French Cuisine 
By: Prabin Maharjan
Origin 
• French Cuisine is a style of cooking derived 
from the nation France. 
• French cuisine is considered to be one of the 
world’s most refined & elegant style of 
cooking. 
• French cuisine was codified in the 20th 
century by Georges Auguste Escoffier to 
become the modern version of haute cuisine.
• Gastro-tourism and the Guide Michelin helped 
to bring people to the countryside during the 
20th century and beyond, to sample this rich 
bourgeois and peasant cuisine of France. 
• Presentation of food is also important to the 
French.
Influenced by 
 Italian cuisine is known as mother of western cuisines, 
and has contribution on France influence as well 
 The great-granddaughter of Lorenzo the magnificent, 
catherine married the young man who later became 
HenryII of france; she brought with her retinue of 
florentine cooks 
 ‘La Varene’s cookbook was pass before french cuisine 
by the Sun King 
 Alsace is heavily influenced by German food culture. 
 The southern region of France has a large North African 
immigrant population, so the cuisine here is highly 
influenced by North African cuisines.
Influence to 
 French influence runs deep in the cuisine of 
the Northwest 
 French cooking was local- seasonal-substainable- 
spread the message- influenced 
most countries 
 France became modern life style of food, with 
progressed cuisine from simple substance to 
powerful, deeply held symbol of identity 
 French cuisine, now, is Lifestyle
REGIONAL INFLUENCES ON FRENCH 
FOOD 
1. Local availability- 
The French, a nation of gourmets, know that the 
best food is made from local ingredients, which 
are fresher and of better quality than items which 
have been transported long distances. 
2. Neighboring countries and immigration- 
Areas of France which border on other countries 
have incorporated some of the cuisine of their 
neighbors.
3. History and economic conditions- 
The culture, lifestyle and economic conditions 
over a long period of time have formed the 
development of local food traditions. 
4. The Italian connection- 
In 1533, Catherine brought an entourage of 
Italian chefs with her to France, who 
introduced to France a variety of dishes, food 
preparation and dining practices.
COOKING STYLES 
1. Classical French cuisine 
This includes all the classical French dishes which 
were at one time regional, but are no longer 
specifically regional. Food is rich and filling, with 
many dishes using cream-based sauces. 
2. Haute cuisine 
It is classical French cuisine taken to its most 
sophisticated and extreme. Food is elegant, elaborate 
and generally rich. Meals tend to be heavy, especially 
due to the use of cream and either large portions or 
many smaller portions. There is a strong emphasis on 
presentation and the meal is expensive
INDISPENSABLE INGREDIENTS 
Wine and cheese 
• Aside from bread and water, the most common 
accompaniments to a French meal are wine and cheese. 
• Unlike other countries, in France wine is considered a 
standard part of everyday meals, and is neither expensive 
nor reserved for special occasions. 
• With everyday meals, ordinary wines are served, although 
it is expected that the style of wine match the style of food 
• In addition to its use in cooking, cheese is often served as a 
course in itself. In this case, it is served after the main meal 
but before dessert.
Commonly Used Ingredients 
• Lamb, pork, duck, chicken, beef 
• Fish and seafood 
• Butter, cream, cheese 
• Apples, pears, cherries 
• Truffles and mushrooms 
• Shallots, leeks, onion, garlic 
• Wine and brandy (Cognac/Armagnac)
Commonly Used Herbs & Spices 
• Fennel 
• Marjoram 
• Rosemary 
• Sage 
• Tarragon 
• Thyme 
• Lavender
POPULAR FRENCH DISHES 
• Coq au vin 
It is a French braise of 
chicken cooked with wine, 
lardons, mushrooms, and 
optionally garlic. While the 
wine is typically “Burgundy” 
many regions of France have 
variants of coq au vin using 
the local wine, such as “coq 
au vin jaune” (Jura).
• Boudin Blanc 
It is a white sausage made of 
pork without the blood. Pork 
liver and heart meat are 
typically included. It is a 
delicate dish as Milk is used in 
French version. It is Sautéed 
(fry briefly over high heat) and 
grilled.
Classification of French Cuisine 
1. Paris and Île-de-France: Paris and Île-de-France 
are central regions, so almost anything from the 
country is available in this region. 
2. Champagne, Lorraine, and Alsace: Apart from 
ham, the world famous sparkling wine 
Champagne comes from the Champagne 
district. Fine fruit preserves are popular in 
Lorraine. 
3. Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Picardy, Normandy, and 
Brittany: The coastline supplies an array of 
seafood and fishes.
4. Loire Valley and central France: Liquors made 
from Guignolet and Belle Angevine pears are 
prepared in this region. 
5. Burgundy and Franche-Comté: Apart from the 
world famous Burgundy wines, this region is 
known for pike, perch, river crabs, snails, and 
poultry. 
6. Lyon-Rhône-Alpes: The Rhône valley is famous 
for its fresh fruit and young vegetables.
French cuisine

