tiered work table with turned legs adds charm to the space while retaining the function of a modern kitchen island.
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Change the Conversation
Design by Jessica Nelson Interior Design / Photo by Carina Skrobecki Photography
This white, modern American kitchen from Jessica Nelson Interior Design serves as a neutral background that allows French-style details like cross-back wooden bar stools and a crystal chandelier to take center stage.
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Layer in Some Natural Elements
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra Ribar
In this kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors, dark wood open shelving and vintage-style metal brackets provide a space to house everyday items, decorative objects, and flowers that bring the beauty of the outdoors inside. Add some lavender and you can pretend that you picked it from the field outside your window in the South of France.
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Mix Old and New
Design by Jessica Nelson Interior Design / Photo by Carina Skrobecki Photography
In this kitchen from Jessica Nelson Interior Design, original brick walls, an antique-style chandelier, and vintage-style French country bar stools add character to the all-white kitchen with its modern cabinetry and finishes.
Best Kitchen Design Software
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Use Rustic Baskets
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Max Kim-bee
Leanne Ford Interiors added some French country flair to a Pittsburgh home with rustic hardwood floors and a row of woven baskets on the lower shelf of the kitchen island that add storage and texture to the room.
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Try Herringbone Wood Floors
Design by Kate Marker Interiors / Photo by Margaret Rajic
Rustic wood herringbone floors, white-washed brick walls, and a wood-based kitchen island are some of the details that preserve a sense of authenticity in this historic home renovation from Kate Marker Interiors.
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Hang a Curtain Under the Sink
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Reid Rolls
In this country cottage from Leanne Ford Interiors, a curtain casually hung beneath the vintage farmhouse sink hides clutter while adding an old world sense of charm and ease.
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Use Brick Flooring
We Are True Home
We Are True Home chose a thin brick floor tile that lends a new kitchen an old world European-style feel.
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Texturize the Walls
Lobster and Swan
While it's impossible to recreate the centuries-old patina of an old French farmhouse, you can help to create a time-worn feel by forgoing crisp white walls and adding texture to the wall using layers of chalk paint and wax or another perfectly imperfect finish like this homey kitchen from Lobster and Swan.
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Install a French Range
Design by Basic Projects / Photo by Kate Towill
Basic Projects turned a dark and cluttered kitchen in Charleston, South Carolina into a clean and classic oasis that mixes old and new. The designers replaced wood tops with marble, added a farm sink, and installed a classic Lacanche range in dark green that brings the classic Made in France vibes.
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Mix Styles
Design by Brexton Cole Interiors
This bright white kitchen from Brexton Cole Interiors has French touches like a farmhouse table with a matching bench and a midcentury modern chair on the end and French rattan bar stools that reflect the mix of styles and periods that embody the French country aesthetic.
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Embrace Imperfection
Lobster and Swan
This rustic kitchen from the UK's Lobster and Swan would look just as at home in the French countryside, with its mix of simple, natural materials, open shelving, mismatched tableware, simple industrial lighting, bentwood chairs, and lightly rumpled linen curtains that have an effortlessly chic appeal.
15 French Country Living Rooms
French style kitchen (39 photos)
Articles
Content
- 1 The main features of the French style in the design of the premises
- 2 features and nuances of French styles
- 2. 1 Palace style
- 2.2 French cafes Bistro
- 2.3 - all colors of nature
- 9000
French-style interiors are characterized by elegance, grace of form and lightness of decor. Light pastel colors, an abundance of mirrors and textiles in interior design give the room a unique chic and flavor. To make your French-style kitchen look spectacular, it is important to know how to choose the right decor style and harmoniously combine all the details of the kitchen interior design.
French style - a combination of classics, elegance and natural color palette
The main features of the French style in interior design
Each interior decor implies the presence of details and elements that are unique to this style. On the Internet, you can find a lot of photo and video materials with original French-style kitchen design options. Despite the fact that they can vary greatly from each other, their main features will remain unchanged.
A muted color palette is one of the foundations of the French style in the interior of the kitchen
Smooth curved lines fill the kitchen with lightness
French style involves the maximum use of natural materials
What is the characteristic style of this sensual and romantic country. In general, the French interior is characterized by:
- Subdued color palette . The interior design uses only pastel colors. Most often there are almost all shades of white, soft coffee tones, as well as light green and pastel blue shades. Even the colors used as contrast are done in a muted pastel palette.
