So as Mother Tongue is the comfortable language (which maybe makes us think of Mother), comfort food is that which inspires comfort in the individual.
Which means it’s hard to categorize a culture’s comfort foods. But I’m going to try, with a short list of foods that give me comfort and, I’ve observed, give my French friends comfort too:
The Iconics
Oysters on the half shell. Served on a woolly winter eve, in front of a roaring fire. They remind us of summer, the outdoors, stresslessness, good times.
Potage. A blend of seasonal vegetables that includes at least one potato, cooked with thyme and bay leaf, then pureed and served drizzled with olive oil or anointed with a spoonful of crème fraiche. Potage reminds us of Grandmère. She made it every day.
Quiche. A dish of the seventies? Not here. There is nothing like a quiche to warm the cockles of the heart because it is rich, creamy, crisp from the pastry.
Stuffed Tomatoes. A summer dish, these are made and served at large family gatherings, the way mom, grandmère, and generations before them did. Everyone makes them; everyone here loves them.
Grilled lamb chops. Grilled over the coals in the fireplace, these are delicious “fast food” that are tender and elegant, quick to prepare easy to serve, and they hit the heart as much as the stomach.
Grilled Steak and Frites. This may be the ultimate comfort dish. Less served at home than enjoyed in the corner café, this dish brings warmth to the soul when things are troubled.
Cheese. Any cheese. The enzymes in it are known to help with digestion but no one cares about that. What they care about is its appearance at the end of the meal, to revive and…comfort!
This selection includes iconic French comfort foods and is not an exhaustive list. What are your comfort foods? As you consider your response, try the recipe below.
We’ll make French comfort foods and more when you come, so sign up for your delicious French comfort and cuisine class in Paris or Normandy!
Photos primarily by Francis Hammond
