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An iconic part of French culture - Cheese

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An iconic part of French culture - Cheese

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The people of France eat more cheese than any other culture in the world. Cheese is not only seen as a food but as a craftsmanship. The first regional cheeses in France started to be created in the 13th century. Cheeses became very specific to each region of France because they were limited to only being sold in the local markets. After trade systems were established and expanded, French cheese was transported all over France and even across French borders. Each cheese is made specifically with different factors such as temperature of milk, temperature of mixing, type of milk, grain size, ferment choice, and much more. This allows for every French cheese to be specific and unique. Now, France has more cheeses than regions, with over 1000 types of French cheese! Some of the most popular cheeses in France consist of Camembert, Brie, Roquefort, Comté or Gruyère de Comté, and Emmental cheese. The tradition of making cheese in France has created a cheese culture that France prides itself on. Cheese is eaten every day, and it is a part of almost every single meal—even breakfast! Unlike American culture, where cheese is served before a meal—like on a charcuterie board—French culture says that cheese should be served in between the entrée and the dessert. French cheese is most served with wine or port wine and with some sort of bread (most likely a baguette). If you ever catch yourself in France, be sure to try out some of the iconic cheeses that make up a big part of the culture in France.

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Works Cited

“10 Top Cheeses of France.” Paris Insiders Guide, www.parisinsidersguide.com/10-top-cheeses-of-france.html. Accessed 19 Jan. 2024.

“The History of Cheeses.” Produits Laitiers de France, 12 June 2020, dairy-products-from-france.com/cheese/history-of-cheeses/#:~:text=From%20the%2013th%20century%2C%20production,take%20advantage%20of%20dairy%20production.

Pierre. “French Cheese: Facts and Figures.” French Moments, 4 Feb. 2022, frenchmoments.eu/about-french-cheese/.

Roca, Amélie. “French Cheeses: History, Production, Regions.” Pure France, 24 Jan. 2023, www.purefrance.com/en/blog/french-cheeses-history-production-regions.

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Baguettes and Croissants and Brioche... Oh My!

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Baguettes and Croissants and Brioche... Oh My!

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Bread is incorporated into almost every meal in France. It holds a significant historical significance in French culture. In the 18th century, the people of France lived primarily off of bread. It was so important to the people and the national identity of France that baking break was considered to be a “public service”. Public officials such as police even regulated the baking a bread to make sure it was up to par. Lots of historians often say that bread was the cause of the French Revolution. In the late 1700s when crops failed, bread was unable to be made in the same quantities, so prices shot up. Economic turmoil ensued and the people of France were in a crisis since they relied on bread as their main source of food. The public believed that the monarchy was deliberately withholding grain from them to regain their power and control of the citizens. This led to massive outrage and the eventual storming of Bastille on July 14th, 1789. In current French culture, bread is still very important. Similar to cheese, the different regions of France produce different types of wheat. This results in many different and unique types of bread being produced. Lots of the diverse types of French bread we see today—baguettes, croissants, brioche, etc—resulted from the creativity of French bakers. They are often trying new techniques with new ingredients, and they have produced some very yummy treats. If you ever find yourself in France, make sure to stop by a French bakery and pick something out for yourself and me!

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Works Cited

“Nourish Your Food Knowledge.” Bread as Trigger and Symbol in the French Revolution | Laurent Bakery, www.laurent.com.au/bread-as-trigger-and-symbol-french-revolution/. Accessed 1 Feb. 2024.

Pouillot, Fred. “Why Is Bread a Staple Food in France?” Single-Day Wine Tours from Paris, France - Le Foodist, www.lefoodist.com/guides/cooking-classes-paris/cookingparis176#:~:text=The%20Historical%20Role%20of%20Bread&text=In%20the%2018th%20Century%2C%20the,even%20regulated%20bakers%20and%20bakeries. Accessed 1 Feb. 2024.

“Why Is There a Variety of Bread in France?” Quora, www.quora.com/Why-is-there-a-variety-of-bread-in-France#:~:text=Culture%3A%20Bread%20is%20an%20important,%2C%20salt%2C%20and%20other%20flavorings. Accessed 1 Feb. 2024.

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French wine bottles hold more than a delicious beverage to serve with a meal. It embodies many centuries of tradition, cultural importance, and a way of living. The beginning of French wine dates all the way back to the 6th century when Greek settlers conquered what is now known as French land. The Romans were the ones to license the making and distributing of wine in the southern regions of France shortly after. Vineyards started to pop-up all-over France with the spread of Christianity and those vineyards were kept up by Monks throughout the Middle Ages. In French society today, wine continues to have a major significance in family gatherings, rituals, and family gatherings. Wine is not only a delicacy, but it also brings people together. To share a bottle of wine is to share a special moment together. Not only that, but the pairing of a bottle of  wine with a meal is an art within itself. Getting the flavors and ingredients to match perfectly is a daunting task but is something that France takes great pride in. Wine is also a cultural bridge and a universal delicacy that works to preserve tradition and heritage that has been passed down for generations. Some of France’s most famous wines are a Bordeaux Red, a Loire Valley White, a Red Burgundy, or a Rhône Valley Red—all specific regions in France. If you ever find yourself in France, make sure to try some wine to sip on between your bread and your cheese.

