France is known for its rich culinary culture. French food varies from region to region, depending on the cooking style and the use of ingredients. Some basic ingredients in traditional French recipes are olive oil, vinegar, cheese, hot mustard, nutmeg, onions, garlic, and wheat flour. The food reflects the rich dairy and agricultural production in the country. Today, French cuisine is popular all over the world, due to its diversity and wonderful taste. The eastern region of France is influenced by the German food culture and its foods include ham, sausages, lard, and beer. Cuisine of the coastal areas of France is known for the abundance of lobsters, mussels, and sea bass. The central region and Loire valley is popular for producing fresh fruits and vegetables, which are the major ingredients of their culinary culture. Burgundy is popular for the wine production. Regional French cuisine includes vegetables like potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, turnips, leeks, and shallots. Fruits like oranges, peaches, apples, apricots, cherries, strawberries, grapes, plums, and raspberries are very popular. French people prefer meats like squab, duck, goose, beef, pork, lamb, and turkey, while fish like tuna, sardines, cod, salmon, shrimp, oysters, and trout are their favorites. The most commonly used herbs and seasonings in French cuisine are tarragon, lavender, thyme, rosemary, sage, fennel, fleur de sel, and herbes de Provence. Some of the most popular traditional dishes in France are breads like ficelle, pain poilane, and baguette, savory dishes like steak frites, Coq au vin, Boudin blanc, Poulet frites, Bouillabaisse, Blanquette de veau, and Pot au feu, and desserts like Mousse au chocolat, Tarte Tatin, Tartes aux fruits, Choux à la Crème, Madeleine, and Mille-feuilles. French breakfast is like a quick meal that includes eggs or ham, croissants, jam, and butter, along with tea or coffee. Children are served with hot chocolate. Breakfast is generally taken in cafes that open early in the morning. A French meal is typically served in three main courses; starters like soup, main course and cheese or desserts like fresh fruits. In addition, France is known for the delightful, sparkling French wine. It is one of the largest producers of wine in the world. Several regions of France including Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Corsica, Loire, and Savoy are popular for producing good quality red and white wine. By now you must be eager to prepare traditional French dishes at home. Here are some delicious traditional French food recipes. Chocolate Mousse Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 3 tbsp. granulated sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 7 oz. bittersweet chocolate (melted and kept lukewarm)
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions In a small saucepan, heat about ⅔ cup of cream until it starts steaming. In another mixing bowl, mix the sugar and egg yolks together. Then, add half of the hot cream to this bowl, and keep on whisking until it blends well. Pour this egg-cream mixture into the hot cream in the saucepan, and cook it over low flame; keep stirring. Then, remove it from the heat and add melted chocolate and vanilla extract to it. Refrigerate the chocolate custard for chilling. Meanwhile, beat the remaining 1⅓ cup of cream in a mixing bowl. Add ½ cup of this whipped cream to the chilled chocolate custard. Stir well, and then add the remaining cream. Once it is mixed well, serve it chilled. Moules Mariniére Recipe Ingredients

• 5 lb fresh mussels
• Bunch of parsley sprigs
• 1 onion (finely chopped)
• 2 cups dry white wine
• ½ tsp. bay leaf
• 1/6 tsp. pepper
• ¼ tsp. thyme

Directions First, rinse the mussels under cold running water for about 10 minutes. Fill a kettle with wine along with parsley, onion, and herbs. Allow it to boil for about 3 minutes. Following this, add the mussels and cover the kettle. Boil it again for about 5 minutes over high heat. Stir it once or twice in order to move the mussels from top to bottom. When the shells are opened, remove the kettle from the heat, and sprinkle with parsley. Serve it with bread and butter. You can try these delicious traditional French food recipes for family dinners or weekend parties. Bon appetit!