62 Fascinating French Food Facts

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Are you looking for cool Facts on French food? Or maybe you are keen on understanding the French food culture better? Then this post is for you. I put together this list with 62 interesting food facts about France. Some will certainly leave you dumbfounded.

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If someone mentions French food, the first thing that comes to mind is probably fantastic images of Parisian restaurants with white tablecloths, wine glasses, and flickering candles. But there’s so much more to French cuisine than just Parisian food.

In fact, France has some of the most diverse and fascinating cuisines in the world. From north to south, east to west, here are 62 fascinating facts about French food. Bon appetit!

62 captivating Facts on French Food

Let’s start with a fun fact off the record. I did a lot of research for this article, and some suggest that you don’t say “Bon Appétit” in France. I don’t know how the super noble are doing it, but normal people absolutely say “Bon Appétit”. Mostly it’s shortened to “Bon App”, though.

#1 You won’t find butter served with Baguette in French restaurants

While bread, mostly baguette, is a free supplement in French restaurants, you won’t be served butter with it. Butter is eaten for breakfast or with radish as an appetizer, but not with bread during lunch or dinner.

#2 Beer at McDonald’s is not a thing anymore

Until recently, you could casually enjoy a beer with your menu. However, McDonald’s had no license to sell beer for take away or without a sandwich. Hence, if you wanted to booze up your menu, you had to eat your sandwich there. But as we are talking about facts about French food here, beer in McDonald’s is history in 2022. They removed beer from their menu.

#3 Wine from the age of 16 is legal

At least kind of. It is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under 18, but under parental authority, kids from 16 are allowed to drink fermented drinks (Cider, Wine, or Beer). However, making a kid drunk is illegal again.

One of the most interesting France food Facts: Until 1956, wine was served in kindergartens and schools for lunch.

#4 You can buy Baguettes from Vending Machines

Are you thinking of moving to a small, rural village in France? Then one of the most interesting French food facts will be helpful. Because if your village has no boulangerie, then it’s likely that you can buy your Baguette from a vending machine.

#5 Wine is cheap in France

At least if you go for cheap table wines, which you can find for €2.50 in French Supermarkets. Of course, no wine connoisseur will touch this wine, not even for cooking.

If you are looking for quality wine, you should aim for bottles starting at €8 at a bare minimum. This being said, most wine drinkers in France will buy their wine at a wine shop or directly at the producer, not in the supermarket.

#6 Wine for Lunch is normal

It is absolutely normal to have a glass of wine for lunch. Even if you are invited to a work lunch, don’t be surprised if there will be a bottle on the table. Wine is a regular drink. I would even go so far as most people don’t even consider it as “drinking alcohol” if they have a glass of wine for lunch. It is an element of your meal, really.

#7 La Chandeleur: Crêpe Day

If you are a fan of Crêpes, then you will be happy to hear that the French have a National Crêpe Day, called La Chandeleur. It’s on the 2nd of February and the perfect excuse to have yet another yummy crêpe.

You find them everywhere in France. Especially in bigger cities and Paris, where you have plenty of little food stalls selling them. On Chandeleur, many restaurants will have crêpes on their dessert menu as well.

#8 French Cuisine is not spicy

French Cuisine is not known for spicy food. But there are a few exceptions. For example, the condiment Piment d’Espelette from the Basque Country. Or the traditional dishes from the French oversea departments like Martinique or La Reunion.

#9 There’s a Cheese Etiquette

You can’t just cut a cheese like you want, non-non. If it’s a round cheese, cut it like you would cut a pie. It’s ridiculous how important it is, but I was called out once by an elderly relative, and I am still getting mocked for it.

Facts about Food in France that help you understand the French culture

#10 There is a ketchup ban in French Schools

That’s right. Mostly. The exception is the few days when fries are served. But this is so rare, that the word Ketchup-ban is doing its justice. Even when the kids eat fries, each child only gets a small amount of Ketchup.

#11 France has more than 1200 varieties of Cheese

That’s right. 1200 is the number of varieties that are registered by the National Cheese Center. The official guidebook of the French cheese makers even counts 1800 different varieties. ONLY counting raw milk cheese, though.

