A Penguin’s Culinary Journey Through Classic Dishes, Decadent Desserts, and the Flavors of Nice
We knew we were in for a treat the moment we booked our flight tickets to France. Before the Eiffel Tower, before the lavender fields, before even setting foot in a museum, there was one thing on our minds: the food. France doesn’t just feed you; it seduces you, one bite at a time. From the buttery crumble of a freshly baked croissant at sunrise to the rich, wine-soaked depth of a slow-cooked coq au vin at dusk, this country knows how to cook. If you’re dreaming of flaky pastries, soul-warming stews, and sun-drenched flavors from the Mediterranean coast, then you’re headed exactly where your appetite wants to be. In France, the food isn’t just part of the journey; it’s the reason you should buy your flight ticket now. Below, find the dishes and foods you should not miss when exploring France.
What to Eat in France: Must-Try French Dishes
Coq au Vin
This dish features chicken braised with wine, lardons, mushrooms, and garlic. The wine imparts depth, while the slow cooking ensures tenderness.
Bouillabaisse
Originating from Marseille, this fish stew features a diverse blend of fish, shellfish, and aromatic herbs. Served with rouille sauce and crusty bread, it’s a testament to the flavors of Provence.
Cassoulet
A hearty dish from the southwest, cassoulet is a slow-cooked casserole of white beans, sausages, and meats like duck or pork. It’s comfort food that warms the soul.
Ratatouille
This vegetable medley from Nice combines eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, and tomatoes simmered with herbs. It’s a celebration of summer produce.
Quiche Lorraine
A savory tart filled with cream, eggs, and bacon, originating from the Lorraine region. Served warm or cold, it’s perfect for any meal.
Beef bourguignon
Beef bourguignon simmers chunks of beef in red wine with garlic, onions, mushrooms, and herbs until everything melts into a rich, comforting stew that tastes like the heart of France.
Escargots
Escargots may surprise you at first, but one buttery, garlicky bite of these tender snails and you understand why they’re a beloved French delicacy that you can’t leave without trying.
Duck confit
Duck confit delivers a rich, savory experience, slow-cooked in its own fat until the meat turns irresistibly tender and the skin crisps to golden perfection with each bite.
Onion Soup
French onion soup greets you with a bubbling cap of melted cheese over toasted bread, hiding a rich, caramelized onion broth that warms you from the inside out with every spoonful.
Croque Monsieur
The croque monsieur, France’s answer to the ultimate comfort sandwich, layers ham and melted Gruyère between slices of golden, butter-toasted bread, all crowned with a luscious béchamel that drips with every bite.
Foie gras
Foie gras, a French delicacy made from duck or goose liver, offers a rich, velvety flavor that melts on the tongue and often appears on menus as a luxurious starter, served as a terrine, seared with fruit, or paired with brioche.
Cervelle de Canut
Cervelle de Canut is a creamy, herb-laced cheese spread from Lyon that surprises with its freshness and depth, despite its misleading name.
Best French Desserts to Try in France: Iconic Sweets You Can’t Miss
We’ll be honest with you, we came to France for the desserts. Everything else is a bonus. The museums, the coastlines, the historic streets, they’re lovely, sure, but it’s the pastry cases glowing behind glass that truly pull you in. We love French pastry and all the sweet, delicate, outrageously indulgent creations that come from it. This was the main reason for our visit, and if you’re anything like us, it’ll be the highlight of yours too. From the crisp crackle of a perfectly torched crème brûlée to the cloud-like chew of a macaron, France doesn’t just do dessert; it elevates it to an art form. We’re pretty sure we gained weight while here, but it was worth every bite every flaky crumb, and every blissful spoonful. Here’s what to try when your sweet tooth leads the way.
Crème Brûlée
A creamy custard base topped with a layer of hardened caramelized sugar. The contrast between the crisp top and smooth custard is delightful.
Tarte Tatin
An upside-down caramelized apple tart, where the fruit is cooked in butter and sugar before being baked under a pastry crust. It’s a sweet treat with a rich history.
