Food blogger Laura Scott visits France with her family twice a year. Here she shares her shopping list and favourite dishes to order in a restaurant.
Where to eat
Twice a year food blogger Laura Scott and her family drive to France for a holiday, here she shares her tips on feeding young children in the country known for its complicated haute cuisine.
When in France I am always keen to shop and buy locally, so I do cook as well as eat out with the family. Esepcially when the children were smaller, eating in was always far more appealing because a toddler’s behaviour can be unpredictable (and we all know how the French feel about badly behaved children).
In restaurants
Crêpes and galettes (buckwheat pancakes) filled with sweet and savoury options.
Jambon (Ham) and frites.
Steak haché (not a burger but minced patty) and frites.
Moules marinière with crusty bread to dip into the sauce.
Confit de canard (duck) and sauté potatoes.
Crevettes (large prawns that children love to peel) with mayo.
Gratin dauphinoise (creamy potato bake).
Assiette de charcuterie (platter of cured meats).
Omelet avec fromage (a classic French omelette with cheese).
Fondue (melted cheese in a pot: perfect dipping food and really fun, too).
Croque Monsieur (grilled cheese and ham sandwich).
Salade Niçoise (tuna, egg, olive and French beans).
Tartiflette (chunky potato and bacon gratin with melted Reblochon cheese and cream).
At the markets
Melons.
Greengages.
Peaches.
Apricots.
Beef tomatoes.
Haricot verts (beans).
Asparagus.
Charlotte potatoes.
Olives.
Dried fruits.
Pâtés.
Baguettes, pain de Campagne, Fougasse, Ficelle (these breads are unbeatable and universally loved by children).
Pain au chocolat, pain au raisin, croissants, canelles (custard-filled pastry).
Tarte aux fruits (various fruit tarts such as apple, raspberry, apricot).
Salamis with various flavourings such as truffle or hazelnuts.
Free range chickens. These also come already cooked on a rotisserie, which is delicious.
Excellent sausages.
At the supermarket
The meat from the meat counter is supreme quality – chicken, sausages, kebabs, steak, duck, all at reasonable prices and locally sourced.
Very good ready-made tarts, quiches, savoury pastries.
Olives, capers, tinned tuna, tinned beans are all much better quality than in English shops.
Fruit compotes, especially good for babies.
Yoghurts, crème caramels, crème brûlées, chocolate mousse, fruit yoghurts and desserts.
Butter biscuits such as Petit Beurre and Madeleines (simple sponge cakes) are all perfect for snacks.
Things to avoid
Crisps are very salty, much more so than in UK.
Chocolate is more expensive.
Cereals are far more expensive and very sweet.
Food blogger Laura Scott is (in no particular order) a chef, cookery tutor, recipe contributor, allotment owner and mother to three young children, living in Surrey. For her, food is about the enjoyment of creating exciting flavour combinations, as well as appreciating the importance of the growing season and knowing where food comes from. For more nutritious tips from her, visit howtocookgoodfood.co.uk