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4th July 2009
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French Food & Cuisine

Gemma Driver
Gemma Driver
Topic Host

Le Gastrozone is your one-stop stock of information on la vie gourmande in France

Check out our latest reviews, recipes, and food and drink tips. We also aim to demystify French eating habits and traditions, to make life and cuisine easier in France.

Gemma Driver
FrenchEntrée’s Resident Gastronome

Contact me at Le Gastrozone

more about Gemma Driver...

Article Archive

A chance to re-visit previous Gastrozone articles.

Free-Range Pork Farmer
Pig farmer...We speak to a French free-range pork farmer...


Independent Wine Producers
Vignerons independents...What the 'Vignéron Indépendent' label means...

Fish n' Chips in France
Fish & chips...Fish n' Chips hits the Dordogne! Brits take their chip van to various locations, including Périgueux pub, The Star Inn...

Baby Feeding Controversy
Eating cookies...American reader tells of conflict with French inlaws, due to her baby's diet...

Deux Sèvres Menu
Goats cheese tart...If you're stuck for ideas of what to cook, try this traditional menu of delicious dished from the Deux Sèvres region of France...

Bloody Delicious
Boudin noir...The differences between English and French black puddings, and the joys of boudin noir...

Downshifter's Weekend Menu
Chicken & garlic...A thrifty, delicious and waste-free set of dishes for a whole weekend's dining...

Supermarket Waste
Supermarket veg...Ridiculous and pointless waste, and how it is the supplier who looses out, even though it is not their fault...

Languedoc Olives
Olives ...How French olives get from tree to table...

Guide to Buying Bread
Baguette...What to look for when buying bread in France, to ensure you get the best from your baguette...

Dream French Meal
Al fresco...An account of the kind of amazing French meal you see in films, but this one was for real...

Reader's Viewpoint
French meal...French eating rituals as seen by American living in France...

Truffle Beer
Truffle beer...Beligian beer in France; Ale brewed with truffles and chestnuts. We meet the brewer, who grows his own barley...

Mirepoix
Mirepoix - How to make it, and its uses; one of the staples of French cuisine...

French Snail Farm
Snail pen ...Snails are so very French. I went to a local snail farm to learn about how they get from mud to your mouth....

Cookery Courses In France
Jim Fisher ...Masterchef finalist, Jim Fisher, took his enviable cheffing experience to the rural Dordogne. Now he's passing on his know-how...

And here's a feature about Jim's life, Cook in France

Lauren Booth Comes to Lunch
chook ...The well-known journalist loves the French approach to food and living...

Fromage de la Trappe
Nun ...Trappist cheese from Échourgnac. I speak to the nuns who make it....



Private Chefs Become Popular in France
Emmanuel...I caught up with Emmanuel Sofonéa, a private chef from Antibes...

A Traditional Bakery in France
Bakers...The successful wood-fired bakery opened a year ago. I went to find out how they manage to supply the huge demand for their extra special bread...

La Poissonnerie
Moderne

Philipe & Pascale...I speak to the owners of a traditional French poisonerie...

The 'Vendange'
Meals

Valerie...Tale of the vendange (grape harvest) meals, including the immensely bolstering casse-croûte breakfast, served with raw garlic and wine...

Oysters Farmed in
France

Oyster ...A look at the life of an oyster and it's farmer, in the Arcachon Basin, including how they cope with the huge Christmas rush...

Foie Gras
Production

Foie gras sign...I spent several days with Isabelle Viresolvit, on her duck farm in rural Périgord - one of the regions, which claims to be THE foie gras-producing region of France. I watched Isabelle work and we discussed her methods for producing foie gras...

French Food
Festivals

Veal calf...Winter food festivals in south-west France, including the internationally renowned ‘Salon International du Livre Gourmand’...

Mardi Gras
eggs ...or ‘Fat Tuesday’ is the French term for Shrove Tuesday. The French enjoy a day of feasting on cakes and sparkling wine

French Goat's
Cheese

Milk churns...The work of artisan goat cheese producers in France. An interview the Foucauts - a dying breed of cheese producers...

A French Master
‘Chocolatier’

Chocolaterie...‘La Chocolaterie’ is a sight to behold. Its incredible window displays draw the customer’s attention into the shop, where they can watch Eric at work...


Snuffling for
Truffles

Truffle...We went on a local ‘randonnée de la truffe’, and found out about the business of growing 'des truffes'.
"...We were surprised by the large turnout on that misty, frosty morning..."

Le Gastrozone

Your topic on food in France.

An introduction to Le Gastrozone.

Welcome to Le Gastrozone! One of the major draws for francophiles is the image of all the wonderful food and wine of France, and the beautiful markets bursting with lush ingredients. But once the initial novelty of the pâté and cheese selections wear off, what holds people's interest? What exactly do you do with all those fantastic ingredients which are begging to be used? Le Gastrozone is here to explain and investigate. Check out our six main sections:
Latest stories
Foodie focus
This month
Recipes
Wild food
Alternative diets
more about your topic on food in France...