Éclair
A choux pastry filled with cream and topped with chocolate glaze. Available in various flavors, it’s a staple in French bakeries.
Macaron
These delicate almond meringue cookies sandwich a variety of fillings, from ganache to fruit preserves. Their vibrant colors and flavors make them a favorite among many.
Madeleine
Small sponge cakes with a distinctive shell shape, often flavored with lemon or almonds. They pair perfectly with tea or coffee.
Soufflé
In France, a well-made soufflé rises to the occasion—light as air on the outside, molten and indulgent within, it’s a dessert that demands attention from the first spoonful.
Croissant
A croissant in France isn’t just a pastry; it’s a golden, flaky masterpiece that crackles with each bite and melts into buttery perfection, especially when devoured warm from a corner boulangerie.
Crepes
Crepes in France come thin, warm, and ready to cradle anything from melted chocolate and bananas to lemon sugar or salted butter caramel—folded joy on a plate.
Mille-feuille
Mille-feuille layers crisp puff pastry with silky pastry cream and a glossy icing top, offering a perfect balance of crunch and cream in every forkful.
Canelé
Canelé, a small pastry from Bordeaux, surprises with its caramelized crust and soft, custardy center infused with vanilla and a hint of rum—perfect with an afternoon espresso or a slow morning in a Paris café.
Pain au Chocolat
Pain au chocolat is the kind of French dessert that makes you pause mid-bite—layers of golden, flaky pastry wrapped around pockets of rich, melted chocolate, best enjoyed warm from a local boulangerie.
Chouquette
A chouquette is a bite-sized puff of choux pastry sprinkled with pearl sugar—light, airy, and impossible to eat just one.
And we won’t even tell you how much dessert we ate; it’s a secret we’ll never reveal. 😉 But let’s just say we can recommend each of the above personally.
What to eat in Nice
And because we stayed in the sunny and vibrant city of Nice, you can find it in the beautiful Cote d’Azur. We also have tips on what to eat while in Nice. First of all, Nice is a food lover’s paradise; there is no shortage of delicious dishes to be found in Nice. Below are the dishes you should put on your menu when waddling around the city.
Socca
Socca is a crispy, golden flatbread made from chickpea flour, olive oil, and a dash of salt, grilled over an open flame until blistered. You grab it hot from the pan in Nice’s old town markets, tearing into its earthy, peppery goodness with your hands.
Salad Niçoise
Salade Niçoise delivers a vibrant mix of tomatoes, green beans, olives, anchovies or tuna, and hard-boiled eggs, all drizzled with olive oil, never mayonnaise. Every bite captures the sun-soaked, sea-kissed essence of southern France on a plate.
Pissaladière
Pissaladière is a savory tart from Nice topped with a layer of slow-cooked caramelized onions, anchovies, and black olives. With its deep umami flavor and crisp yet tender crust, it offers a taste of the Mediterranean in every bite.
Pan Bagnat
Essentially a Salade Niçoise in sandwich form, this dish uses crusty bread soaked in olive oil and filled with the salad ingredients. It’s a popular street food in Nice.
Tourte de Blettes
A sweet pie made with Swiss chard, raisins, pine nuts, and sometimes apples, all encased in a pastry crust. It’s a unique dessert that surprises many.
Daube Niçoise
Daube Niçoise is a slow-cooked beef stew simmered in red wine with carrots, onions, garlic, and Provençal herbs, often served with gnocchi or fresh pasta. This hearty dish from Nice captures the rustic, sun-soaked flavors of the South of France in every rich, tender bite.
We ate a lot, we’ll tell you this much. From street-side stalls in Nice to quiet bistros in tucked-away alleyways, every bite felt like a love letter to flavor. If you’re planning a trip to France, consider stopping your eating habits at least a month before your flight to give your taste buds time to rest. You’ll need the room. Because once you land, it’s one indulgence after another, and trust us, it’s a delicious ride you won’t forget.
Pack your bag and prepare your taste buds; they are in for a treat!
