Why the French Cuisine Is the Best in the World, Period
Italian, Japanese, Mexican: all delicious food, but in my opinion, one cuisine towers head and shoulders above the rest, and that is French cuisine. Don’t agree? I’ll give you five arguments to convince you.
In the culinary world, one trend follows another. Just when you’ve figured out what a taqueria is, you have to get used to gastropub food, and once you’ve mastered nikkei dishes, the rest of the world has long since moved on to homemade fermented kombucha. You all do whatever you like, I’m sticking with classic French cuisine. Preparations that never go out of fashion, flavors that always hit the spot, I’m a fan. Yes, it’s old-fashioned and traditional, and that’s precisely why it’s so delicious.
French cuisine is the best in the world
Look, of course you don’t eat like a princess in every French restaurant. I can still remember in vivid detail, in every sense, the food poisoning after a visit to a restaurant in the south of France. Sometimes it’s a huge disappointment; not every French chef cooks with esprit, and you won’t find the highlights of French cuisine everywhere. There are also dishes I wouldn’t want to touch with a ten-foot pole, such as those tripes in Lyon or the incomparable andouillettes – yikes, what a smell. But still: I love French food. Why? Here are five reasons.
#1: dishes full of memories
Those beautiful classic preparations are dishes full of memories. Think of a gratin dauphinois, those layers of potato in a creamy sauce, with just salt and pepper. You know this dish has been made and perfected by generations of cooks, and that generations of people have also comforted themselves with big, warm bites of that delicious baked dish. Or take boeuf bourguignon. You rarely see anything so classic, but once you have it simmering on the stove, your whole house instantly smells warm and cozy.
#2: technique is everything
French chefs have dozens of (cutting) techniques to choose from. Poaching, flambéing, blanching, sautéing: it all comes from France. Master those techniques, and you can get the very best out of every ingredient. Until then: practice, practice, practice!
#3: perfect ingredients
Only the very best ingredients, but still: completely ordinary. Fresh seasonal vegetables, perfect cheeses, beautiful meat – not to mention the wine. Of course, you can buy all that anywhere, but nowhere is it as delicious and as good as in France. That supermarket! And a farmers’ market while on holiday: what a treat!
#4: more butter
Does something not taste good? Then you haven’t used enough butter. Funny saying, but true, because everything tastes better with fat. I simply accept the bulge above my jeans if it means I can spread that salted Breton butter on a piece of baguette again.
The most fun and delicious French restaurants in the Netherlands
#5: global influence
French cuisine is the mother of all cuisines. That’s not made up; it’s scientifically proven. Even the Italians borrowed culinary ideas from their northern neighbors (though they’d rather order a Hawaiian pizza than admit it). Eating in courses? French invention. Grand dessert? French invention.
