Tourism, gastronomy, history, culture, discover France through all the free articles dedicated to it on this free website.
Foreign tourists are often surprised by mustard as it is consumed in France. It's more pungent and much less sweet than that usually found on tables around the world, particularly in Germany and the United States. Burgundy mustard, Dijon mustard, Meaux mustard... Find out more about French mustards and how to use them in the kitchen.
France is also the land of flowers. Numerous species have been created in the country, and can be found in private homes or in France's famous gardens, from the châteaux of the Loire to Versailles and public parks. But what are France's favorite flowers? Here are 10 of the 15 best-selling flowers in France
It's never better than at the beginning of the season, in spring, but it's just as delicious at the start of summer: rhubarb tart. Here's the secret of my Grandma Simone's rhubarb tart. Enjoy!
It's one of France's favorite desserts: strawberry tart. With good southern or Brittany strawberries, it's a real delicacy, easy to make and delicious with a little whipped cream. Here's the recipe for a good strawberry tart.
Made by fermenting apple juice, cider has long been the 2nd most popular drink in France, and is still very popular in Normandy and Brittany. This is to be expected, given that, along with the Basque region, these are the French regions that produce the most apples. So: corked? brut? off-dry? How do you choose your cider? What to drink it with? Here are Monsieur de France's ideas.
French culture
France
Trou Normand, bourguignon... What is a "trou" at the table?
Jérôme Monsieur de France
The trou normand. A very old custom which consists of drinking a glass of calvados in the middle of a festive meal. And it's also found in other regions of France. It's less and less common, and has been modified over time, but the tradition of the trou normand is still very much alive. There are also other regional 'holes' to discover with Monsieur de France.
Sunday chicken" is the distant heir to the famous poule au pot that King Henri IV wanted for all French people. A traditional, family-style dish, it is still prepared on Sundays in some families, and is carved according to a very precise ritual. How do you make it a success? Here's the recipe
It seems that the cocktail was invented in the United States, where the word appeared in 1803. If we consider that a cocktail is a mixture with an alcohol base, France has invented many cocktails. From the simplest, which can be found in a café, such as the "mauresque" or the "perroquet", to the most elaborate, such as the "marquisette", the "soupe angevine" or the Punch Lorrain.
Of course Italy invented pizza. The French love cuisine in general, and Italian cuisine in particular. And they can't help but bring their "French touch" to it. Discover some French pizza recipes here.
French culture
France
The Phrygian cap to celebrate Liberty and the Republic
Jérôme Monsieur de France
The Phrygian cap is one of the great symbols of the French Revolution and, more broadly, of the French Republic. It caps Marianne (the Republic) and is also the origin of the "phryges", the mascots of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Originally, the cap was worn by freedmen of the Roman Empire, in other words, those who had been freed from slavery. It was this history that led the Parisian "sans culottes" to make it their symbol at the time of the Revolution, because it symbolized the accession to Liberty.
