Country Information

From the baking aromas wafting from a village boulangerie to the Michelin-starred allure of a gourmet restaurant, food in France has that je ne sais quoi that sets it apart from, well, almost everywhere. While the archetypal French dish is fabulously rich, the national cuisine is as varied as the country’s landscape, and much of its prestige comes from the quality of its regional specialities. And did we mention the cheese? Bon appétit.

Things to know: Other than fast-food joints, almost all restaurants offer two types of meal: à la carte (extensive choice for each course and more expensive) and le menu (a set meal at a fixed price with pre-determined dishes).

National specialities:
• Ratatouille (courgettes, tomatoes and aubergines stew).
• Salade niçoise (tuna, anchovies, capers, boiled eggs, green beans, black olives, tomatoes and potatoes).
• Quiche Lorraine (open pie with egg, smoked bacon and cheese).
• Quenelles de brochet (pounded pike formed into sausage shapes and usually served with a rich crayfish sauce).
• Soufflé au Grand Marnier (light and fluffy dessert flavoured with orange liqueur).

National drinks:
• Wine is the most popular alcoholic drink in France, with grape and vintage varying according to region.
• Pastis is a popular apéritif (brand name Ricard or Pernod).
• Beer is brewed in Nord Pas de Calais, Picardy and Alsace. The latter is said to brew the best beer in France, while cider is brewed in Upper and Lower Normandy.
• Coffee is almost always served after meals, and will come black, in small cups, unless a café au lait (or café crème) is requested.
• A wide variety of brandies (such as Armagnac and Cognac) and liqueurs (such as Chartreuse and Genepi) are available.

Legal drinking age: 18. Minors are allowed to go into bars if accompanied by an adult but they will not be served alcohol.

Tipping: A 12 to 15% service charge is normally added to the bill in hotels, restaurants and bars, but it is customary to leave small change with the payment.

Nightclubs are found in all towns and cities. Their style and music vary widely, and the entrance price will sometimes include a consommation of one drink. In major cities such as Paris and Lyon, clubs are occasionally free of charge, although drinks are likely to be more expensive. Nightclubs have a fixed closing time of 0500. Theatres, late-night bars and cafés are all widespread.

Most local tourist offices publish diaries of events, available free of charge. In Paris, the likes of Pariscope, L'Officiel des Spectacles and Zurban are sold at newspaper kiosks and list upcoming cinema programmes, exhibitions and other entertainment.

In the provinces, nights out generally revolve around eating and drinking, although discos are found in the more popular tourist spots. Weekend summer festivals in rural areas are a good form of evening entertainment.

Special purchases include designer clothing, lace, crystal glass, cheese, coffee and, of course, wines, spirits and liqueurs. Le Printemps and Galeries Lafayette are among the most notable large department stores in Paris. For bargain hunters, bric-a-brac or brocante is found in a number of flea markets (marché aux puces) on the outskirts of town, most notably at the Porte de Clignancourt in Paris. Antique centres are also common. Most towns have fruit and vegetable markets on Saturday, while out-of-town hypermarkets sell everything from foodstuffs to electrical equipment.

Shopping hours: Department stores open Mon-Sat 0900-1830. Some shops close 1200-1430. Food shops open 0700-1830/1930. Some food shops (particularly bakers) open Sunday mornings, in which case they will probably close Monday. Many shops close all day Monday, or Monday afternoon. Hypermarkets are normally open until 2100 or 2200.