What is a standard French breakfast?

Writer Jonathan Safran Foer once famously said: “Food is not an abstract thing, it is culture, habits, desires and national identity”. Yes, one of the ways to understand more about the people of a country is through food, because it represents the spiritual and material life of a nation.

Like most countries in the world, the French also have three full meals a day including breakfast, lunch and dinner. When it comes to breakfast, this is the most important meal of the day because the French believe that eating breakfast gives them the energy to be ready for all activities and work in a day.

The French breakfast is perhaps one of the most unique and alluring culinary experiences in the world. Known as the "petit déjeuner," it is not only a simple way to start the day but also an important part of the culture and lifestyle. The French breakfast is extremely simple but equally delicious.

Baguette

The French are very proud of their bread and breakfast often begins with eating fresh bread. The Baguette is one of the culinary symbols of France. Baguette is indispensable in the daily meals of the French. In the traditional French breakfast, the bread is spread with jam and dipped in a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

Baguettes can be found in many places, especially mini supermarkets in the city, large supermarkets in the suburbs or traditional bakeries that the French call “La Boulangerie”. If you want to enjoy a real Baguette, you should buy it at a Boulangerie. Because usually this bakery also produces bread on site, they have an oven right behind and every morning the bakers bake hot breads for consumption during the day.

The French are very strict, even picky, when it comes to eating Baguettes. For them, a good baguette must meet the following criteria: a hard, crispy outer shell with a very golden color, and a soft, coffee-brown filling. The filling must be so soft that when you press it with two fingers, it returns to its original thickness as soon as you release it. To make a baguette like this, it takes about four hours from kneading the dough to molding and baking.

To honor the French Baguette and protect the title, since 1994, the city of Paris has organized the "Best Baguette in Paris" contest under the auspices of the "Chamber of Bakers". In fact, baking contests in France date back to 1830, but the official recognition by the capital Paris only began after the successful fight to protect the traditional French Baguette brand. The winner will be awarded a medal and a prize of 4,000 euros and will be honored to become the official bread supplier for one year to the Champs-Elysee Palace (the president's workplace and the place where world politicians are welcomed). The winner will have a plaque recognizing this outside the store and the revenue will increase by 30-40% annually.

Croissant

Croissant is the most popular breakfast dish in romantic France. The small French Croissant has a very interesting story.

When we talk about Croissant, we immediately think of France, but the truth is that the cake was not created by the French but was first made in Austria. Croissant was originally called Kipfel (crescent moon) and then changed its name to Croissant (croissant) in 1770 when 15-year-old Austrian princess Marie Antoinette married the French prince, later King Louis XVI.

Parisian bakers created the Kipfel in honor of the princess and the French loved it. The Kipfel was then given a more elaborate shape by French bakers to suit the royal table and was called the Croissant ever since.

Croissants are a type of puff pastry breakfast pastry, made from flour, yeast, butter, milk, and salt. A proper croissant should be spongy, crispy, and tearable into thin layers. The inside should not be solid, but rather hollow.

Nowadays, with the sophistication in needs and enjoyment styles, French Croissant can be filled with chocolate, jam, raisins or soft butter cream like cream puffs... In some regions, people even make fruit or savory fillings for croissants.

Croissant is the epitome of French cuisine. Anyone who has fallen in love with Croissant or has tried a real croissant will find it addictive.

Croque Monsieur

Besides the elaborate and extremely meticulous dishes, French cuisine also has many simple dishes, but they contain all the quintessence of the world's top cuisine. Croque Monsieur is one of those special dishes.

Croque Monsieur is considered a French sandwich, a favorite dish in France for those who want a quick and simple breakfast. The ingredients of this dish are extremely simple, two golden grilled sandwiches, eggs, cold cuts, cheese and a layer of buttermilk sauce. Although it is so easy, Croque Monsieur makes diners fascinated by the richness of the cheese.

Originating in the early 20th century in France, it's no surprise that this sandwich is one of those irresistible dishes when it comes to French cuisine.

French breakfast is not just a meal, but a part of life and culture. When you set foot in France, don't miss the chance to try it and enjoy a flavorful and charming morning in the French way.

Suggestions for cafes in Paris suitable for enjoying breakfast:

1. La Caféothèque Paris

Address: 52 Rue de l'Hôtel de ville, 75004 Paris, France

2. Le Petit Cler

Address: 29 Rue Cler, 75007 Paris, France

3. Le Square Trousseau

Address: 1 Rue Antoine Vollon, 75012 Paris, France

4. Les Antiquaires

Address: 13 Rue du Bac, 75007 Paris, France

5. Du Pain and Des Ideas

Address: 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 75010 Paris, France

6. Café des 2 Moulins

Address: 15 Rue Lepic, 75018 Paris, France

Phuong Mai is a reporter for Travellive Magazine in Hanoi.

Phuong Mai