For French decor use pastel colors: beige, white, light yellow
- Smooth lines . A French-style kitchen is the epitome of elegance, so furniture and accessories with soft, smooth curves are chosen for its furnishings.
- Natural materials . In the decoration of the kitchen, it is desirable to use natural finishing materials: wood, stone, tiles, or their very high-quality modern imitation.
If natural finishes are not available, use quality imitation
- Unity of walls and ceiling . The design of the walls and ceiling of the kitchen in color and texture should not differ much. Ideally, they should form a harmonious ensemble with each other.
- Lightweight drapes. The use of natural light fabrics for curtains, tablecloths and furniture upholstery is one of the most important conditions for the implementation of the French style. Light, flying draperies made of silk and linen are welcome in the design of windows.
The color of the walls, ceiling and floor must be in harmony with each other
By using a light palette, you can visually expand the space
In general, the French style of cuisine can be divided into several areas:
- Palace style . Sophisticated interior, best suited for old-style houses or large mansions. It combines high ceilings, natural wood, huge windows and an abundance of expensive decor.
Palace interior - an option for lovers of exquisite luxury
- French Cafe . A very original version of the interior, perfect for rooms with a small area, as it allows you to use the space as functionally as possible.
The simplicity of the French cafe style can decorate a small kitchen
- Provence . Perfect for interior design of country houses, as well as for small apartments.
Provence will help recreate the atmosphere of a country house in France
Do not forget that when choosing a certain interior design of the kitchen, it is necessary to harmoniously combine it with the design of other rooms in the house. For example, if a palatial French-style kitchen interior is chosen, then the entrance hall and living room are decorated accordingly.
Read also the article "Kitchen with your own hands in the style of Provence - we create French elegance."
Features and nuances of French styles
If you want to decorate the interior of the kitchen in the style of romantic France, then for this it is not at all necessary to be the owner of a spacious apartment (unless you dream of a palace decor). Many accessories and interior details can be done with your own hands, or you can simply find an inexpensive analogue for them.
For each interior style, use the appropriate elements
Below are the main nuances and trends inherent in each of the decor options.
Palace style
This version of the design of the kitchen in the French style - the style of kings, emphasizes the status and wealth of the owners of the house.
Palace style is unthinkable without expensive natural materials
Gilding elements can often be found as a decoration in a French-style set
Palace style has several characteristic features in interior decoration:
- Presence of forged elements . Kitchen furniture involves the use of gilded forging elements in the design. Forged parts can be effectively combined with multi-colored glass inserts or carved inserts made of rare woods.
- Traditional furniture . The dining area can be furnished with classic French pieces of furniture - a gueridon table and bergère style armchairs. Furniture made of bleached oak is traditional for France. Therefore, the French style in the interior of the kitchen will be emphasized by artificially “aged” furniture and with patina decor elements.
Bleached oak furniture is one of the most important components of the "palace" interior
- Expensive textiles . Curtains and furniture upholstery are recommended to be decorated with expensive fabrics such as velvet, linen or silk. Colors are better to choose pastel shades.
- Natural materials . In the decoration of the walls of the kitchen, it is desirable to use natural finishing materials - granite, elements of old brickwork, wooden panels in light shades.
Mirrors and transparent facades set - another highlight of the
style- Mirror accessories . As accessories, you can choose a large mirror in a beautiful silver or gold frame. Please note that the mirror surfaces located opposite the windows visually increase the area of the kitchen, make it brighter and more elegant.
- Luxury accessories . Luxurious trinkets made of crystal and expensive porcelain also complement the French style of the kitchen. It can be small vases, cute figurines or elegant music boxes.
Porcelain tableware, expensive accessories and services can be a worthy addition to the French palace interior
French bistro cafe
A French cafe style kitchen has at least two undeniable advantages. First - this decor looks incredibly original. Secondly, it can be carried out even on a relatively small area.
Bistro-style interior is perfect for small or medium kitchens
Convert your window sill into a dining area and decorate it with flower bouquets
The main thing is to know exactly how to properly manage the available space. This section will help in such an interesting task.
