Burger vs. Baguette
The French have been cheating on their beloved baguette with a saucier culinary import - the hamburger.
It’s no secret that the french are famous for their baguette, especially if you follow our blog! One might even say they are sacred (especially if you ask France's President Emmanuel Macron who is lobbying to have the french delicacy listed as a Unesco cultural treasure). The French government actually regulated when bakers could take their vacations at one point so that its citizens wouldn’t ever be faced with a shortage of their favorite bread. However, a recent study shows that that the French are cheating on their beloved baguette with a much less authentic culinary import - the hamburger.
According to a recent BBC reported study, French citizens purchased approximately 1.5 billion burgers last year and only about 1.2 billion baguettes which equals to 14 times more burgers than a decade ago. The figures include the purchase of baguette sandwiches, known as jambon-beurre. The study also showed that nearly 85% of all restaurants in France now have at least one burger on their menus.
French purists have nothing to fear however as Gira Conseil, who provided the data for the study, says the report has been greatly exaggerated by stating “Let me explain: baguettes are taken away and eaten with fingers, burgers are mostly eaten sitting down with a knife and fork.” “It’s not comparing like with like.” Regardless of the French obsession with the burger, one aspect that will always make it uniquely French is that unlike their American counterparts, the French enjoy their burgers with a fork and knife—a concession even McDonald’s has made in the land of the baguette.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about the culinary French battle: Burger vs. Baguette! While may French are skeptical about the legitimacy of their reported burger obsession, we'd love to hear what you think about the Gira Conseil study. Comment below!
Going for the Gelato Gold
Where’s the best Italian ice cream? France, apparently.
France has been crowned the champion of the 2018 Gelato World Cup for the 4th time in the Italian city of Rimini.
France beat 11 other countries for the title with Spain taking second and Australia taking third place. Unfortunately, representatives from the land of gelato, Italy, were unable to attend this year due to the Gelato World Cup rules that bar the title holders from participating in the following edition of the tournament, however that rule has been removed for 2020 thus allowing France and Italy to battle it out for the title for the first time.
Each team was tasked with daily gelato challenges, with trials including: ice sculpture, a decorated gelato pan, gelato cake, an entrée competition of three hot finger foods combined with gourmet gelato and gelato snacks.
All of the entries are available on the official Instagram of the Gelato World Cup by clicking below:
Held at the four-day SIGEP international trade show for all things sweet and savory (ice cream, pastry, bakery and coffee), Argentina, Brazil, South Korea, Morocco, Poland, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United States also tested their scooping skills. Italian culture minister Dario Franceschini participated in the event and announced that, following Neapolitan pizza being added to United Nations' cultural body Unesco's intangible heritage list (as mentioned in our previous article: Battle of the Baguette), that he would push for ice cream's inclusion.
We hope you have enjoyed Going for the Gelato Gold! Which is your favorite of the gelato creations revealed at the Gelato World Cup? Leave a comment below!
Battle of the Baguette
"Excellence and expertise must be preserved, and that is why it should be heritage-listed," President Macron stated in an interview with French radio as French artisans have voiced concern about mass-produced, low quality imitations of the beloved French bread. "A baguette is the symbol of France, like the Eiffel Tower,"
Battle of the Baguette
The French president Emmanuel Macron has stated recently that the baguette should be listed as a Unesco cultural treasure. In a statement in support of a national bakers’ association, he affirmed that:
"The baguette is the envy of the whole world.”
"Excellence and expertise must be preserved, and that is why it should be heritage-listed,"
Inspired by the success of Italy's Naples pizza, which was protected by the UN's cultural body last year after an intense lobbying campaign (including a petition signed by more than two million Italians), Macron hopes to add baguettes to the coveted list that aims to save traditions from.
The bakers say it is not just the name and shape, but the recipe and ingredients that need to be protected.
"Excellence and expertise must be preserved, and that is why it should be heritage-listed," President Macron stated in an interview with French radio as French artisans have voiced concern about mass-produced, low quality imitations. "A baguette is the symbol of France, like the Eiffel Tower," said Dominique Anract, the president of the national confederation of baking and pastry.
