What is a traditional French Christmas meal?

What is a traditional French Christmas meal?

Main Dish. The main course is traditionally a meat dish, usually roasted. You can have capon (chapon in French), turkey (dinde), even guinea fowl (pintade) or pheasant (faisan). They are usually stuffed with chestnut and served with mushrooms and some vegetables.

What are some traditional Christmas foods in France?

Fowls and Game Meat Are Popular Around the Holidays in France. Game meats such as “le cerf” (venison) are a popular dish for Christmas in France – or maybe a fancy beef roast, maybe “un rôti en croûte” (roast in a crust of dough, like a beef Wellington), like my father in law often makes.

What foods are typical at the French Christmas Eve Mass?

Huîtres, or oysters, are a classic French Christmas tradition (if you have the money to afford them), served with lemon and a shallot mignonette. In fact, seafood in general is pretty popular for the Christmas Eve meal, as it is in Italy where on Christmas Eve many celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes.

What is the most famous French Christmas dish?

Capon or Turkey with chestnut stuffing This is the most popular and classic Christmas dish. Capon or Turkey is roasted in the oven with a generous chestnut stuffing.

What are the 13 desserts of Christmas in France?

The Thirteen Desserts

• Dates (perhaps stuffed with marzipan) representing the foods of the region where Christ lived and died.
• Dried plums from Brignoles.
• Calisson d’aix en Provence – a marzipan-like candy made from almond paste and candied melon.
• Quince fruit paste or jam.
• Candied melons.
• Casse-dents of Allauch – a biscuit.

What do the French eat for dessert on Christmas?

Bûche de Noël is a traditional French Christmas dessert shaped and decorated like a log. This recipe takes some time, but we promise it’s worth it.

What is the traditional meal for Christmas Eve?

Traditional Christmas dinner features turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and vegetables. Other types of poultry, roast beef, or ham, are also used. Pumpkin or apple pie, raisin pudding, Christmas pudding, or fruitcake are staples for dessert.

What is Les Treize?

Les Treize Desserts de Noël, or the thirteen desserts of Christmas are a tradition in Provence. They are enjoyed after le gros souper – the big supper. The food traditionally is set out on Christmas Eve and remains for three days until December 27th. This allows the family to nibble as they pass the table.

What is a famous French pastry?

Top 10 Best French Pastries

• 1) Croissants. French croissants are a little pastry made with butter and then carefully baked.
• 2) Éclairs. Éclairs are made with choux pastry filled with a flavored and sweet cream.
• 3) Cannelés.
• 4) Macaroons.
• 5) Financiers.
• 6) Crepes.
• 7) Madeleine.
• 8) Crème Brûlée.

What is the most popular food at Christmas?

The Most Popular Christmas Dishes The #1 pick is roast potatoes, with a win percentage of 76%. Mashed potatoes came in second (75%), and turkey was third (73%)—the only protein in the top five.

Why do the French eat 13 desserts?

Les Treize Desserts de Noël, or the thirteen desserts of Christmas are a tradition in Provence. They are enjoyed after le gros souper – the big supper. These thirteen desserts represent Jesus and his twelve apostles at the Last Supper.

What foods are eaten at Christmas in France?

Christmas in France. Dishes might include roast turkey with chestnuts or roast goose, oysters, foie gras, lobster, venison and cheeses. For dessert, a chocolate sponge cake log called a bûche de Noël is normally eaten.

What do the French drink at Christmas?

The first bottles to be popped will mostly likely be champagne or some other sparkling wine like Vouvray, Saumur, or Touraine. Seafood at Christmas might seem strange to outsiders, but the French love it and Parisians are particularly fond of a platter of chilled oysters as a holiday appetizer.

What are the French Christmas traditions?

The French traditions of Christmas are an integral part of celebrating the birth of Jesus in France. It consists of many favourite customs such as the Christmas tree, the chocolate bûche, the Père Noël and the great Christmas Eve dinner.

What is the Christmas meal in France?

The traditional Christmas dinner in France includes an assortment of French delicacies and numerous courses. The Christmas Eve meal is the most celebrated meal in most French families.