Vive la France! 5 Classic Recipes for the Ultimate Francophile
Our admiration for the cuisine of France knows no bounds! France has taken hold of our hearts with their irresistible language, luscious ingredients, and exceptional wines. Join us as we take a flavorful voyage to some of the nation's most iconic culinary destinations and experience their signature recipes. Grab your passport and whet your appetite; it's time for a tantalizing tour of French cuisine!
Seasons Ingredients we’ll be using in these recipes:
-Mild to medium intensity extra virgin olive oils (like, Picual, Hojiblanca or Arbequina)
-Herbs de Provence Infused Olive Oil
Our Favorite Food Regions…
Burgundy is a renowned wine region, boasting an impressive range of varietals such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, high-quality vintages, and exceptional food dishes. However, one particular dish has achieved immense worldwide popularity: Beef Bourguignon. Hearty pieces of beef are cooked in a wine-based sauce containing bacon, mushrooms, pearl onions, and carrots. To complete the dish, we used our Family Reserve EVOO, which has hints of pepper and almond, to searing and sautéing as well as a final topping, combined with a generous bottle of Pinot Noir.
As a foodie destination located south of Burgundy and west of the Alps, Lyon is renowned for its fine dining restaurants. The city is abundant in locally-sourced produce, cheese, wine, and olive oil. 
A testament to Lyon's remarkable cuisine is the Salade Lyonnaise - a dish of poached eggs and bitter greens served with a warm vinaigrette composed of olive oil, bacon, Dijon mustard, and wine vinegar. We used our Vinoso Wine Vinegar with this recipe, infusing the warm vinaigrette with rich red wine notes and a slightly subdued acidity.
Provence, situated in the southeast of France, is a magnificent land boasting spectacular landscapes and incredible gastronomy. Its diverse scenery allows travelers to explore Mediterranean beaches, soak in luscious vineyards and olive groves, and appreciate vibrant lavender fields.
The Provençal classic dish Bouillabaisse is a famous seafood stew that originated in the seaside city of Marseille. This tasty tomato and saffron-based broth is fragrantly seasoned with aromatic ingredients, such as fennel, garlic, onions, and olive oil, and adorned with delectable seafood, including shrimp, clams, mussels, and white fish. Finally, Herbs de Provence Infused Olive Oil, a medley of flavorsome thyme, savory, marjoram, rosemary, and lavender, is drizzled on top, bringing this fantastic feast to a divine end.
Provence is an olive-growing paradise, thanks to the Alps' rain-blocking capabilities and the region's warm Mediterranean winds. Apart from producing fragrant oils and delicious cured olives, this French locale is also renowned for its famous condiment, tapenade.
The recipe includes olives and capers, another Provence specialty, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, lemon, and anchovies. For this tapenade, we used our Champagne Wine Vinegar, lending the dish a balanced, smooth, and sophisticated taste while simultaneously complementing its acidic, umami, and salty flavors.
Salade Niçoise, a classic from Provence, has its roots in the city of Nice. It is a compelling combination of olives, potatoes, eggs, tuna, sardines, anchovies, tomatoes, green beans, shallots, and onions. To season the boiled new potatoes, we opted for our garlic-infused salt, providing an unexpected burst of flavor. Finally, to tie all the flavors together, we created a vinaigrette with our Vinoso Wine Vinegar and Garlic Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil, both of which elevated the fresh veggies and delicious seafood.