Latest articles
Foodie stories and our latest articles on food and drink in France.

Why Is Armagnac So Special?

We filmed an Armagnac producer to find out!

Armagnac video still Among the exhibitors at The France Show 2009 were the Edange family, who make armagnac. We asked Denis Edange what makes Armagnac such a unique product, and how it differs from Cognac. He was only too pleased to explain, for our video clip... watch the video...

Vins de Pays

What is a Vin de Pays?

Grahame MartinGrahame Martin, Wine Writer, explains...
"Put simply, Vins de Pays wines are a step up from Vin de Table, and a step down from Vin Délimité de Qualite Supérieure, which, in turn is just..." vin de pays explained...

NEW BOOK - White Stone Black Wine

Life among the ancient vineyards of the Quercy Blanc

White Stone, Black Wine
White Stone Black Wine - "A relaxing and entertaining book about life in the Quercy region" White Stone Black Wine is generously slanted towards the regional specialities and famed local wines of the undiscovered Quercy Blanc...

Read more...

Provençal Cuisine

Help with menus

Crudites Provençal cooking is naturally packed with flavour, due to the sun-kissed produce that is so abundant in this region. Vegetables, seafood, meat casseroles, ratatouille... but it's not always obvious what dishes are from their names. Here is some terminology for those most commonly found on Provençal menus.
Provençal dishes...

Starting a Wine Cellar

The 1st in our series on creating your own French wine cellar.

Wine Cellar Do you love wine and dream of having a wine cellar of your own instead of just buying a bottle or bag-in-box when needed? Grahame Martin's guide to starting a wine cellar will show you how to go about it… more...

Foodie Focus
Adventures and interviews with French food producers; An in-depth look at the lives and livings of those who provide the amazing produce available to us in France.

Oyster Farmers in France.

A visit to local oyster parks.

Oyster farmers A look at the life of an oyster and it's farmer. I visited an oyster farmer at Gujan-Mestras, on the Arcachon Basin, to find out, among other things, how the oyster parks prepared for the huge French Christmas rush... French oyster farm...

French Walnut Oil

A chat with an oil producer, on his walnut plantation

French walnut oilOne of the Périgord region’s finest gastronomic products is undoubtedly the glorious walnut oil. Its deep and divine scent and flavours do miraculous things to ripe tomatoes, salads, cold meats, charcuterie and vegetables. Having been tempted up a steep track by... walnut oil...

British Sausage-Makers in France

'We knew the Brits would love our sausages but the French do!

At the marketAfter finishing university in the UK, Oliver Jenner and Amy Jones decided that the best place to start their sausage-making and pork business was France. It has become a huge success...more...

Brits Run Successful Vineyard in France

'Within our first two years of wine-making in France we'd won nine

Picking grapesJo and David Cowderoy moved to France to realise their long-held dream of creating their own wine. Here, they tell FrenchEntrée how they did it...more...

This Month
Ideas and inspiration on what is available in French shops now. Fantastic value basics, or finds that are simply superb.

Perfect Winter Cheese

Vacherin Mont D'Or

Baked vacherin...The ring of spruce wood, which keeps the cheese together, infuses a magical foresty wonderland of flavour into the salt-washed rind and the running, ivory goo of the interior... more about vacherin...

Seasonal Charcuterie

Figs stuffed with foie gras

Foie gras figs It's not strictly charcuterie (it isn't pork), but this delectable treat is ideal to go with aperitifs - they really get tastebuds going. Delicious with a floral, dry white wine, fizz, dessert wine or fortified wine... foie gras figs...

Ethereal Eating

Current restaurant recommendation

Moulin du Roc Le Moulin du Roc, 4 star hotel and restaurant, Champagnac-de-Belair, Dordogne.

This is the best haute cuisine restaurant that I have tried in France, and the best of all the restaurants I’ve eaten at for gastronomic value. It is like a fairy paradise for foodies...

News: Moulin du Roc is 40 years old! See their website for their anniversary special offers. more...

Recipes
French recipes and regional delicacies demystified, along with tips and inspiration for the most scrumptious ways to use the abundant seasonal produce of France.

Tourain Blanchi à l'Ail

Traditional garlic soup

Tourain Blanchi A l'AilThis delicate and velvety garlic soup from South-West France makes a heart-warming lunch a light starter for an evening meal. It will fill your kitchen with the wonderful smell of garlic frying in fat - a scent and flavour, which the soup manages to... warming garlic soup recipe...

A Favorite Recipe for Mussles

A morning in Avignon and resulting recipe

Moules "When I head for Les Halles without a specific menu in mind, I often find I am influenced by the weather outside. This morning it was very overcast in Avignon, so when I went past my fishmonger, the tiny little moules looked just perfect. And at €4,80 akilo, the price was right..." An account by Kate Schertz. Provençal moules...

French Flavour of the Month

Seasonal French recipes for every month of the year

Pigeon Farci © FrenchEntrée Lot & QuercyCheck out our series of delicious recipes using a seasonal star ingredient, including recipes using pigeon, bass, lamb, cherries, cognac, quince and courgettes. flavour of the month recipes...