#12 Their favorite drink is Pastis

Either you love it, or you hate it. This anise-flavored spirit comes from Marseilles and is often drunk mixed with water. It’s a somewhat old-fashioned drink, that is now consumed everywhere in France. Some even consider it even as the national drink of France.

However, you rarely find it actually outside France. So if you want to enjoy a Pastis at home, you better bring a bottle back home.

#13 The morning coffee is often served in a bowl

If I saw bowl, you may say cereals, the French may say coffee. The morning café au lait and even the morning tea are often served in a large bowl, at least at home.

#14 The Galette de Roi is only eaten at Epiphany

If you think of a delicious pie made from puff pastry and layers of sweet and buttery frangipani, you probably have the Galette de Roi in mind. This is a very traditional cake that you can only buy in early January and is eaten for Epiphany.

But then, you find it everywhere: every bakery, supermarket, school canteen, and even restaurant offers it. But you got your hands on a slice, bite in it carefully. It has a little figurine baked in and if you’re the lucky one to find it, you’re the king, or roi in French. Hence, the name Galette de Roi.

#15 The French Love Nutella

Even though Nutella is Italian, the French LOVE it! So much, that 26% of yearly Nutella production is actually eaten in France. I suspect it’s all spread on delicious, warm crêpes.

#16 The French also love Burgers

When Mcdonald’s opened the first restaurant in France back in the ’80s, the Frenchies were not thrilled. To say the least. But how much they learned to love Burgers was more than evident when Burger King came to France in 2012. If you wanted to get your hands on a Whopper, you had to be patient. In the first weeks, the people were queuing outside the restaurant, even.

#17 The entrée confusion

When you are eating out in a French restaurant, you will find three sections on the menu. Entrée, Plat, Dessert. In English-speaking countries, the Entrée is the main dish, while the dish you eat before the main is the starter.

Not so in France. Here, the entrée is a small dish you eat first, before enjoying your main dish, the plat.

#18 The French eat surprisingly often intestines 

You read that right. Guts. Eating intestines is so normal, that you find it on the menu at as good as every restaurant. It is considered just a variety of meat, but nothing weird or unusual.

So if you are not up for experiments, make sure to google translate the food items if you’re dining out. Otherwise, you might get served liver, kidneys, sweetbread, or gizzard.

#19 The French eat a goûter at 16h

Did you wonder why the French are flocking to the bakeries at 16h or 16:30h? That’s because it’s l’heure de goûter – Snack time!

Similar to English afternoon tea, the French are including an afternoon snack in their meal plan. It could be a slice of cake, a croissant, or a fruit, as long as it’s sweet. This snack is sacred, especially for children, but many adults take a little something at this time, too.

#20 French eggs are brown

While in most parts of the world eggs come in different shades of white, French eggs are light brown. They taste absolutely the same. The reason behind this phenomenon is simple: the chicken race that is used for laying is brown (French Marans Chicken), while the race that is bred in the USA (Leghorn) for example is white. The eggs having always the same colour as the layer.

Food in France: Facts you need to know

#21 The Croissant is Austrian (surprising French Food Facts)

It’s hard to believe, but the favorite pastry of the French is not French, but Austrian. There are several legends about the creation of the Croissant. One goes that the Austrians baked a half moon shape pastry to celebrate the defeat of the Ottomans. Somehow Marie Antoinette tasted this kipferl and was so awed by its deliciousness, that she ordered her royal bakers to bake them for her.

#22 The Apéro is almost obligatory

On fait l’apéro? If you live in France for a bit, you’ll hear this little question often. It’s the code for: we get together, enjoy some drinks, eat snacks, and chat.

Doing the Apéro is an indispensable item on the list of food facts about France. Most Frenchies have at least one apéro per weekend, many do it even every year. It’s the perfect time between your busy workday and dinner time. You relax, unwind and get ready for the good things in life.

Typical snacks for the apéro are chips, peanuts, pretzels, olives, and some slices of sausage. And of course wine or beer.

#23 … So is the digestive

The digestive is the last part of your meal. After dessert and cheese, sometimes taken together with a coffee. Contrary to the Apéro, it’s not something most French enjoy daily. It’s reserved for special occasions and restaurant meals.

