French Foods and Dining Customs

French Foods and Dining Customs

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Respect the Time

• Contrary to the American habit of eating at any and all hours, the French respect specific mealtimes

• Most restaurants outside of Paris are only open from 12-2 for lunch, and will not re-open until after 7pm for dinner

Multiple Choice

Are French restaurants open all day long?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

When do French restaurants typically serve lunch?

• Most restaurants don't

• 12:00-2:00

• 11:00-4:00

Types of Eating Establishments

Café

• A café is where you go for coffee and cold drinks.

• This is a great option for a French styled breakfast of coffee and a croissant

• You might see "omelettes" on the menu, but these are usually only served during lunchtime and typically come with fries and a salad

Brasserie

• A brasserie means brewery and is a place to drink beer

• Generally, you'll find a selection of soups, salads, sandwiches, omelettes, pastas, and simply prepared chicken, steak and fish dishes at a brasserie

Bistro

• A bistro is a smaller restaurant that serves a small variety of dishes

• Many bistros have specific dishes that they specialize in

• This is a great choice if you want to enjoy a local, French dish

Restaurant

• Restaurants offer a large variety of cuisine

• Prices are typically more expensive and the dress is more formal

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would be a good option for a French style breakfast?

• Cafe

• Brassiere

• Bistro

• Restaurant

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would be the most expensive option for dining in France?

• Cafe

• Brassiere

• Bistro

• Restaurant

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would be a good option for a local French dish?

• Cafe

• Brassiere

• Bistro

• Restaurant

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would be a good option for a simple meal with a drink?

• Cafe

• Brassiere

• Bistro

• Restaurant

Tables

• The tables at French restaurants are typically close together

• This does not mean you should have small talk with the people next to you-- French people do not like to engage in small talk like Americans do

Multiple Choice

When dining at a French restaurant, should you talk to the other people around you?

• YES THEY LOVE THAT

• No!

Bread

• You will not get a basket of bread before your meal-- it will come with your meal

• There will also be no butter served with your bread-- it is completely acceptable in French culture to use your bread to push food onto your fork or soak up the sauce your food may have come with

Multiple Choice

When will you get your basket of bread?

• Before your meal

• With your meal

• French people don't eat bread

Multiple Choice

Is it considered rude to use your bread to wipe up the sauce on your plate?

• Yes

• No

Substitutions

• Substituting or changing items on your meal is considered rude

• The only exception to changing a dish is if you have a serious allergy, otherwise, do not ask to change a dish!

Multiple Choice

When should you ask for substitutions at a French restaurant?

• You can substitute anything

• You should only do this

  if you have a severe allergy

Salt and Pepper?

• You will not see spices sitting on the table at a French restaurant

• French cuisine is considered some of the best food in the world and chefs feel their food is already great enough!

Multiple Choice

Why won't you see spices sitting on a table at a French restaurant?

• The chefs have worked hard to perfect their recipes and don't think its necessary

• All French people are allergic to salt and pepper

Paying the Bill

• DO NOT ask your waiter to split the bill if you are with a group of people

• It is French restaurant etiquette that one person will pay the bill, then everyone else will pay that person back

Multiple Choice

Is it okay to ask your waiter to split the bill for your group?

• Yes

• No

Tipping

• The tip is already included in your final bill

• Unless you receive service that is above and beyond, it is not necessary to leave a tip

Multiple Choice

Do you need to leave a tip at a French restaurant?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Why don't you need to leave a tip at the table?

• The waiter would be offended

• The tip is already included in the final bill

Time!

• Dining out in France takes significantly longer than in the U.S.

• It is common to spend 1.5-2 hours at lunch and 2-3 hours at dinner

• French culture is more laid-back than American culture

Multiple Choice

How long could your lunch time possibly be in France?

• Only around 30-45 minutes

• Around 1.5-2 hours

Multiple Choice

How long does dinner usually take if you are dining out?

• 1-1.5 hours

• 2-3 hours

• 5-6 hours

Waiters

• Waiters typically will not come to your table unless you call them over

• They will not come back to ask you how things are going, if you want to order anything else, etc.

• This is a reflection of the laid-back, non-rushed atmosphere of French restaurants

Multiple Choice

How often will the French waiter come to your table?

• Every 5-10 minutes

• Only when called

French meals

• French meals typically have three components: a starter, a main course, and a dessert

• Often there is coffee served between the main course and the dessert

Multiple Choice

What three things typically make up a French meal?

• Starter, Main Course, Dessert

• Bread, Main Course, Coffee

Multiple Choice

What is usually served between the main course and the dessert?

• Water

• Coffee

• A mint

French Foods

Steak frites

• While technically not a French food, steak and fries is a popular dish loved by many French people

• You can find this item on the menu at most restaurants

Poll

I would like to try steak frites!

• Yes

• No

Escargot

• Escargot are cooked snails

• They are typically stuffed and cooked with a garlic parsley butter

Poll

I would like to try escargots!

• Yes

• No

Cassoulet

• Cassoulet is a rich, slow-cooked casserole containing meat, pork skin and white beans, originating in southern France

Poll

I would like to try cassoulet!

• Yes

• No

Foie gras

• Foie gras is a specialty food product made of the liver of a duck or goose

• "Foie gras" means "fatty liver"

Poll

I would like to try foie gras!

• Yes

• No

Crêpes

• A crêpe is a type of very thin pancake. Crêpes are usually of two types: sweet crêpes and savoury galettes.

• Sweet crêpes are made with white flour and usually filled with sweets, such as nutella, fruit, and whipped cream

• A galette is made with buckwheat flour and served with savoury items, like meat, cheese, and veggies

Poll

I would like to try crêpes!

• Yes

• No

Pain au Chocolat

• Pain au Chocolat is essentially a choclate filled croissant

• These are a common breakfast food in France

Poll

I would like to try pain au chocolat!

• Yes

• No

Crème brûlée

• Crème brûlée, also known as burned cream, burnt cream or Trinity cream, is a dessert consisting of a rich custard base topped with a layer of hardened caramelized sugar.

Poll

I would like to try crème brûlée!

• Yes

• No

Macaron

• A macaron is a sweet meringue-based cookie made with egg white, icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond meal, and food colouring.

• These are not to be confused with the American "macaroon," which is a cookie made of coconut

Poll

I would like to try macarons!

• Yes

• No

The End :)