"When I see the the growing dominance of French supermarkets and convenience stores in the sale of bread, I say to myself that we must act.”
The traditional baguette is already protected in France by a 1993 law that instructs that the bread must only be made from wheat flour, water, yeast and salt and can not be frozen or contain added preservatives.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about the Battle of the Baguette! Do you think the legendary bread has earned it's place among the list of Unesco cultural treasures? Leave a comment below and tell us why!
Chocolat Chaud
A super-simple recipe for the rich, warm treat.
In 1643, Princess Maria Theresa of Spain brought a gift of chocolate to France, a royal chocolate maker was employed, and chocolate has been a rage ever since, thus giving way to...
Chocolat Chaud.
This recipe requires no special regional ingredients, so it is extremely easy to make!
Prep: 2 mins, Cook: 5 mins
Yield: About 3 Cups (3 servings)
Ingredients:
6 ounces chocolate (semisweet, chopped or white)
1/4 cup hot water
3 tablespoons hot water
3 cups hot milk
Sugar to taste
Garnish: whipped cream, chocolate curls (optional)
Instructions:
Using a double boiler or a heat-safe glass bowl over simmering water, melt the chopped chocolate into ¼ cup of the water.
Stir in the 3 tablespoons hot water and milk until the chocolate mixture is smooth.
Pour the hot chocolate into cups and add sugar as desired.
Garnish each cup with a spoonful of whipped cream and a few chocolate curls and enjoy!
We hoped you enjoyed learning how to craft your own Chocolat Chaud! Nothing pairs with amazing French hot chocolate like the French language! Be sure to check out our Group Classes and Private Lessons below to learn more!
French People and Their Obsession With Cheese
How can something that smells so bad taste so good?
There are more than a 1000 sorts of cheese in France alone and it represents centuries of pure French traditions! No wonder the French use the expression "en faire tout un fromage" (to make a cheese out of it) to refer to someone who blows things out of proportion! In this post, we are presenting you with 5 of our favorite French cheeses. Learn how they came to existence and how you can cut and eat them. Enjoy this post and remember to "let them eat cheese!"
1. Le Fromage de Roquefort
Credit: Cyn Furey
Ah, le Roquefort! Easily recognizable by its blue-greenish dots in a white body, this cheese is part of the blue cheese family. Roquefort is a town located in the Landes, in the southwest of France. It dates back to the 12th Century when people already used the Caves of Roquefort to salt and affine their cheeses. The legend says that a shepherd left his cheese sandwich in a cave in Roquefort to court a young and beautiful woman. After chasing her with no results, he came back and found his sandwich with blue dots in it. Roquefort was born. Wether you believe in the legend or not, Roquefort cheese is now an AOC & AOP cheese, meaning that if the cheese is not made in the caves of Roquefort, then you cannot call it Roquefort. It is the champagne of the cheeses!
How to eat it?
You can eat Roquefort cold in a gaspacho or on a tartine with a touch of butter. Or, you can eat it warm as a mushroom stuffing.
How to cut it ?
Roquefort is part of the blue cheeses and need to be cut in quarters.
2. Le comté
Comté cheese dates back to the 13th Century. It is derived from the Gruyère cheese that was introduced at the end of the 13th Century. Comté is a cheese made from cow milk and is from the region of Franche-Comté. During the Middle-Ages, winters were long and hard. People had to think collectively how to get through the rough winters. It forced farmers to work together to better use the provisions that they could get over the summer. Indeed, cows were producing a lot of milk over the summer and then less during the winter. People would therefore make huge wheels of cheese that would require over a 130 gallons of milk (500L) to produce. Farmers had to work collectively to bring together those huge amounts of milk so they organized as "cooperatives". Comté is a symbole of farmers working together so they could survive the winter.
How to eat it?
Comté can be enjoyed cold with a piece of bread or warm in any dish you like. It is preferred with chicken and beef or even with cod fish.
How to cut it?
Because Comté comes out of a huge wheel, the slices of comté you will get will be long. You must cut the heart of the wheel in long slices and then you have to cut the rest from the center to the crust.