#24 Snails and Oysters are a common dish

Depending on where you are in France, snails and oysters can be as normal as a piece of meat or soup. If you are in Brittany, for example, oysters are served in most restaurants, while you find snails on many menus in Burgundy. In Paris on the other hand, you need to go to a seafood restaurant to find Oysters, and snails are not too common either.

#25 Paté belongs to any good Charcuterie Plate

If you a looking for ideas on what to add to a French charcuterie platter, you need to add some paté. It’s a cooked paste of ground meats, intestines, and a good portion of grease. It often includes duck or goose liver as well. You eat it with Baguette.

#26 Paris has its own mushroom variety

Do you know the white mushroom, the most common of all kinds that you find on Pizzas and in risottos? That’s the Agaricus Bisporus, also known as Champignon. In French, it is called Champignon de Paris. It’s actually not from Paris and has very little to do with the French capital, but that’s what it’s called in French.

#27 Oysters and Foie Gras are typical Christmas dishes

You read before that oysters are a common dish in coastal regions in France, which is only a tad special but not as prestigious as in many other parts of the world.

That’s being said, Oysters are a traditional thing to eat for family Christmas dinners. Together with Foie Gras and smoked salmon. For starters.

#28 Milk is not refrigerated in French stores

When you are looking for milk in French supermarkets, you won’t find it in the fresh aisle. Milk in supermarkets is not refrigerated because it’s pasteurized at higher temperatures than in the US and doesn’t need to be refrigerated. Once you opened it, it does need to go to the fridge, though.

#29 Michelin is both: tires and food

Did you ever ask yourself how come the well-known tire brand Michelin has the same name as the Sign of excellence for cooks and restaurants? That’s because it’s the same!

Back in the days, in 1889, to be exact, the Michelin brothers André and Edouard started their tire company. With high hopes for the French automobile industry, they created a little guide with handy information to motivate drivers to explore their surroundings. In the 20s they added a restaurant section to their brochure and the rest is history.

France: Facts about Food you didn’t know

#30 Meat is eaten often rare

When ordering meat in France, most people eat their steak somewhat between rare and medium rare. Everything beyond that is considered a heinous crime.

#31 Mc Donalds serves Croque Monsieur

If you have ever eaten in a Mc Donalds outside your home country, you know that most of them serve some local specialty. In France, they adapted and added the croque monsieur to their menu. It’s ham and melted cheese in a flat bun.

#32 Macarons aren’t French

Macarons are very hyped in France, but they are not French at all. The meringue-based pastry came with the Italian-born French queen Catherine de Medici to France when she married Henry II of France.

#33 Macarons are for special occasions

Even though one might think that the French are eating Macarons like bread, we don’t. They are more for special occasions or brought as a gift.

#34 Le Décret Pain – the Bread Law

In 1993, the French Parliament passed Le Décret Pain, also known as The Bread Decree. This decree specified that bread sold under the name of pain maison (homemade bread) must be “fully kneaded, shaped, and baked at their place of sale.”

Additionally, the decree placed strict guidelines on what pain traditionnel français (traditional French bread) is allowed to be made of, banning pre-made dough from being used. As a result of this decree, French baguettes are now required to be made with only three ingredients: flour, water, and salt.

#35 It’s illegal to throw away food

In 2016, France took a stand on food waste, becoming the first in the world to ban supermarkets from throwing away or destroying unsold food. Instead, they must donate it to charities and food banks.

#36 It’s a big NO-GO to change food items in restaurants or ask for substitution

When ordering a dish in a French restaurant, you are ordering a fixed composition of ingredients. It is safe to assume that the chef picked each food item with a bigger picture in mind. Hence, it is badly seen and even considered respectless, to ask for a substitute or customization. If your dish is coming with potatoes on the side, then that’s what it is.

#37 Haute Cuisine is not only about taste

For some, it’s already a very adventurous thought that food not only needs to be nutritious but also tasty. The French high-quality cooking drives this a little further, though. Food is a multisensory event. A dish needs to be nutritious and tasty. But also well presented, with different textures, balanced, and of course created with excellent ingredients.

#38 French Toast isn’t French

Are you dreaming of eating French Toast in Paris? Then I have bad news for you. French Toast isn’t French. It is an ancient Roman dish that the French even used to call roman bread. It’s the Americans who named this delicacy French Toast because it was the French immigrants who brought it to America.