To achieve the most authentic atmosphere of the original French cafe, you should follow a few basic rules. Among them:
- Space zoning . The kitchen can be divided into working and dining areas using a small bar, stylized in the spirit of a retro cafe. If the space in the room is very limited, you can convert the window sill into a rack.
- Open shelves . Not everyone finds open shelves practical, and it's actually hard to argue with them. But such accessories are quite consistent with the spirit of the canon. It is not at all necessary to deprive the entire upper part of the facade set, but it is quite possible to hang a couple of open shelves and rails on the stacks.
- Characteristic color palette . In the interior design of cafes, shades are most often used, which are designed to stimulate the appetite. Why not try them in your kitchen too? Add slightly muted red or burgundy tones to the kitchen interior, and use natural shades next to them: gray, beige, brown, etc. But it is better to refuse screaming bright tones.
The French interior does not accept flashy tones
- Wall trim . That's where you can roam, so it's when choosing finishes for the kitchen. You can choose from wallpaper with an old-fashioned design, wooden lining, boar tiles, murals or stylized photo wallpapers.
- Retro . If you have the opportunity, then try to purchase household appliances in retro style. It will have a beneficial effect on the overall decor of the room.
To keep decor as organic as possible, purchase stylized household appliances
- Cozy lighting . It is selected in such a way that there is diffused warm light in the dining area, and bright lighting in the working area. Lamps stylized as candlesticks look interesting.
- Stylish accessories . Black and white photographs, stylized signs, clocks, vases and even frescoes depicting a bistro located on a cozy French street can serve as decoration for the kitchen. In addition, the instruction manual for the frescoes allows their frequent wet cleaning, which is important for the kitchen.
The dining area should be equipped with soft diffused light, while the work area should be brighter
Decorate with stylized clocks, black and white photographs, signs and other accessories
Provence - all the colors of nature
The style of the French village is suitable for decorating the dining room of a country house, as well as for designing a kitchen in Khrushchev. Soft pastel colors of nature and elements of rural life will make the kitchen cozy and warm.
Provencal interior will add inexpressible comfort and atmosphere to the kitchen
To make your kitchen really look like a house lost in the lavender fields of French Provence, follow the features below.
- Colors . No flashy shades in the Provencal kitchen - only muted pastel colors. In the decor process, you can use beige, light gray, lavender, sand or light brown.
Beige, light green, gray, sand and other pastel colors can be used as the main colors of Provence
- Natural materials . As mentioned above, the French style loves naturalness, and Provence is no exception. In the process of choosing finishes or furniture for the kitchen, it is better to opt for stone, wood, ceramics or plaster.
Use as many natural materials as possible when decorating a Provencal kitchen. It can be stone, wood or ceramic
- "Frayed" surfaces . In the decor of Provencal cuisine, perfectly smooth surfaces should be avoided. Furniture should seem to bear the stamp of time. Rough processing of stone or wood would be the best way to indicate unity with nature.
- Textile . Provence involves a huge amount of textiles. Make sure that in addition to the tablecloth, beautiful napkins, towels, chair covers and, of course, a curtain appear in your kitchen.
Textiles with floral patterns - another important element of Provencal decor
- Accessories . As accessories, you can use any items of rural life, besides, the price for them is not so high (wicker mats on the floor, pottery). But a round wall clock should become an obligatory attribute of the decor.
The more small and stylish handmade accessories in the kitchen, the more original it will become
Read also the article about Provence style kitchen design.
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French cuisine: 10 traditional dishes
Salade niçoise
The famous recipe, as the name suggests, originated in Nice. Now it's hard to believe, but once it was a rather poor region, so the daily local salad included only tomatoes with onions and anchovies, seasoned with olive oil.
Niçoise owes its modern recipe, widely known all over the world, to the patriarch of French gastronomy, Auguste Escoffier. It was he who dared to add potatoes and green beans to the traditional salad. However, there are still purists in France who believe that real nicoise should not contain any cooked ingredients other than eggs. Be that as it may, in most restaurants we will find this composition: potatoes, green beans, boiled eggs, canned or fresh lightly fried tuna, anchovies, onions and local olives.