3. Le mont D'or
Photo Credit: Arnaud 25
Mont D'or is probable everything you can imagine about cheese. Warm, melty, lovely cheese that you add to a meal to make it as decadent as possible! The most ancient form of this cheese dates back to 1280. Unlike Comté, it does not require a lot of milk to make because it is mostly made during the winter. Mont D'or only needs less than 2 gallons of milk to be produced. This is why it is a soft, rich and seasonal cheese from Franche-Comté as well! Because of its consistency, the cheese is encircled with a "belt" made out of a specific wood, usually spruce.
How to eat it?
Mont D'or can be easily spread on bread or you can take it up a notch and the cheese becomes your own portable fondue! Just warm up the cheese case (made our of spruce, of course) and then remove the top crust and dip! It becomes a "boîte chaude"
How to cut it?
Because of its consistency, it is hard to "cut" this cheese. It is recommended to remove the top crust and serve it with a spoon.
4. Camembert
Photo Credit: NJGJ
Camembert is probably the most popular cheese in modern France. It was created in the 18th Century in the Town of Camembert in the northeast of France. According to Pierre Androuët, this mix between curd cheese and brie became popular after Parisian tourists brought it back to Paris for people to enjoy in the 18th Century. Camembert was so good that it became part of the food rations for soldiers during the First World War, helping growing its popularity. Not only is the cheese popular but the box in which it is kept also is! People who collect Camembert's boxes are called Tyrosémiophiles. Along with la baguette, Camembert is a symbole of France.
How to eat it?
Simply on a baguette et voilà!
How to cut it?
Just like a cake, in equal parts from the center to the ridge.
5. Beaufort
Photo Credit: Coyau
Le Beaufort is a very old cheese that is produced in the region of Savoie, in Beaufort to be exact. History shows that this cheese was made before the Middle-Ages and continue to be produced today. It is only in 1965 that the cheese produced in the Beaufort region is called Beaufort. This cheese is firm, yellow, and concave. It is an essential ingredient for a Fondue Savoyarde! Cheese fondue is something that everyone loves! Picture a winter night, cold weather outside and a warm pot of cheese in which you dip pieces of bread for you to enjoy... MiamMiam !
How to eat it?
In slices with crackers or in a warm fondue pot mixed with other cheeses such as Gruyère de Savoie, Emmental de Savoie, white wine and pepper!
How to cut it?
Cut it in very thing quarters.
We hope you enjoyed this delicious array of cheeses in French People and Their Obsession With Cheese! We hope you spend a wonderful (French-inspired) fall with your guests. If you are looking to learn more French language and culture, don't forget to check out our French Private Lessons, French Group Classes, and our cultural events at JP Linguistics. Bonne Journée!
Mirabelle Season in France
The history of a beautiful and delicious little plum!
Today's post takes us to the Lorraine Région where one famous fruit, La Mirabelle, announces the transition of seasons from summer to fall. Walking through most markets, French people cannot escape the wonderful "étales" of this yellow, orange, and red plum. Join us through this post which shares the history of the Mirabelle and a few recipes for how to prepare it. Enjoy!
La Mirabelle is a yellow looking plum, quite similar to a cherry in shape but completely different in taste. It was first introduced in France five centuries ago by the Duc D'Anjou & De Lorraine in the XV Century. Mirabelle plums were apparently imported from China and then cultivated in the Lorraine Region, more specifically in the area of Metz. Indeed, the soil and the climate was so good for the development of the Mirabelle trees that the Académie Française officially recognized the fruit as La Mirabelle de Lorraine in 1762 (our French students know that when things are allowed by the Académie Française, it is serious!) Today, Lorraine accounts for 70% of the total worldwide production.
Its nickname is La Petite Reine de Lorraine or "The Small Queen of Lorraine" which is interesting because the word "mirabelle" comes from the Latin word mirabilis which means "beautiful to look at."
Shaped and colored like the sun, the yellow, orange, and red colors of the mirabelle might remind you of warm summer days spent with friends and family.
