By Rachel Chaikof
This is absolutely delicious. The cheese is rich in flavor and the Ham is scrumptious. The crust is crispy and crunchy as it can be. I just had a taste of Quiche Lorraine, one of France’s well-known dishes, and it was wonderful. There’s no question that France is proud of its cuisine. France boasts all different kinds of cheeses, mouthwatering pastries, tasty pork, and sweet fruits.
When I visited a supermarket in France, I saw a huge aisle filled with just cheeses. Ninety percent of the cheeses I saw were unfamiliar to me. Comte, Roquefort and Cantal are just a few of the cheeses that I saw in the supermarket. What was so amazing to me was how there were hundreds of types of cheeses and each one I tasted had a distinct taste. In France, all of the host families with whom I have stayed eat cheese every single day after lunch and dinner.
I recently learned that France has a huge selection of juices that I have never seen before including apricot juice and banana juice! Last week, I was talking to my host family in Avignon about how disgusting apricots taste in the United States, but how much I love the apricots in France. In France they taste like candy, no joke. They’re the sweetest and the freshest thing that I could taste. The family later told me I should try apricot juice. “Le jus d’abricot existe?”(Apricot juice exists?) I said as my eyes popped out in disbelief.
Two days after the conversation about apricots, my host family brought home a bottle of apricot juice for me to try. It was the sweetest and the most delicious thing that I could taste. It’s nothing compared to any other juices. It’s another different juice.
Then, when I arrived at my second host family, in Besançon, a city in the Franche-Comte region, my host family and I discussed what food I liked to eat and drink. During the conversation, the mother of the host family said, “Oh! J’adore le jus de banane!” (Oh! I love banana juice!) “What the heck? Banana juice exists?”I asked myself.
One morning, I had a taste of a banana juice for breakfast. Man, was I surprised. This drink was completely mouthwatering. I make banana bread often at home, and this juice tasted just like banana bread batter. It was a very tasty and creamy drink, I loved it.
Cheese isn’t the only food the French customarily eat every day in France, though. Yogurt, crème brulee, mousse and basic cream are frequently served every day after lunch and/or dinner. I leanred that vanilla and chocolate aren’t the only flavors mousses come in. There’s also strawberry, raspberry, peach and many more that I can name. I was surprised at how different yogurt tasted in France. While Dannon and Yoplait brands are sold in France, the tastes of these brands quite different – they’re usually much sweeter.
Bayonne, a city in the Southwest region, is well-known for its ham. I’ve eaten variety of ham dishes – quiche Lorraine, croque-monsieur, melon with ham, pizza with ham, baguette with ham and simple sliced ham, and each had its own unique flavors and styles.
The food I’ve sampled so far in France has been an adventure so far, and I look forward to trying more.
