French cuisine offers true culinary classics. On a good French menu you'll find creamy sauces, seasonal ingredients and game meats such as rabbit, duck and pigeon. There are also exotic ingredients such as escargots (snails), foie gras (goose liver), truffles and frogs legs. Rich desserts, cheese and wine are also essential elements of French cuisine.
If that piques your appetite, find a French restaurant or French cafe.
Piaf at Grey Street, South Bank is a modern, minimalist French bistro. The French wine list includes those from Bordeaux and the Rhone. The menu is small but ever-changing with Asian influences too, offering great value.
Belle Epoque. For a taste of France, complete with atmospheric touches (think carved zinc bar, booth seating and French speaking waiters) you must visit Belle Epoque at Emporium in Fortitude Valley. The food is classically French - rich and satisfying. Read more about the restaurant.
Montrachet Bar Comptoir in Paddington is another of Brisbane's high quality French restaurants. This one specialises in soufflés and is subdued and elegant in atmosphere. Montrachet is definitely a special occasion restaurant and offers a degustation menu. Unlike almost every other restaurant in town, it is not open on the weekend or Friday evenings. Thierry Galichet is the chef and owner.
Baguette Restaurant at Ascot is one of Brisbane's longest-established restaurants and meals are prepared by French-trained chef Bruno Loubet. Choose from the classic French, contemporary or degustation menus.
Or try the relatively new C'est Bon bistro at Wooloongabba.
Patisseries
But French cuisine isn't all about formal dinners. Patisseries that bake wonderful baguettes and decadent pastries are also in Brisbane.
Try the authentic flavours of a French patisserie at Chouquette in New Farm. This small bakery has a few tables and chairs and lovely French-speaking staff who make it seem as if you are eating your tarte au citron in Paris.
There is the chain of French Twist cafes. Or the delicious, buttery pastries of Jocelyn's Provisions and the calorific delights of Le Bon Choix at Ascot, Albany Creek and the city.
Cooking classes
Cream Patisserie at Coorparoo is where you can take a French cooking class (in either savoury or sweet treats) from the chefs. Or check the latest schedule at Black Pearl Epicure Cooking School and James Street Cooking School.
If you can't eat out at a French restaurant regularly, then perhaps you can adopt the shopping habits of the French. Buy seasonally, buy fresh, buy little and often.
Did you know that the English language has no words for places to eat? They are all French in origin - restaurant, café, bistro. Even the word ‘cuisine' is French and words such as banquet, croissant, crème brulee, camembert, pate, omelette and crepes are part of our everyday language. It seems the French have always appreciated fine food and dining. Bon appetite.
