Our details about French Food that foreigners can’t understand for your next trip to France.
French cuisine is world-renowned for its elegance, complexity, and attention to detail. While many foreigners appreciate French food, there are certain aspects of it that can be confusing or misunderstood. French food culture is steeped in tradition and subtle rules, and understanding these nuances can help you enjoy the cuisine more authentically.
French food is about more than just eating—it’s about rituals, tradition, and a deep appreciation for the ingredients and preparation of each dish. By understanding these subtleties, you’ll not only avoid potential cultural faux pas but also gain a richer and more authentic dining experience.
Here are some details about French food that often perplex outsiders.
Read here best French Food, vegetarian food in France, France and Switzerland 14 Days Itinerary and Classic French Breakfast
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Details About French Food
1. Bread Isn’t an Appetizer
What’s Confusing: In many countries, bread is served as an appetizer with butter or olive oil, but in France, bread plays a very different role. It’s never eaten before the meal begins and is not served with butter unless at breakfast.
Why It Matters: In France, bread is meant to accompany the meal, not as a starter. It’s usually served alongside the main course to help with the sauces, and you’re often expected to use it to mop up the remnants of a delicious dish.
What to Do: Wait until your main course arrives to eat the bread, and don’t expect butter with it during lunch or dinner. Use it to complement the meal, especially with dishes that have rich sauces like coq au vin or boeuf bourguignon.
2. Cheese Has Its Own Course
What’s Confusing: In many countries, cheese is often served as an appetizer or included in dishes, but in France, cheese has its own special place as a course, typically served after the main course and before dessert.
Why It Matters: Cheese is a highly respected part of the meal in France, and there’s an entire culture around it. The cheese course can include a selection of various cheeses served with bread or crackers, but never with added condiments like fruit or nuts, which might mask the flavors.
What to Do: If offered a cheese course, enjoy it after the main meal but before dessert. Choose two or three types of cheese to sample (usually from soft to hard), and don’t overwhelm your plate. Avoid mixing cheese with any sweet toppings like jams or honey unless it’s explicitly part of the dish.
3. Meals Are Meant to Be Savored Slowly
What’s Confusing: In many countries, meals can be rushed, with a focus on efficiency or convenience. In France, meals are social and meant to be savored slowly. There’s an emphasis on taking your time, enjoying conversation, and appreciating each course.
Why It Matters: The French dining experience is about quality over quantity. Meals, even simple ones, can last several hours, especially in a restaurant or at home with family and friends. Eating too quickly or rushing through courses can seem impolite.
What to Do: Relax and enjoy the meal at a leisurely pace. Take the time to savor each course, chat with your dining companions, and avoid rushing through the meal. Be patient with the service, as it is designed to give you space to enjoy the experience.
4. The Role of Wine
What’s Confusing: In France, wine is not just a drink but an integral part of the meal. It’s chosen carefully to complement the food and is rarely drunk without a meal or as a casual refreshment during the day.
Why It Matters: The French believe in pairing wine with food to enhance the flavors of both. There’s a lot of attention paid to selecting the right wine to match the dish, and drinking wine without food is often considered odd unless you’re at an aperitif.
What to Do: When offered wine, sip it alongside the meal to appreciate how it enhances the food’s flavors. If unsure, ask your server for recommendations on wine pairings with your meal, as they are typically happy to guide you.
5. The Strict Rules on How to Eat Certain Dishes
What’s Confusing: The French take certain rules for eating specific dishes very seriously. For example, there are precise ways to eat cheese, baguettes, and even salads that may differ from what foreigners are used to.
Why It Matters:
Cheese: Only small portions should be cut from the cheese plate, and there’s a particular way to slice each type of cheese (e.g., cutting wedges from a round cheese, not slicing straight through).
Baguettes: Never bite directly into a baguette. It should be torn or cut into small pieces.
Salads: Salad should be folded with a fork and knife, not cut with a knife, as it’s considered rude to “destroy” the delicate leaves.
What to Do: Pay attention to how locals are eating specific dishes and follow their lead. This respect for tradition and presentation is a key part of French dining etiquette.
6. No Snacking Between Meals
What’s Confusing: Snacking throughout the day is common in many countries, but in France, eating between meals is generally discouraged. The French tend to stick to three main meals a day with little to no snacking in between.
Why It Matters: The French believe in quality meals rather than frequent eating. Snacks are seen as unnecessary, and meals are given more importance in terms of planning and preparation. The only exception might be a small afternoon snack (le goûter) for children, but even this is rare for adults.
What to Do: If you’re feeling hungry between meals, try to hold off until your next scheduled meal. Meals in France are usually satisfying and designed to keep you full until the next one.
7. Butter and Cream are Used Sparingly
What’s Confusing: French cuisine is often associated with butter and cream, but these ingredients are used more thoughtfully than foreigners might expect. Rather than being heavy, French dishes are often delicate, with small amounts of butter or cream used to enhance flavors without overwhelming the palate.
Why It Matters: French cooking prioritizes balance. Even in rich dishes, such as quiche or sauces, there’s a careful approach to using just enough butter or cream to bring out the flavors of the dish without making it too heavy or greasy.
What to Do: Don’t assume all French food is heavy. If you’re worried about rich dishes, try a vinaigrette-based salad or lighter seafood dishes that highlight fresh ingredients over butter and cream.
8. Breakfast is Minimal
What’s Confusing: Many foreigners expect a hearty breakfast, but the French typically have a very light breakfast, often consisting of just a croissant, baguette with jam, or coffee.
Why It Matters: Breakfast in France is a simple affair, with the focus more on quality pastries and coffee than a heavy meal. The French tend to save their bigger meals for lunch and dinner.
What to Do: Embrace the French tradition of a light breakfast. If you want to enjoy a French breakfast like a local, opt for a croissant, pain au chocolat, or tartine (a baguette with butter and jam) along with an espresso or café au lait.
9. Portion Sizes Are Smaller
What’s Confusing: Portion sizes in France tend to be much smaller compared to many other countries, especially the U.S. French meals prioritize quality over quantity, and dishes are often elegantly presented in smaller portions.
Why It Matters: The French believe in eating in moderation while still enjoying indulgent foods. The focus is on savoring each bite, rather than eating large portions quickly.
What to Do: Don’t expect large portions, and enjoy the careful balance of flavors. If you’re still hungry, courses are typically spread out, so you’ll have multiple dishes to enjoy throughout the meal.
10. Pastries Are for Special Occasions
What’s Confusing: French pastries like croissants, pain au chocolat, and éclairs are world-famous, but they’re often associated with special occasions or leisurely breakfasts, not everyday indulgence.
Why It Matters: While French bakeries are known for their pâtisseries, locals don’t eat pastries every day. They are typically reserved for special breakfasts or weekend treats, as the French are careful about balancing indulgence with healthy eating.
What to Do: Enjoy a pastry now and then, but don’t expect the French to eat them regularly. Instead, savor them slowly when you do, as the French do.
About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues sharing his travel experiences with his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.