For the main dish, usually a combination of meat or fish will be presented, along with some vegetables and classic French pantry staples. Heavier meals like roast beef, lamb roast, boeuf bourguignon stew or a coq au vin are served in winter.
A typical main course may be meat or fish, with potatoes or rice and vegetables on the side. For instance, a person may order a steak with Pommes frites and a side salad. Or they could order grilled salmon with green beans and rice. The main course will be cheese (le fromage) and a dessert (le dessert).
What is France's national dish? There are many options to choose from, but France's national dish is probably the Boeuf Bourguignon. Well known in and outside France, it represents the beauty of the cuisine by transforming a simple piece of meat into an intensely flavored dish, only composed with national ingredients.
In France, lunch is typically the main meal of the day, and French people spend more time enjoying lunch than most people in other countries.
Dinner is, for most people in France, the main meal of the day and it is traditional for the family to eat together in the evening – it's not unusual to spend up to 2 hours at the table for this meal.
Dinner. For the French, dinner is the lighter meal of the day. During wintertime, homemade soup can be the starter or the main. And the French usually eat it with a generous piece of bread and some cheese.
France is a country known for its fine dining, fresh produce and the slim waistlines of the locals, but the reality is quite different. Half of French adults are overweight and one in six is obese and it's mostly to do with the fact the nation has been having a not-so-secret love affair with junk food for years.
“French people eat late because most standard job hours are 9 or 10 to 6, instead of 9 to 5 like in the States,” Alysa explains. “So, by the time everyone gets home, gets settled, and a meal is prepared, it's about 8 pm.”
Australian families usually have dinner between 6 and 7pm, but I see older people having dinner as early as 5pm and young busy professionals can have dinner as late as 8 or 9pm.
In Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Canada, people are punctual for appointments in the business, health care and education sectors. It is considered rude to waste the time of others by arriving late. This rule applies even more, sometimes to the second, for public transportation such as high-speed trains.
And then in Mediterranean countries like Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, dinners are a party reserved for much later. Typically, these hot weather countries have a long afternoon siesta (nap) and people commune for dinner later in the night, starting at 10pm or even later.
Lots of people around the world are completely bemused by the fact that French people want a McDo (as it's affectionately called here in France) at all. Many of us see gastronomy in France as something to be cherished and a visit to McDo is letting the side down and a slap in the face to the heritage of French cuisine.
The ideal reference range is a BMI between 18.5-25, with a BMI above 25 being considered overweight. This range applies to both women and men.
Breakfast is considered an important meal in France, but it is usually a simple affair. It can be as simple as a cup of coffee with a croissant or beignet (a deep-fried pastry similar to a doughnut) or as elaborate as eggs and bacon with toast, preserves and jam cereal.
A typical French breakfast is light, sweet, and fairly simple. It's usually made up of breakfast cereals, a tartine (slice of bread with topping) and a drink (tea, coffee, orange juice). It's usually eaten between 6 AM and 8 AM.
An usual French lunch will include: an appetizer (une entrée), such as a mixed salad, soup, terrine or pâté; main course, (le plat principal), choice of beef, pork, chicken, or fish, with potatoes, rice, pasta and/or vegetables; cheese course (from a local selection) and/or a sweet.
Crème brûlée is one of the most popular French desserts of all time, and for good reason. The two contrasting layers of luscious vanilla cream under a layer of crunchy caramelized sugar are a perfect marriage. This dessert stands out from all the rest.
The French typically eat dinner between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., but later evening meals aren't uncommon in major metropolitan areas like Paris. Thanks to its vibrant cafe culture, long lunch breaks are a popular concept in France, and the French tend to enjoy a substantial meal in the middle of the day.
Always end on a high note
Upon finishing a meal, the French tend to end on a high note—that is, with a dessert, digestif, and/or simple coffee.
French people Love to eat out
They usually go to a restaurant with family and friends on weekends and during weekdays. When eating out, French people usually order starters as an appetizer. The main course (most restaurants don't allow customers to order the main course), and finally dessert.
This is because lunch is known to be the biggest and most indulgent meal of the day in France. Unlike in some countries, where lunch involves grabbing a quick sandwich or salad, in France, it is a more substantial and leisurely affair. This often consists of a salad, bread, a main dish, and a dessert.
Fixed meal times and no snacks
The French have always stuck to three meals a day and generally don't do food outside these set meals.
What is a typical French dinner menu? The typical French dinner menu is salade verte (green salad) followed by viande avec garniture (meat with vegetables), fromage, and dessert. You may also see potage (soup) and hors d'oeuvres (appetizers) as a first course.