Tarte Lorraine aux Mirabelles
If you want to try one of the most traditional Lorraine deserts for August, try to make your own tarte following the recipe below (from Meilleur du Chef). It is absolutely delicious and we cannot wait for you to try it!
Image Credit: Chef Philippe of www.meilleurduchef.com
Ingredients:
250g sweet shortcrust pastry ('pâte sucrée')
500g fresh Mirabelle plums (or tinned in syrup)
25g flour
50g crème fraîche
50g sugar
1 egg
Vanilla extract
Steps:
1. Before starting this Mirabelle Plum Tart recipe, make sure you have organized all the necessary ingredients.
2. Make the sweet shortcrust pastry. Refrigerate for a few hours before use.
3. In a flat-bottomed pastry bowl, crack the whole eggs and pour the castor sugar in a thin stream.
To continue reading the step by step process with images click here.
Liqueur de Mirabelles
For all you bartenders out there, let's learn how to make your own Liqueur. This exciting recipe can be used in Kirs or when you have a digestive issue (according to French folklore, L'eau de Vie de Mirabelles can clear your digestive system). This drink is great to use when mixed with a white wine to make a Kir Lorrain. Start brewing yours following the recipe we found from Super Toinette and it is amazing!
Image Credit: www.enpassantparlalorraine.fr
Ingredients:
1 kg of mirabelles
250 Caster sugar
1 L of 45° alcohol for fruits
Steps:
1. Wash, drain , cut in half, leaving the core. Pour into a preserving pan
2. Take the caster sugar and alcohol ...Pour sugar and alcohol on plums and mix well.
Let soak in the tub for 4 days. Cover with a clean tea towel.
3. After four days ...the sugar has melted, stir. Transfer to jars, cap and leave to infuse for at least month.
4. After a month ...Filter with a strainer or a large colander. You can also filter through a clean cloth over a large bowl. Pour into bottles, seal well and store in a cool place. Wait two months before consuming.
We hope you enjoyed this delicious array of recipes in Mirabelle Season in France! We hope you have a wonderful (French-inspired) summer with your guests. If you are looking to learn more French language and culture, don't forget to check out our French Private Lessons, French Group Classes, and our cultural events at JP Linguistics. Bonne Journée!
Healthy Habits of French Cooking
Learn the secrets to the French diet for maintaining a healthy and happy lifestyle.
There are a number of habits that the French keep on a daily basis to maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle, from daily trips to the food market to eating smaller portions. French people have a great understanding of a well-balanced diet! With that, we hope you enjoy reading 6 Healthy Habits of French Cooking below! Bonne Santé!
1. The French find pleasure in their meals
There is no such thing as 'fearing' what you eat in France because, culturally, the French take pleasure in their culinary experiences. Food textures, wine 'notes,' and wafting smells of French ingredients are common topics of conversation over the dinner table.
Sitting with a friend or a loved one and sharing a meal together that looks and tastes great is truly the joie de vivre in France. Et voila! Now you know the ultimate secret to eating like a French person...enjoy every minute of it!
2. Daily shopping at the market
Having fresh ingredients is a must for French people. Unlike the United States, there isn't a huge issue of chemically-induced, processed foods. They can thank their government for that because of strict laws and policies for food distributors and farmers. Even without the laws, shopping at the market with a French person isn't about filling up the shopping cart with boxes of macaroni and cheese or frozen dinners. Rather, it is a thoughtful process of grabbing essential ingredients which are used to make meals from scratch. Also, instead of going to the grocery store once a week to fill up the pantry, French people go daily to the supermarket to make smaller purchases for the essentials (like a french baguette or a few fresh tomatoes). Fresh food is best obtained by daily shopping.
3. Meals are separated into courses
A proper French meal can easily add up to about 6-courses. That's because each plate is something to appreciate and pay attention to. Having a TV on in the background or a laptop open on the table while eating would be quite shocking in France. Instead, French people separate the meal into courses to appreciate the flavors and ingredients while allowing for proper digestion before moving on to the next plate. This is also why a 6-course meal sometimes lasts about 6 hours long!
