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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in France series at FrenchPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind French holidays and observances. I’m Matt, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 23- Gastronomy day. In French, it’s called Fête de la Gastronomie. | |
| Do you like French cuisine? If you do, this holiday is for you. Gastronomy Day takes place across France and all over the world on the first weekend of autumn. In this lesson, we’re going to learn how and why French people celebrate Gastronomy Day. | |
| Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question? | |
| What are three famous French dishes? | |
| If you already have your own answer, keep it in mind. We’ll share our answer with you in just a moment. | |
| Gastronomy is the art of making good food. In France, gastronomy may be defined as the art of the table combined with the pleasure of eating. The “French gastronomic meal” or Le repas gastronomique des Français, with its rituals and presentation, was listed in 2010 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. French people do indeed have a typical way of eating and matching food with wine, with a succession of dishes and a specific way of setting the table. | |
| Launched in 2011 by Madame Sylvia Pinel, Minister of Craftsmanship, Commerce, and Tourism, Gastronomy Day strives to celebrate the expertise, tradition and innovation of French gastronomy. This holiday has many goals, including promoting French cuisine all over the world, and making it a tourist draw. But it’s also for promoting public awareness of France’s regional diversity and products, as well as the many careers that have to do with gastronomy. | |
| Every year a theme is chosen for the holiday in order to mix things up. Events such as amateur cooking contests or, concours de cuisine amateurs, are organized. This event is celebrated not only in all regions of France, but also internationally. Countries such as South Africa, Japan, and Canada have also participated in this delicious event. This holiday is still new, and isn’t well-known in France yet. However, awareness is growing. Ninety-eight French department stores have celebrated this event and more than 75,000 professionals have participated in it. | |
| Do you know about the Michelin Guide, or in French, Guide Michelin? It’s one of the oldest and most famous gastronomic guides in the world. After investigations by inspectors from the Guide, restaurants get stars, which are labels of quality. Three is the highest. France is the country with the second most stars! | |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question! | |
| Can you name three famous French dishes? | |
| French cuisine has numerous different dishes, so there are many possibilities! We’d like to name the macaron, foie gras, and the old-fashioned blanquette de veau, or veal stew, as the three main French dishes. | |
| How was this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? | |
| What are your three favorite French dishes? | |
| Please leave a comment telling us at FrenchPod101.com and we’ll see you next time! |
2 Comments
HideWhat are your three favorite French dishes?
Je suis americaine. Donc, je ne connais bien beaucoup des plats francais. J'aime bien ratatouille et le fromage 'Brie'. Je voudrais essayer Bouillabaisse et Cassoulet. Mais je connais bien beaucoup des desserts francais, particulièrement 'mousse au chocolat' et 'macarons'. Miam miam!