Let's all put our hands together for.... French food

In honour of 'Gout de France' - celebrated last Thursday- an evening in which over 1000 chefs across all five continents took to the kitchen to honour French cuisine (pretty rad, right?), I have decided to compile a list of ten French foods which you must try (no, foie gras will not feature).

I sometimes forget that I live in a country where the baguette is worshipped within the holy space that we simple beings call the Boulangerie. More popular than going to church on a Sunday here in France, is attending the Sunday morning service in your local Patisserie. All hail le flan. Taking holy communion would reach all new levels of fun.

1. Red Wine

Yes- this counts as food, and yes you should replace your dinner with it once in a while. I can promise only good things.



2. Fondue/ Raclette

Every one loves a fun food, and when the fun food is (entirely) cheese based then it takes on a completely new level. Hell, you can even dip cheese into the cheese fondue if you like.



Here's to health. And hopefully avoiding an obesity induced heart attack.

3. Baked Camembert

Or just camembert, unbaked, if the anticipation gets too much and you can't handle waiting for the oven to heat up. We've all been there.

 

4. Bouillabaisse

This dish actually originates from Marseille (handy...) and is said to share "the warmth of the city". I can't quite vouch for ever having felt said warmth from anyone in Marseille (bar a few nice men who really wanted to be friends/ steal my money), but the dish is pretty great.

 

5. Tartiflette

A dish from the Alps which brings together in beautiful union potatoes, melted cheese (I see a trend) and bacon. If you have to question this then I don't think that you deserve to try it. I'd book a skiing holiday to the Alps for this alone.



Some one even turned it into a pizza. How do I feel about this? Very excited.



6. Crepes/ Buckwheat crepes

Buckwheat crepes > Crepes, but they're both good and I'm not picky. Buckwheat crepes (Galettes de Bretagne) originate from Brittany, and are usually savoury. Crepes, on the other hand, are for nutella (and nutella only)

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7. Baguette 

The struggle to find a really good baguette is way too real. Yes, the baguettes in France are above average and make baguettes in England look like they should be at Madame Tussaudes. However, once you find the baguette - THE baguette- you will struggle to be satisfied elsewhere. I just have one piece of advice, if you are ever in Aix-en-provence (or if you happen to come across one elsewhere) GO TO JACOBS. Buy ALL of the baguettes and never look back.

 

8. Flan 



Look at it.

9. Pastry 

All of the pastry. Thank you God.



10. French Toast 

I'm not even sure if this is French, but it's got it in its name and that's good enough for me.



Maaaann, I am hungry now.

Hel-lo Quebec

I've come to realise through the years, and particularly whilst being in France, that I am very much an all-or-nothing type of person. I don't like to do things half heartedly; I like to see things through. After much anticipation, changing my mind numerous times and considering many weird and wonderful things, I decided to sign up to Au Pair World, a website which allows you to create a profile and then search for families in your chosen country who are looking for an au pair.

2 Weeks, 3 Cities

I find it rather funny how, although the year abroad is essentially 10 months of being in another country to improve your target language, as soon as a weeks holiday comes around the whole of the Erasmus population of said country swiftly departs to explore anywhere else in Europe BUT country with target language. So, being the very cliché of this observation, the onset of a mid term holiday meant that it was time to flee Aix for a week (or a week and a half... what lectures?)  Queue further disappearance of Erasmus grant to various flight/bus operators, hostels and extravagant air b'n'b apartments.

Bilbo Baggins defeats Smaug and finds Arles.

After what seemed like heroic a quest for the Lonely Mountain and Smaug's gold (or in other words a few wrong buses) ending up in a day trip to Port 'pit of the earth' Saint Louis, somewhat resemblant of Mirkwood, I feared that I would never make it to Arles. A historic town in the South of France, once used by Roman Emperors as a headquarters during military campaigns and a pertinent cultural and religious centre during the late Roman Empire. I had heard of its wonderful architecture, including a Roman amphitheatre; somewhat strange to come across in the South of France. We are indeed very lucky to have a town with such a rich and intriguing history only a few hours away. I did however vow never again to attempt the treacherous journey. However, turns out that you can in fact jump on a bus from Aix which takes you directly to Arles in around 1h40 mins. I think i'll scrap my plans to become an explorer, and stick to the day job.

I'm not biased, but French bus drivers < English bus drivers

As far as English buses go, if you're on the wrong one the driver can quite swiftly point you in the right direction. In France, the bus drivers are as confused as you are. Cue 4 hours of bus journeys, a stop in Port Saint Louis (word to the wise; just don't go there), an hour in a supermarket, a power cut and lunch in a questionable establishment, and we FINALLY... didn't make it to Arles.