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Le Gastrozone

CONTENTS

French Food & Cuisine

Gemma Driver

Try our recipes and food tips. We demystify French eating habits and traditions, to make life and cuisine easier in France.

•Gemma Driver, Topic Host more...

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..."

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? more about your topic on food in France...

FREE Enjoying Life in France newsletter

Enjoying life smallClick here for Enjoying Life in France, a hand-picked monthly selection of French culture, language tips, recipes and more, delivered direct to your inbox free of charge. You might call it an indispensable guide to a new French life!

The winner of our macaron competition

©Penny Hitchings • Manoir La Betoulle Penny from La Betoule shares her secret for perfect macarons every time.
get the recipe...

Reign of terroir

At the supermarket in FranceWith growing concern over how far our food travels and the damage this does to the environment, Dominic Bliss heads over to Picardy to see if the French, with their unrivalled love of fine food, are buying into a local, organic lifestyle. more...

Fully inclusive luxury holiday in the Vendée

GoodLifeFully inclusive, luxury holiday with the benefit of gaining smallholder skills! Based in St Hilaire Le Vouhis, a small village in the heart of the sunny Vendée, there are many year-round activities. A truly unique holiday experience.
more...

Something different in the Champagne-Ardenne

Le Manoir de MaffrecourtExpatriates Sandra and Grant Endersby offer luxury self-catering accommodation at le Manoir de Maffrécourt in the Champagne Ardenne. The Endersbys pride themselves on listening to and acting on the feedback offered by their visitors, as a result of which have come Champagne tasting evenings and some delicious home-cooked meals..more...

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...

Red Rice from the Camargue

'Le riz rouge' of Provence Riz rougeAlthough not yet very popular in France, Northern Europeans can't seem to get enough of the red rice from the Camargue region of France. This area is the most northerly rice-growing area in Europe. Introduced to the Camargue by Henry IV, today the rice is... more about Camargue rice

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...

Maison des Bulliats Real Life Wine Story

From complete novices to prize winning wine! Maison des Bulliats owners"Approaching retirement from our university teaching careers, we were ready for new challenges, making a product that we both enjoy - red wine! " - British couple describe their steep learning curve since buying a vineyard in 2005... Beaujolais wine story...

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...

Tantalizing pair • Figs and Foie Gras

Foie gras figs This delectable treat is ideal to go with aperitifs - they really get the 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...

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...

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...

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. © Marek - Fotolia.comBecause 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...

Cookery Courses In France

French cooking holidays in the Dordogne. Jim Fisher Masterchef finalist, Jim Fisher, took his cutting-edge skills and enviable cheffing experience (such as cheffing for Rick Stein) to the rural Dordogne, where, with the help of his wife, Lucy, he has established a thriving cookery holiday business amongst their beautiful stone farm buildings at Bombel. Jim and Lucy invited me to join them and their guests for a week, so that I could find out exactly how the holidays work. cooking holiday in France...

French patissier brings gluten free cakes to UK

Gluten Free DelicesChristelle Coulin makes scrumptious gluten and wheat free cakes using only the finest ingredients. Ten years ago, she moved from Cannes to London, where she set up Gluten Free Delices. Here she gives us one of her favourite recipes... more...

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...

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Discover the widest range of French wines in Calais

Calais VinsPre-order on our website a minimum of £30 and receive six free bottles. Visit wine-calais.co.uk.

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93 coverThe best of France: the classiest food, culture, choicest properties and the most inspiring holiday and travel features. Subscribe for 6 months for only £5.

British Corner Shop

British Corner ShopWe are the online supermarket for British Expats, selling over 8,000 of your most loved British products delivered to your door. Visit our website to begin your British Food Shopping.

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...

French Cookware Explained

Le Creuset More copper cookware is sold in France than anywhere else in the world. Why? Because... French cookware explained...

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

Save a Fortune on Currency Exchange

Euro NotesWhether you need advice or an international money transfer quote, FrenchEntree's currency partner - Moneycorp - can help. Visit the France currency exchange zone.

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?

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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