December 13, 2019December 9, 2020Caro 0 Commentschristmas in france, culinary travel blogger, food and travel blogger, french christmas, French cuisine, french food, noel en france, reveillon, taste of savoie
Christmas in France starts early with many traditional markets (Marche de Noel) in towns and cities, these are very popular and a great place for local artisans to showcase their products to sell as gifts. There are local food and wine stalls including the cauldron of bubbling vin chaud. In the Haute Savoie region of France, you may typically find a huge pela dish filled with tartiflette to help keep you warm whilst you enjoy the festivities.
So what do the French eat at Christmas?
The Réveillon
The main Christmas meal is called The Reveillon and consists of luxurious and the more extravagant foods found in France.
The Reveillon meal is normally eaten late on Christmas Eve – it is a nighttime celebration served after midnight – the word comes from reveiller which means awaken as this meal involves staying awake after midnight! Champagne is served with the aperitif and good French wines to complement each course are served throughout the meal.
The Reveillon is a long meal, the aperitif is often blinis with smoked salmon and caviar. This would be followed with oysters (huîtres) smoked salmon (saumon fume) and other seafood like lobster (homard).
The French Christmas Meal
The Christmas meal normally includes foie gras from south-west France and snails (escargots) from Bourgogne. The French do eat turkey typically with a chestnut stuffing (farcé aux marrons) but they will often choose other game birds to serve at Christmas time too, like guinea fowl (pintade) quail (caille), pheasant (faisan) or goose (oie).
Foie Gras from South-West France
Choosing Cheese for a French Christmas Cheeseboard
Next is the cheese course – which in France is always served before the dessert and normally consists of a hard mountain cheese like Comte, a blue-veined cheese like Roquefort, a washed rind cheese perhaps Munster or if in the Haute Savoie a Reblochon and a soft goats cheese. This is followed by a selection of desserts including the Buche de Noel (Yule Log) which is the most widely-eaten dessert in France.
However, if you are lucky enough to be in Provence they traditionally serve 13 desserts – these represent Jesus and the 12 Apostles and include dried fruits, nougat, Calisson D’Aix and a traditional sweet olive oil brioche called Pompe a l’huile. In Alsace they serve their typical biscuits called Des Bredele.
So there you have what the French eat at Christmas! Joyeux Noel et Bon Appetit!
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What the French eat at Christmas. The main Christmas meal is called The Reveillon and consists of luxurious and the more extravagant foods found in France. The Reveillon is a long meal, the aperitif is often blinis with smoked salmon and caviar.
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. Another celebration, in some parts of France, is that 13 different desserts are eaten!
They gather for a late-night feast featuring oysters, foie gras, and perfectly roasted meats. If you'll indulge in the Réveillon, consider infusing Parisian touch into your celebrations. A Parisian-themed dinner party can add more sophistication to your Christmas celebration.
Oeufs en Cocotte are great as a hearty breakfast or brunch dish. While most people are fussing about what they'll serve for dinner on Christmas Day, I tend to focus more on what I'll serve for brunch.
Families usually kick things off by opening a bottle of fine Champagne, like the Champagne Paul Michel. Others may choose to begin with a traditional method French Crémant from the Loire, Limoux or Burgundy and bring out the Champagne later in the meal.
The largest Christmas market in Paris. Dazzling illuminations line this iconic avenue sparkling upon some 160 chalets dressing the Champs-Elysées between the Rond-point and Place de la Concorde.
Other seafood is also very much a part of French festive food. Many families will order a specially prepared platter of mixed seafood for the Réveillon (Christmas Eve) meal. Typical choices might include prawns, clams, lobster, crab and whelks.
French Christmas markets are filled with charming, handcrafted treasures that make for unforgettable Christmas gifts. You'll find intricately designed ornaments, beautifully woven textiles, and artisanal products that reflect the artistry and craftsmanship of the region.
Public life on Christmas Day is generally quiet. Post offices, banks, stores, restaurants, cafés and other businesses are closed. Many people in France put up a Christmas tree, visit a special church service, eat an elaborate meal and open gifts on Christmas Eve.
Treat guests to a traditional German Christmas dinner with classic dishes like roasted goose legs, braised red cabbage.and dumplings, and don't forget the mulled wine and platter of gorgeous, festive cookies.
Poultry or game usually features as the centerpiece on a French Christmas table, surrounded by an array of delicious sides. While many households will celebrate with a stuffed turkey, different traditions are adopted across the regions. For example, in Alsace, goose is often served up, and duck is enjoyed in Périgord.
The French aren't fussy about which bird takes pride of place on the Christmas dinner table. It can be anything from roast turkey (dinde) to guinea fowl (pintade) or pheasant (faisan). Roast duck (canard) is common in the west, while roast goose (oie) is also a favourite in the east.
On the 24th of December, French families gather together to celebrate the Reveillon de Noel with a large meal before heading to the midnight mass. Champagne is served as an aperitif and foie gras, salmon and oysters are traditional starters. For the main course, turkey is served stuffed with chesnuts.
Le Réveillon is a traditional late-night feast or party held when families return from la Messe de Minuit (Midnight Mass) on Christmas Eve. While the food tradition varies from region to region, the meal is full of lavish delicacies including oysters, foie gras, escargot, and roasted fowl.
Lunch on All Saints' Day is usually lamb or game. But at midnight the French often eat a supper that consists of bacon, black grain, pancakes and cider in honour of the dead. This public holiday falls during school holidays in Autumn so it has become very popular for families to gather as a part of a short vacation.
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Photo from BBC Good Food
What the French eat at Christmas from Taste of Savoie