Travel to one of the most artistic countries in the world and have a closer look at French Cuisines. The truth of the matter is tourists go to France for the glitz, glam, and romance only to find out that French cuisine is something paid off of passion, artistic ingenuity, and elegance. What you see on your French plate is a result of the locals’ fervour for beauty, taste, and uniqueness.
Going on a foodie trip to France will definitely open your eyes to what chefs from all around the globe say – French style of cooking is the most precise and meticulous cooking style in the world. Excited for some French dégustation? Then you better prepare and complete the requirements for your Schengen visa to be able to enter France. If you are indeed one of those foodie travellers who need one, please go through this short paragraph to know what to do. The Schengen visa application process is very easy to follow and the requirements are easy to complete:
- Valid passport and copies of the front and back pages
- A couple of passport-sized photos with white background
- Proof of Travel – Tourists may opt to get a Flight Reservation for Visa or Hotel Booking for Visa without having to pay the actual ticket or hotel reservation.
- Travel Insurance – Tourists may acquire a more affordable and reliable travel insurance from Schengen Travel Insurance.
- Personal Covering Letter
- Financial documents, and
- Schengen Visa application form
A Closer Look at French Cuisines:
Before taking your delectable French adventure, take a look first of what is to be expected from traditional local restaurants in France. Long ago, French cooking required a variety of spices to release an explosion of flavors in the mouth but centuries after, the French style of cooking became less of the flavor and more of the precise technique. It is the unique cooking processes that attract many chef-wannabes to study culinary in France. Here are some French cuisines that you may want to try:
Bouillabaisse (boo-yah-bess):
This famous French dish originated in the port city of Marseilles, where a variety of fresh marine catch arrives every day.
Bouillabaisse is a creamy soup filled with the freshest catch of the day like shellfish and fish meat with tomatoes and saffron. Throughout the years, many versions of bouillabaisse has sprouted and each part of France has probably its own technique of cooking this local dish. However if you want to have a taste of the traditional bouillabaisse, then head to Marseilles’ Chez Madie Les Galinettes, an unassuming restaurant located north of the port.
Beef Bourguignon:
Literally translates to Beef Burgundy, this famous French dish originated in the region of Burgundy; hence the name.
Initially this dish was prepared for the French peasants who tilled lands or did manual type of labor, but as the years went by this dish was transformed into a classy French dish which many top-of-the-line restaurants serve. Beef Bourguignon is prepared by slowly stewing chunks of beef in Burgundy red wine, broth, garlic, onion, mushrooms, and local herbs and spices. To have a closer look at French cuisines, go to Pierrot in Paris and order a bowl of this beefy goodness. This classy restaurant is known for serving traditionally prepared French cuisines.
Baguette:
The French take their breads seriously. One of the bread staples in every French household is the baguette.
This baton-looking bread is made from firm dough that is elongated, scoured and baked until crisp and brown. This French-version of a bread loaf can be easily bought in any local bakeries found in every corner of France. When buying baguette, locals just grab a loaf off the rack or bread basket with their bare hands and just carry it home without putting it in a bag or wrapper. To have a go of the best Parisian baguette, go to La Parisienne. This bakery has won the best baguette award this year.
Macarons:
The French don’t only take their breads seriously; they also take their desserts seriously. One of the more famous local desserts that attract every tourist is the colourful macarons.
A twisted version of a meringue, macarons are made from quickly beaten egg whites, powdered sugar, almond powder, and food coloring. After these tiny buns are baked, they are joined in pairs using a sticky filling. The fillings may be made from berries, nuts, jams, or buttercream. Taking a closer look at French cuisines will tell you that the French are very patient and precise people. Imagine these tiny desserts are so tedious to make yet eating a box of macarons only takes a few minutes.
Foie Gras:
Only the French can think of overfeeding a duck or a goose just to get a very fat liver out of it. Foie Gras literally translates to fat liver.
It is a French delicacy that can only be achieved by force-feeding these fowls until their livers turn fat. Although the traditional way of force-feeding these fowls have been avoided due to animal-cruelty, foie gras remains to be a hit delicacy amongst locals and tourists. Have a taste of this very uniquely textured dish and pair it with a slice of baguette or an order of Salad Nicoise.
Crêpes:
Another famous French dessert is known as the crepe. These thin pancakes are made from runny flour and milk mixture cooked on a flat circular hot plate.
Crepes are believed to have originated in Brittany but have long since been a popular dessert in the whole of France. Even neighboring countries like Belgium, Italy, German, and all the way up to North and South American have fell in love with this simple yet delectable dessert. The crepe is oftentimes made complete by granulated sugar and lemon zest or a flambé of sweetened fruits like apples, pineapples, strawberries, and so on.
A Closer Look at French Cuisine – Bon Appetit!
Ready you palates for a great gastronomical adventure by preparing your requirements for the Schengen tourist visa. If France is just one of several European nations that you wish to visit, then it might be useful to know the different kinds of Schengen visa to not ruin your planned itinerary. Also, if you wish to maximize your single entry visa, you may want to know the other Schengen countries that implement the same kind of visa. Finally, should you need further assistance to secure a Schengen Visa, you may contact us through WhatsApp (+1 201-554-8735) or leave us a message. Have a closer look at French cuisines by sampling all distinct dishes that can only be enjoyed from the best traditional restaurants in France.