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French is one of the first languages of Belgium with over 40% of the population still speaking French as their first language. Belgium was under French rule in the 18th century which meant all education and government/public acts were written in French. The language and culture still have a great impact on Belgium today. I don’t know about you, but I always thought the French Fries came from France. This seems obvious but it is not true! French Fries or Frites originated in Belgium. Historians claim that potatoes were being cut up and fried all the way back in the 1600s. They were given the name “French fries” because of the fact the French was the official language of Belgium at the time. Now, frites are one of the most popular side dishes in the world and are often served with ketchup, vinegar, mayo, or salt and pepper. Belgium frites are unique and special in the way that they are made. They are fried in beef white instead of vegetable oil to get more flavor and crunch while also eliminating the greasiness. Moules Frites is a classic Belgium dish that is a pot of steamed mussels with garlic, shallots, white wine, lemon, parsley, etc. served with frites and Dijon mustard on the side. The name “Moules Frites” directly translates to mussels and French fries and is seen as the official dish of Belgium. My mouth is watering just thinking about this dish. Next time you sit down to eat some frites, just remember that the French may have given us the Statue of Liberty and the bikini, but they did not give us the French fry.

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Works Cited

“Do French Fries Really Come from France? | Wonderopolis.” Wonderopolis.org, wonderopolis.org/wonder/Do-French-Fries-Really-Come-From-France#:~:text=Despite%20its%20name%2C%20the%20French. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.

friteal. Why Belgian Fries Are the Best in the World | Frite Alors! 21 July 2023, fritealors.com/en/food/why-belgian-fries-are-the-best-in-the-world/#:~:text=Belgian%20fries%20are%20cooked%20in. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.

Monaco, Emily. “Can Belgium Claim Ownership of the French Fry?” Www.bbc.com, 31 July 2018, www.bbc.com/travel/article/20180730-can-belgium-claim-ownership-of-the-french-fry.

“Moules Frites.” Food & Wine, www.foodandwine.com/moules-frites-7104389. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.

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Les Brochettes to Soya - The staple of Cameroon 

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Les Brochettes to Soya - The staple of Cameroon 

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Cameroon has two official languages--French and English. Both are spoken by most in Cameroon, but more inhabitants speak French than English. This is the case because Cameroon was split between English and French rule from 1916 – 1960. Germany has rule Cameroon before the French and the English, but the German language was never adopted into their culture. Les Brochettes is a popular street food dish that was brought over from the French colonies. Today in Cameroon it is called Soya. It is a skewer type snack that is usually beef, goat, pork, lamb, or chicken. To make it, you marinate the meat in a spicy and savory marinade. After letting the meat sit for several hours, you assemble the skewer with your meat and a slice of a veggie in-between each meat chunk. They are then grilled or fried and served on the stick. While Soya—or Les Brochettes—was brought over from France, Cameroon and other West African countries have made it their own by using native spices, vegetables, and using different meats instead of the classic beef. Soya is a tradition that has been kept alive since the early 20th Century and is now a staple food of countries like Cameroon. It is usually either served as a main dish or as an appetizer with some rice. Vendors that sell Soya are the main attraction as they grill their skewers from early morning to the late night. As a lover of all spicy things, I will definitely be trying Soya or Les Brochettes if I ever get the chance.

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Works Cited

admin. “Brochettes: History, Cultural Significance, and Best Pairings.” Baguette Brochette, 15 Oct. 2021, baguettebrochette.com/brochettes-history-cultural-significance-and-best-pairings/#:~:text=Brochette%20is%20the%20national%20dish. Accessed 13 Mar. 2024.

Counter, The African. “Suya, Sooya or Soya, Aka Brochettes (Hausa; Cameroon, Nigeria).” African-Counter.com, 15 Feb. 2014, african-counter.com/food/meat-poultry/suya-sooya-or-soya-aka-brochettes-hausa-cameroon-nigeria/. Accessed 13 Mar. 2024.

Precious. “Cameroonian Soya (Skewered Meat).” Precious Core, 17 Dec. 2016, www.preciouscore.com/cameroonian-soya/. Accessed 13 Mar. 2024.

Tirosh, Ofer. “Cameroon Language Insights: Exploring the Languages of Cameroon.” Tomedes, 29 July 2021, www.tomedes.com/translator-hub/cameroon-languages.

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We all know that there is a strong French influence in Canada. But why is that? Well, in the 17th century, settlers—mostly from the Northern and Western regions of France—crossed the Atlantic Sea and ended up in Canada. Canada was seen as the “promise land” to many French people with its job opportunities, better living conditions, more land, and a thriving Catholic community. The settled in what we now know as Québec and Montréal. Canada still has a strong French influence and French culture to this day. Poutine is one of Canada’s most popular foods that originated in Québec in the 1950s. Poutine is a gravy made from butter, salt, beef broth, and flour. It is typically served smothered over fries—or frites—with cheese curds on top! Poutine is iconic all over Canada, but it was originally a street food sold only in the local street markets of Québec. It wasn’t until the 1990s when popular fast-food chains like McDonalds and Burger King added Poutine to their menu that Poutines popularity skyrocketed! It is still on the menu of many fast-food restaurants to this day! Even though Poutine started in Québec, the famous food has made its way back to France where its popularity has spread even further. Some French bars even specialize in Poutine as it is a popular pub grub food there. I hope to encounter some Poutine at some point in my life because I would like to know what it is about it that has captured the heart of the Canadians and the French.

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References

Aronovitch, D. (2019). Poutine | food | Britannica. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/poutine

French Canadians. (2022, December 27). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Canadians#:~:text=During%20the%2017th%20century%2C%20French

French Immigration to Canada (1760-1914) | Patrimoines Partagés - France Amériques. (n.d.). Heritage.bnf.fr. https://heritage.bnf.fr/france-ameriques/en/french-immigration-canada-article#:~:text=At%20the%20time%2C%20Canada%20seemed

Vassoille, A.-L. (2023, April 18). 8 delicious dishes from French Canadian cuisine. Lingoda. https://blog.lingoda.com/en/french-canadian-cuisine/#4.-Poutine

Wikipedia Contributors. (2019, May 20). Poutine. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poutine