Guide to
Famous French Food

They come to paris from
all regions of france

Caviar, oysters, cheese, truffles, beef. French food comes from all corners of France and is found in Paris restaurants, shops, markets and bistros.

Food is most definitely an important part of the overall French culture, and they treat it seriously.

Virtually all of the best French food is subject to stringent regulations to ensure the food quality and that consumers know what they are buying.

Most of the food standards are embodied in the AOC system, or Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (Controlled Designation of Origin). Early examples of controlled designation systems date back to the 15th century. Champagne and Roquefort are two familiar examples.

For a cheese to be labelled "Roquefort", for instance, it must be produced in a designated region, with only certain types of milk, from certain cows, made in a certain way and aged in certain caves. And so it goes with many, many types of food in France.

Find more fascinating information about the specialty foods you are likely to encounter in Paris.

Bon appetit !

French Cheese

Visit a Paris fromagerie (cheese shop) and get a chance to sample some of the 1000 types of cheese made in France today.

• What We Learned About French Cheese »

Baguettes

You might know that the French adore crusty bread, but did you know that the baguette was created to make more a bread with more crust?

• Our Baguette Adventures in Paris »

Croissants

Marie Antoinette brought the croissant from Austria, but it was the French who made it famous. Do you think she might have said, "let them eat croissants"?

France Food – Caviar

Caviar

Smoky, silky and delicious, perhaps the most famous French specialty food is caviar.

With dwindling sturgeon supply, the French make their own caviar by farming sturgeon in the Dordogne.

Learn where to find the best caviar in Paris.

Learn About France Food – Caviar »

French Butter

Who are the biggest butter eaters?

The French, of course! And the butter they eat is probably the best made anywhere in the world. Butter even has two AOCs!

• What We Learned About French Butter »

Oysters

Paris is crazy about oysters!

90% of the vast French oyster harvest is consumed in France — and about half of the 150,000 metric tonnes annual crop is eaten between Christmas and New Year.

Learn About Oysters In France »

Black Truffles

Diamant noir, black diamond, is the name given to the precious black truffle – the most prized of French food.

Take a trip with us to visit a trufficulteur in Provence and learn how truffles are grown. Also discover the best places to get truffles in Paris.

Read About Our Black Truffles Adventure »

French beef, poultry & seafood

French beef

The French are very particular about their meats and so, of course, they strive the have the very best — including hearty French beef, prized Bresse chicken and fresh line-caught fish.

Visit a French market with us and learn about the amazing history of these staples of French food.