4. The French menu includes organ meats
That's right, popular items like Liver Paté are top on the list of French food items for a reason. Why you ask? To start, they are nutrient-dense. The paté, for example, is typically made of liver, egg yolks, and cream or butter. This provides the B vitamins and minerals from the liver and the fat-soluble vitamins found in eggs yolks and dairy. Other common organ meats include brains, tripe, kidneys, heart, and tongue. This is not only a part of the traditional French diet for nutrition and flavor, these items are typically inexpensive and help stretch the grocery budget.
5. Variety is a key element of surprise
Instead of being hyper-focused on the calorie count in food items, French people find pleasure in the food varieties at the supermarket. For example, the variety of greens in the lettuce section or the hundreds of cheeses in the cheese department. This excitement is something that can brings new flavor and variation to each meal.
French appetizer with salmon and herb cream
6. Small Portions
The popular phrase 'less is more' is key here. Instead of filling a plate with massive portions of food, French people plate a pleasurable and delicious amount to savor during each course. Because of appropriate portion sizes, the French feel zero guilt for divulging in their favorite sugary delights.
We hope you enjoyed reading Healthy Habits of French Cooking! Do Have any additional tips you want to add? Leave them in the comment's section below. If you would like to learn more about French language and culture, check out our Group Classes and Private Lessons at JP Linguistics by clicking here. Merci et à bientôt!
French Recipes For a Holiday Party
Everything you need for easy, at-home dishes that will wow your holiday guests.
When it comes to throwing an amazing holiday party, food can make or break your guest's experience. So why not impress them with some delicious French hors d’oeuvres, main courses, and desserts? Pictured below are some yummy French recipes we love and found while scouring the web. Give them a try and make sure to post your photos online using hashtag #JPLingo. Bonne lecture et bonne cuisine!
Entrée (Appetizer)
Smoked Salmon on Toast
This classic French snack is usually a favorite for guests to nibble on before the main course. Jamie Oliver's recipe below utilizes smoked salmon, horseradish and cress toasts...yum!! Click here for the recipe.
Recipe and photo credit: Jamie Oliver
Recettes Saint Jacques
Want to WOW your guests? Try making these elegant starters from L'atelier Des Chefs. Click here for the recipe (as pictured below).
Recipe and photo credit: L'atelier Des Chefs
Pain Surprise
Pain Surprise could include a number of different ingredients depending on which surprise you would like inside of the bread. One simple and delicious option is ham and cheese (as pictured below). This recipe comes from CuisineAZ and can be found by clicking on this link.
Recipe and photo credit: CuisineAZ
Les Plats Principaux (The Main Course)
Dinde Aux Marron (purée de céleri)
This main dish is ideal for the holiday season. As with most French dishes, the sauce is a big component in bringing flavor to the meal. The recipe below includes a celery puree which is a perfect compliment to this dish. Check it out by visiting this link from Journal Des Femmes.
Recipe and photo credit: Journal des Femmes
Gambas
If your guests enjoy seafood, then this shrimp filled platter is a perfect option. It features sweet and spicy to give a nice kick to your overall meal. The image and recipe below comes from Voyage Gourmand and you can visit their site here to learn how to make a great gambas.
Recipe and photo credit: Voyage Gourmand
Gigot D'agneau
This roasted lamb is another classic for the holidays. It is often called the Easter Lamb and can be found on the EasyFrench website here.
Recipe and photo credit: EasyFrench
Les Desserts (Dessert)
Buches De Noel
This dessert is one you will commonly see in the shape of a log at a holiday party. You can be creative by adding fun decorations like mushrooms atop the log (as seen in the image below). Check out the recipe from Marmiton here.
Recipe and photo credit: Marmiton
Café Gourmand
Café Gourmand includes desserts consumed with coffee at the end of the meal. There are many options to include with coffee and you can find a nice selection of recipes from L'express Styles here. (All images and recipes below are copyright of L'express Styles).
We hope you enjoyed this delicious array of recipes in French Recipes For a Holiday Party! We hope you have a wonderful (French-inspired) holiday season with your guests. If you are looking to learn more French language and culture, don't forget to check out our French Private Lessons, French Group Classes, and our cultural events on our JP Linguistics website. Bonne Journée!