Provence salad goes well with local wine. The fresh and fruity, but not too light, Belouve Rosé from Domaines Bunan is great.
Photo: © SWN Archive1/2
Burgundy snails / Escargots de Bourgogne
According to scientists, snails have been eaten since prehistoric times. However, the modern recipe was invented only in 1814. There is a legend that the French Foreign Minister Talleyrand was supposed to dine with the Russian Emperor Alexander I in a Burgundy restaurant. They were late, and the owner of the establishment had nothing to treat the distinguished guests with. However, he did not lose his head, went to his garden and saw snails, which he decided to bake with garlic, parsley and butter. This legend is most likely a beautiful fiction, but it is known for sure that the first official recipe for Burgundy snails appeared in Borel's New Cuisine Dictionary as early as 1825.
Since then, this dish has become a classic of French gastronomy. Snails are usually served on holidays, six or twelve pieces, on special porcelain or metal dishes with recesses. For them, a special fork with two prongs is served, with which it is convenient to get the mollusk out of the shell.
The best accompaniment to the Burgundy delicacy is the local Chardonnay. You should not take too expensive: garlic and parsley will kill its complexity and elegance. But Coteaux Bourguignons Blanc by Domaines Dominique Piron will work just fine. Its creaminess will perfectly emphasize the elastic texture of the snail.
Photo: © Shutterstock1/2
Bouillabaisse
Marseille's most famous dish, like the city itself, traces its history back to the ancient Phocian Greeks, who founded a colony here in the 6th century BC. Bouillabaisse used to be called "fisherman's soup" or "poor man's soup", because it was prepared from small fish left at the bottom of the basket by the end of the trading day.
Modern Provençal bouillabaisse is made from freshly caught fish (usually at least three species are used) boiled in a broth of water or white wine seasoned with garlic, olive oil or saffron. Traditionally, it is served in two parts: soup is brought separately, in which you can dip fried bread grated with garlic, a separate plate with fish and potatoes. At the request of the guest, these two dishes can be mixed in one plate. The dish is usually served with rouille sauce based on olive oil, garlic, tomatoes and hot peppers.
Powerful and spicy bouillabaisse needs a wine to match, such as Domaines Ott* Clos Mireille Blanc de Blancs from semillon and roll, as vermentino is called here. Structured, strict, with smoky notes of aging, this wine perfectly balances the rich taste of classic bouillabaisse.
Photo: © Shutterstock1/2
Onion soup / Soupe à l'oignon
Onion soup has been known since ancient Rome. There it was considered food for the poor, because the onion is easy to grow and it is ubiquitous. In France, the dish became popular much later. There are even several legends about him. The first says that once King Louis XV was sleeping in his hunting lodge and woke up hungry at night. He is said to have made a soup with the onion, butter and champagne he had at his disposal. It is difficult, however, to imagine a king who cooks his own food!
There is a more plausible theory. They say that Stanislav Leshchinsky, Duke of Lorraine and father of the Queen of France, tried onion soup in one of the Champagne taverns. According to Alexandre Dumas, who retold this scene, he liked the dish so much that he ordered to find out how to cook it. Since then, onion soup has been served at the court of Versailles.
The recipe became popular only in the 19th century thanks to the central market Les Halles in Paris. Local chefs came up with the idea to add grated cheese and place bowls of soup under the grill. This made the dish much more nutritious. Then this dish was called Gratinée des Halles. Since then, onion soup au gratin (that is, with a baked cheese crust) has become a symbol of simple Parisian cuisine. The French often call it "drunkard's soup", as it helps with a hangover.
Fans of daring pairings should try onion soup with oxidative-style wines such as sherry or vin jaune from Jury. A more traditional pairing is Domaine Bott-Geyl's semi-dry Pinot Gris Les Elements. The residual sugar in the wine works great with the delicate sweetness of caramelized onions.
Photo: © Sheri Silver/Unsplash1/2
Rooster in wine / Coq au vin
Many traditional French recipes were born from the need to make cheap food taste good. So it is with this classic dish. Coq au vin means "rooster in wine". His recipe was conceived as a way to prepare tough meat from a not-too-young bird, although today this rustic-style dish is made with regular chicken or capon. It is a bird stew with wine, mushrooms, bacon, onions, garlic and sometimes even a dash of brandy.
