All countries have their regional specialties, foods associated with a particular area or even a city. Think Cincinnati Chili, or Lowcountry Shrimp and Grits. In France, this is true but several times squared. In France, specialties, a point of great pride, come down to a town, or a zip code.
Many of those hundreds of types of cheeses can only be bought in a particular area. Our own Délice de Bourgogne is my favorite, though that’s more widely available now. But every town seems to have adopted a food that is their own. I’m reminded of this when we pass through Montélimar on the way to the Provence, and suddenly every store is full of nougat. Or in Nyons, where their special olives are on every shelf.
So I was intrigued when I came across a food map of France. Then I did a search, and found even more. Time to make a cross country trip to sample the specialties I’ve missed! My dear readers, you are sure to find a familiar favorite dish on these fanciful maps, if you’ve traveled to France.
The food map above is by Nancy Nikko and is available at Etsy. Check out these other "food maps" below and see how many of the specialties you've sampled (to take a closer look, click on the links).
The Local claims this is the definitive food map of France:
Love the graphics on this one:
Here's one by region:
And one by Claudine Panagopoulos:
Here's one just for cheese
And to polish off our meal, here's one for desserts! You can buy this watercolor print at Lucile's Kitchen
A special note: Your Key to Burgundy is offering a special 10 day tour to celebrate women's rights, called Women in Burgundy 2018: Life, laughter, and the French Paradox. Sounds fun, n'est-ce pas?
11 thoughts on “Putting France’s Favorite Foods on the Map”
And even everyone of those leave out special dishes in each region! As we have found out in just our small region of Burgundy. But, they are all quite colorful and fun. I cant wait to get back to our perfect home!!
Oh, and I forgot to say how sad we Americans are for our special food. Just not too many specialities as France seems to have down the very small region.
What? No bar-le-duc, the currant jam? (And of all things, I first learned of it in a novel, one of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe mysteries. Mr. Wolfe was a man of exquisite taste.)
Well, those were fun, Lynn. Thanks.
What a fun post! I shared it on our La Belle Cour Facebook page – after getting hungrier and hungrier as I read!
Bon weekend-
Anne
Love the maps! I can’t decide which one I like the best. And speaking of food…I just finished a delightful novel by Erica Bauermeister, The School of Essential Ingredients. I enjoyed it so much I’m about begin her next novel, The Lost Art of Mixing. The author writes beautifully!!
Oh,wow,Lynn,these maps are awesome!
I so wish we had them”back in the day”(please don’t ask which one)(or which year)(!!!) when we could rely on these instead of notes or memory.
Makes my mouth water all over again.
Thank you!
Natalia a tout dit:
“Makes my mouth water all over again.”
But never heard before about la “cacasse à cul nu (des Ardennes)” : 3 * or 3 X ?
All the best
These are great maps! We’ll have to print them out and keep them in the car. Who knew you could get the famous Waterzooi near the Belgium border. or that Salade Nicoise and Crepes were so far geographically removed from each other in origin. I would hate to be somewhere and not realize what the speciality was in that area.
But. Ali, what about New York Cheesecake, Virginia Oyster Roasts, Virginia ham and ham biscuits, NC Barbeque, Main Lobster rolls, Jambalaya, Wisconsin cheddar,Coney Island Hotdogs, Jersey Clam Bakes, Maryland Crab Cakes, Texas Steaks, Georgia quail, and especially, Southern Fried Chicken!
As they say here in the South – Good Eatin’ Folks!
Too sweet – thank you for the wonderful collection of maps. The other day at the farmer’s market the walnut man was telling me how the folks over on the coast are not interested in walnuts. I am always surprised by just regional things are here in France. I wouldn’t change my noix et canard for anything.
Best!
Merci beaucoup, Lynne. The maps are wonderful. And yes, Mr. Wolfe does have exquisite taste!