French cuisine

  • 1.
    French Cuisine By:Prabin Maharjan
  • 2.
    Origin • FrenchCuisine is a style of cooking derived from the nation France. • French cuisine is considered to be one of the world’s most refined & elegant style of cooking. • French cuisine was codified in the 20th century by Georges Auguste Escoffier to become the modern version of haute cuisine.
  • 3.
    • Gastro-tourism andthe Guide Michelin helped to bring people to the countryside during the 20th century and beyond, to sample this rich bourgeois and peasant cuisine of France. • Presentation of food is also important to the French.
  • 4.
    Influenced by Italian cuisine is known as mother of western cuisines, and has contribution on France influence as well  The great-granddaughter of Lorenzo the magnificent, catherine married the young man who later became HenryII of france; she brought with her retinue of florentine cooks  ‘La Varene’s cookbook was pass before french cuisine by the Sun King  Alsace is heavily influenced by German food culture.  The southern region of France has a large North African immigrant population, so the cuisine here is highly influenced by North African cuisines.
  • 5.
    Influence to French influence runs deep in the cuisine of the Northwest  French cooking was local- seasonal-substainable- spread the message- influenced most countries  France became modern life style of food, with progressed cuisine from simple substance to powerful, deeply held symbol of identity  French cuisine, now, is Lifestyle
  • 6.
    REGIONAL INFLUENCES ONFRENCH FOOD 1. Local availability- The French, a nation of gourmets, know that the best food is made from local ingredients, which are fresher and of better quality than items which have been transported long distances. 2. Neighboring countries and immigration- Areas of France which border on other countries have incorporated some of the cuisine of their neighbors.
  • 7.
    3. History andeconomic conditions- The culture, lifestyle and economic conditions over a long period of time have formed the development of local food traditions. 4. The Italian connection- In 1533, Catherine brought an entourage of Italian chefs with her to France, who introduced to France a variety of dishes, food preparation and dining practices.
  • 8.
    COOKING STYLES 1.Classical French cuisine This includes all the classical French dishes which were at one time regional, but are no longer specifically regional. Food is rich and filling, with many dishes using cream-based sauces. 2. Haute cuisine It is classical French cuisine taken to its most sophisticated and extreme. Food is elegant, elaborate and generally rich. Meals tend to be heavy, especially due to the use of cream and either large portions or many smaller portions. There is a strong emphasis on presentation and the meal is expensive
  • 9.
    INDISPENSABLE INGREDIENTS Wineand cheese • Aside from bread and water, the most common accompaniments to a French meal are wine and cheese. • Unlike other countries, in France wine is considered a standard part of everyday meals, and is neither expensive nor reserved for special occasions. • With everyday meals, ordinary wines are served, although it is expected that the style of wine match the style of food • In addition to its use in cooking, cheese is often served as a course in itself. In this case, it is served after the main meal but before dessert.
  • 10.
    Commonly Used Ingredients • Lamb, pork, duck, chicken, beef • Fish and seafood • Butter, cream, cheese • Apples, pears, cherries • Truffles and mushrooms • Shallots, leeks, onion, garlic • Wine and brandy (Cognac/Armagnac)
  • 11.
    Commonly Used Herbs& Spices • Fennel • Marjoram • Rosemary • Sage • Tarragon • Thyme • Lavender
  • 12.
    POPULAR FRENCH DISHES • Coq au vin It is a French braise of chicken cooked with wine, lardons, mushrooms, and optionally garlic. While the wine is typically “Burgundy” many regions of France have variants of coq au vin using the local wine, such as “coq au vin jaune” (Jura).
  • 13.
    • Boudin Blanc It is a white sausage made of pork without the blood. Pork liver and heart meat are typically included. It is a delicate dish as Milk is used in French version. It is Sautéed (fry briefly over high heat) and grilled.
  • 14.
    Classification of FrenchCuisine 1. Paris and Île-de-France: Paris and Île-de-France are central regions, so almost anything from the country is available in this region. 2. Champagne, Lorraine, and Alsace: Apart from ham, the world famous sparkling wine Champagne comes from the Champagne district. Fine fruit preserves are popular in Lorraine. 3. Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Picardy, Normandy, and Brittany: The coastline supplies an array of seafood and fishes.
  • 15.
    4. Loire Valleyand central France: Liquors made from Guignolet and Belle Angevine pears are prepared in this region. 5. Burgundy and Franche-Comté: Apart from the world famous Burgundy wines, this region is known for pike, perch, river crabs, snails, and poultry. 6. Lyon-Rhône-Alpes: The Rhône valley is famous for its fresh fruit and young vegetables.

Editor's Notes

  • #3 Haute: high level, luxury
  • #7 Gourmet: fine food and drink,refined, even elaborate preparations and presentations of aesthetically balanced meals of several contrasting, often quite rich courses.
  • #8 In 1533, Katerina de Medici came to marry Henri II