Depending on the region of France, you can find different recipes that use local wines rather than the traditional Burgundy. These include Coq au vin jaune from Jura, Alsatian Coq au riesling and Coq au pourpre from Beaujolais Nouveau. Believe it or not, there is even Coq au champagne!
Rooster is usually served with the same wine that was used in cooking. However, the French are thrifty people, so they cook with simpler wine, and serve a better bottle at the table, but from the same region. Let's dwell on the classic combination with Coq au vin - red Burgundy Bouchard Pere & Fils Bourgogne Pinot Noir La Vignee.
Photo: © BIBV1/2
Tartiflette
The tartiflet is a modern invention from the Savoy mountains that quickly became a classic. His recipe was developed in the 1980s. It was inspired by a traditional dish called La pela, a potato, onion and cheese gratin cooked in a very long-handled pan called pela (shovel) in Provençal. In the 1980s, the Reblochon Cheese Syndicate came up with the idea of launching a company to revive an old dish with the new name Tartiflette, which comes from the Savoyard tartiflé - "potato". Such advertising helped boost sales of the local cheese.
The inhabitants of Savoy only heard about the tartiflet when it appeared on the menu of restaurants in all winter ski resorts. However, they did not lose their heads and quickly made the dish traditional and authentic, multiplying its variations.
Savoie wines are not easy to find in Russia, so if you come across a bottle of Domaine Curtet Altesse, take it without hesitation. This is the perfect pair for a tartiflet. Thanks to its refreshing acidity, this wine is able to cope even with such a hearty and cheesy dish.
Photo: © Shutterstock1/2
Beef tartare / Steak tartare
Many foreign tourists have found themselves in Mr. Bean's place when, having ordered Steak tartare and waiting for a delicious steak, they received a powerful portion of raw minced meat, which for some reason is served with french fries. Yes, French gastronomy sometimes surprises. If in Russia today beef tartare is rather a small appetizer, then in France it is a full-fledged main course. Most often, the meat is served in its natural form and the guest is offered to fill it with side dishes and spices to his liking.
It is believed that the name "tartar" comes from the Tatars - the Turkic people living in Russia. Once they were nomads and ate raw horse meat. In Europe, the tradition of serving raw meat appeared only in the 19th century, but the French liked it. Today it is a classic dish in Parisian bistros.
Of course, you need red wine with tartare. Try the young, vibrant Cabernet Franc Les Roches by Thierry Germain. It will perfectly emphasize the structure of the meat and add juiciness to the dish.
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Veal blanquette / blanquette de veau
Blanquette de veau is a creamy stew of veal cooked with lots of butter, cream and carrots. Traditionally, the stew is thickened with roux (roux), a mixture of flour and butter. It is usually served with rice. Not well known abroad, this dish is consistently in the top ten when French people are asked about their favorite dish.
Although the region of origin of the dish is not exactly known, many associate it with Lyon and the Rhone Valley. That's where we get the wine. Despite meat being the main ingredient, the blanket is the dish that defines the sauce. Creamy, creamy, it calls for a white wine like Guigal Côtes du Rhône Blanc, made from a complex blend of local grape varieties.
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Beef Bourguignon / Boeuf bourguignon
Beef Bourguignon is one of the most famous and beloved French recipes. This dish was once a very popular holiday meal among the Burgundian peasants. It was eaten with toasted bread rubbed with garlic. Then it became a Sunday dish, for which the whole family gathered at the table. Every household had its own way of cooking beef.
The traditional recipe of the dish, in addition to meat and wine, includes mushrooms, bacon, garlic, onions and aromatic herbs (parsley, thyme, bay leaf). The main feature of this recipe is that the meat requires a long cooking time and must languish over low heat.
Boeuf Bourguignon, of course, should be served with Burgundy wine, but you can cheat and instead of trendy but expensive Pinot Noir, serve a powerful, muscular and slightly more affordable Château Thivin Clos Bertrand gamé, which can easily cope with the texture of meat and rich sauce .
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Tarte Tatin
Upside down apple pie is perhaps the most famous French dessert. According to the recipe, fruits (usually apples) that are caramelized before baking are covered with dough, and then turned over so that they are on top.