#39 French Meals can be very long

If you eat dinner in a French Restaurant, you always should expect to be at the table for around 2h at least. But expect double or more if you are eating a family dinner for a special occasion. It’s likely you start around 19h with the apéro and when it’s time for the digestive, it’s past midnight.

If you are invited for Lunch and Dinner, you basically aren’t leaving the table, except for a brief moment between the digestive from lunch and the apéro from dinner. This is not an exaggeration.

#40 The French love Duck

One of the favorite meat of the French is duck meat. If you are seeking French food facts, you’ll be interested to know that the French are the world’s biggest consumer of duck meat. While they love the Magret, they love as well fois gras. Duck is also the main component of many terrines and paté.

France Food Facts: Surprising details you would have missed

#41 French kids eat tons of compote

Compote, in English speaking countries often known as apple sauce, is the go-to fruit for many French kids. It’s typically even the first fruit any kid eats, starting at baby age. It’s sweet, it’s fresh, and when without sugar even healthy. Kids love it.

#42 French have very few savory snacks

The French are not much of a snacker and when they snack, they usually take something sweet, for the goûter for example. But if you’re in for something savory, you have a hard time. There are basically no snacks that are not sweet. If you are lucky, you find a little leftover from lunch at a bakery, but that’s rather unusual.

#43 French Fries aren’t French

And another French staple food that is actually not French. In fact, historians believe that fries actually originated in Belgium. The story goes that during the late 1600s, poor Belgians would fry small fish in order to make them more filling. When the rivers froze during winter, they used potatoes instead, and here we go: fries.

But why are they called french fries? During WW1, American soldiers ate fries in Belgium and as many Belgians speak French, they called them French Fries.

#44 French do eat snails

While it may sound strange to some, eating snails is actually quite popular in France, especially in the Burgundy region. Snails are usually served as a starter, and they are often prepared with garlic, butter, and parsley.

If you’re ever in France and looking to try something new, don’t be afraid to give snails a try – you might just be surprised at how delicious they are!

#45 French Cuisine is part of the UNESCO World Heritage

French food is some of the most renowned in the world, and UNESCO even recognized French cuisine as an intangible cultural heritage in 2010! French dishes are often characterized by fresh, local ingredients, carefully selected dishes that reflect the diversity of France and its regions, and beautiful table settings. And of course, no French meal is complete without a good wine pairing! Whether you’re looking for a light appetizer or a show-stopping main course, French cuisine has something for everyone.

#46 The French are purists

When in a French supermarket, you will notice the absence of flavored varieties. For example, Fresh Cheese like Philadelphia comes in one flavor: nature. Occasionally, you find a variety that contains herbs, but that’s about it. No Chocolate, Salmon, or Chilli Flavor, just pure cream cheese.

#47 The French eat frog

French food is known for being rich and flavorful, and frog legs are no exception. These delicate morsels have been part of French cuisine for over a thousand years, and are especially prevalent in the Dombes region.

While many people consider France to be the only country that eats frog legs, they’re actually quite popular in Asia as well. I’ve never had the chance to try them myself, but I’m told they taste like a mix of fish and chicken.

#48 France is only the 2nd biggest wine producer

While France is most commonly associated with wine, it is actually only the second largest producer of the beverage in the world. That title goes to Italy, with 4.250.000 liters per year. Almost 1 Mio. Liters more than France.

#49 Every school menu consists of 4 courses

French children are lucky enough to benefit from the country’s rich food culture daily. In French schools, students are served a four-course meal at lunchtime, with a starter, main dish, cheese course, and dessert.

This not only ensures that children are getting a well-rounded meal, but it also exposes them to a variety of different flavors and textures.

French Food Fact: The menus in French schools are always starting with a salad or veggie dish. The kids are so hungry by lunch, that even the picky eaters are eating their greens.

#50 French Food Facts: Each Region has its flavors and traditions

French food is renowned for its variety and flavor, but many people don’t realize that each French region has its own unique culinary identity. What’s more, the French take great pride in their regional cuisine, and you’ll often hear them raving about the delicious dishes they’ve tried while vacationing in other parts of the country.

