Posted on March 6th, 2022

French cooking is considered to be the most prestigious and respectable cuisine in the world. With its formal techniques, appreciation for fresh ingredients and simple flavors, pride in presentation, and rich and colorful history, French cuisine has come to rule the world.

To become a skilled chef, you must have extensive knowledge of French cooking fundamentals.

But how did French cuisine come to be so acclaimed? Let’s explore the many ways French cuisine has impacted food and culture around the world.

French cuisine and some of its inspiration can be traced back to medieval times. Back then, nobility dined on multi-course meals composed of wild game, meat, fruit, and grains, while peasants ate diets high in vegetables and legumes. Salt and imported spices were widely used in the kitchens of the elite and were considered a status symbol.

Over the years, as cultures shifted and transformed across the world, so did cooking in France. Cooking found throughout the Middle Ages began to lighten and dishes in France began to shape into a cuisine we would more readily recognize today. It wasn’t until the 1600s that cookbooks and documented techniques were published.

Francois Pierre La Varenne published the first French cookbook in 1651 titled Le Cuisinier Francois. This inspired many chefs to record their work. The French Revolution in 1789 further helped to spread the study of cooking by shattering occupational restrictions established by the government. More and more French people began cooking for themselves.

Later, French cuisine expanded beyond France’s borders, and chefs from around the world studied these guides.

As the French colonized other countries including Asia, Africa, North America, and the Caribbean throughout the 1700s and 1800s, they spread their knowledge and cooking techniques.

Original article: https://www.escoffier.edu/blog/world-food-drink/french-cooking-how-and-why-french-cuisine-came-to-rule-the-world/