Wild Food
Reminders and advice for those who enjoy foraging for food that is free, very fresh and organic, including the French national pastime of mushroom collecting.

Free Food Now!

Wild food that's available this season, in France

Rosehips Find out what's free in the French countryside right now. Forage for fruit, berries, vegetables, mushrooms, leaves, herbs, flowers and even water creatures... wild food...

Warning On Eating Wild French mushrooms.

'Mushroom Mayhem' is a true story about poisonous wild mushrooms in France.

Chanterelles
Edible Girolles
- A terrifying tale of how greed landed me in hospital. Advice included.

"Ah, yes. I’m always thrilled if I mention The Mushroom Poisoning to a local, and they respond by..."
mushroom poisoning...

Special Diets
Advice and information to make life easier for those with special dietary requirements in France.

Help for Vegetarians

Being a vegetarian in France can be hard...

Camembert & bread Vegetarianism is a relatively new concept for the French, and one which is frequently misunderstood, especially outside the big cities. French restaurant menus and eating at French friend's homes can become embarassing and a chore. For help, take a look at Vegetarian France.

Gluten-Free in France

Advice on dealing with wheat & gluten allergies.

GF logoBecause wheat and gluten allergies are a medical condition, you may have a more understanding response to your allergy than veggies or vegans will get from their life-choice. However, the land of patisseries...

gluten free France...

Tips For Vegans in France:

Help with managing a vegan diet.

Figs"Don’t try to translate ‘vegan’; most people will look at you blankly. You can attempt to explain, but they may not be able to comprehend this concept, because it is so alien to most French people...
advice for vegans...
Missing British Food?
British Corner Shop AdvertWe are your one stop shop for all things British, with over 5000 supermarket products. Online shopping delivered to your door worldwide. Try us for your British food shopping.
Fantastic Restaurant Offers
French cuisineVisit the FrenchEntrée Travel Club today to find restaurant deals in France- some can even be combined with a day trip.
Foodie Holidays in France
Lobster FrenchEntrée Holidays has a section full of reviews, articles and ideas for foodie breaks in France. Wine tasting, cooking holidays, travel offers and more. See Foodie Holidays...
Le Creuset More copper cookware is sold in France than anywhere else in the world. Why? Because... French cookware explained...
French Foodie Books
French cookery books The FrenchEntrée bookshop features an excellent selection of titles on food and wine in France, as well as recipe books, to help you improve your French cuisine... The Bookshop
Smallholdings in France
SheepTry our Smallholdings Topic! - Guidance on starting out with livestock, and other indispensible tips and advice for smallholders in France... Smallholdings in France Topic

Latest Food and Drink Forum Postings

Information Store

Access everyday information to help your French food-shopping experiences flow more smoothly.

Seafood Vocabulary
CrabIf you are bewildered by the range of seafood, the names, and the questions you are asked at the seafood counter, this should help!
French Meat Cuts
pigIt is not just a case of simple translation when buying meat in France, because the French cuts differ from those in the UK. Here are some explanations and vocabulary...
Mysterious Veg
chardHow to use the mysterious vegetables that you see in French markets.

Flour in France
BreadWhich flour to use for what; about the grades.

Foie Gras Explained
Spiced foie Being unused to this product in the UK, the various forms of foie gras can be confusing at first...

Market Tasters in France
tastersHow to deal with traders offering tasters at the markets of France.

Market Manners in France
market stall"How to deal with market stall pressure.


British Vs French Supermarket StocksupermarketDifferences between French and British supermarket stock; how it is treated differently, and where it comes from.

Supermarket Vs Market
vegThe differences between supermarket stock and that of the markets and individual shops. What do you get for your money?
Ordering Steak
steakHow to request the ‘doneness’ of a steak in French.

Sauce Names
waiter Ever wondered what the difference is between ‘Béarnaise’ and ‘Périgordine’ sauces?

Question?

If you have a question, Email me!

Sherlock"My question is, what exactly is a mabre? Some kind of terrine perhaps? Any info you may have would be greatfully appreciated, thanks!"

Christina Bowen
Hotelschool The Hague
to the answer...

The Wines of Bergerac

A truly excellent wine guide!

Wines of Bergerac

Phil Hargreaves has collected comprehensive information on 92 of the best wine producers in the Bergerac area. Other invaluable information, including... more...

Recommended Reading

Useful books reviewed.

This section of Le Gastrozone is where you will find suggestions for helpful books on cooking and food in France.

Current recommendation:
'The A - Z of French Food', Scribo Editions.

A - Z of French Food


This unusual, almost quaint glossary is an indispensable handbook for anyone who is not totally fluent in French. There is always something on the menu which...


The A - Z of French Food...

Your Ideas

Questions and Feedback

Do you have any questions about food in France? Any food or drink gems that you have discovered? Would you like to recommend your favourite restaurant? Or maybe you have some feedback on Le Gastrozone?

I am always happy to hear your real life stories, and I answer all queries.
Email me.

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