Whether it’s crêpes and cider in Brittany or tartiflette in the French alps, the French know that it’s always best to enjoy regional cuisine where it’s made.

French Facts about Food to impress your friends

#51 Crêpe Suzette was created by accident

Crêpe Suzette is a French classic that is often made at home, but many people don’t know that it was actually created accidentally. The story goes that in 1895, a 14-year-old kitchen boy named Henri Charpentier was preparing a crêpe for the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII).

He accidentally set the crêpe on fire, but as he was lacking time, he decided to serve it to the prince anyway. The prince loved it, and the dish quickly became a sensation and is served as a classic until today.

#52 Chips have bold flavors in France

Who would have thought that the purist French are going crazy when flavoring their chips? From Mustard and Roasted Chicken to cheese from the Jura region to Bolognaise. Chips are by the way perfect for a little Apéro.

#53 Cheese is a desert in France

If you think cheese is meant to be eaten at breakfast, you’re wrong. At least according to the French. Cheese is a dessert that comes right after the main dish and before the sweet dessert. The exception is the Normandy Region, where they tend to dip their cheese in their Café au lait. French food facts can be confusing, right?

#54 Champagne is not only for New Year

French people are well known for their love of good food and wine, and Champagne is no exception. While Champagne is often associated with special occasions like New Year’s Eve, the French actually enjoy it on a variety of occasions. Birthdays, weddings, for apéro, as a drink that goes with cake (why not?) .. those are all perfect times to pop open a bottle of bubbly.

#55 Burgers are eaten with Fork and Knife in France

The exception to this might be McDonalds and Burger King, but if you eat a Burger in a restaurant, don’t grab it with your hands. Use a Fork and Knife, like the Frenchies are doing. Many of them are not even eating the bun.

#56 Breakfast isn’t considered important

While many consider the breakfast the most important dish of the day, it’s something that many in France just shrug off. In fact, many don’t eat anything at all. Of course, there are the croissants and the baguette with butter and jam. But eating breakfast is not seen as crucial as it is elsewhere.

#57 Bread is to clean your plate

One French food fact that may surprise you is that bread is served in almost every French restaurant. Unlike in other cuisines where bread is meant to be eaten on its own, in French cuisine bread is typically used to clean your plate, mop up the sauce, or help push your food around.

While this may seem like a strange way to eat bread, it actually makes a lot of sense when you think about it. After all, why waste delicious sauce when you can use bread to enjoy it?

#58 Blue Cheese was discovered accidentally as well

Did you know that the history of blue cheese goes all the way back to the 7th century? It’s true! According to legend, a French shepherd once forgot his lunch of bread and cheese in a cave because he was distracted by a pretty girl. He returned a few months later, and found his cheese infested with penicillium roqueforti, a mold that was growing in the cave. He ate it anyway and well. Today we have blue cheese.

#59 French Food Facts: Baguette in Restaurants is free

As discussed already, baguette is served in every restaurant before you even get your meal. If you wonder if you can take some, don’t worry. It’s free. You can even ask for a refill.

#60 A typical French dessert is not what you might think

The desserts that are served in restaurants have very few in common with the sweet treat that is ending a French lunch or dinner at a French home. Here, most eat just a square of dark chocolate, a yogurt, or a simple fruit.

#61 10 billion Baguettes are baked in France per year 

10 Billion! Luckily, there are more than 32000 bakeries in France to produce this ridiculously high amount.

Food Facts about France: Each person in France eats 58 kg of bread per year. If you think this is much, in 1900 they ate 328 kg!

#62 Pain au Chocolat or Chocolatine?

There is a real battle going on about whether the chocolate-filled croissant is called Pain au Chocolat or Chocolatine. The south of France favors the latter, while the rest keeps holding its ground and calls this pastry pain au chocolat.

Some even go so far as to pretend not to understand what you’re ordering if you are using the wrong term. It’s not to be taken too seriously. It’s just a fun debate that goes on for many many years already and is today a good source for internet memes and jokes.

French food is famous all over the world, and for good reason. There are so many delicious dishes to choose from, each with its own unique history and story. And there are quite some quirks and spleens as well. We’ve shared 62 fascinating facts about French food in this post, but there are certainly many more out there waiting to be discovered. Bon appétit!

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