Food in france?

Question

I will be travelling in France soon - Paris, Marseille, Cannes and Nice. I am trying to keep this trip as cheap as poss but I don't want to miss out on anything. If there is nowhere in particular to eat on an evening, I would simply buy food from a supermarket for cheapness. Just wondering if anyone knows anywhere fantastic or a bit unusual that I wouldn't want to miss in these places? Also, any suggestions on what to order and prices would be good. Thanks

Answer 1

Since you're travelling cheap I guess you're going by hostels? Check if the hostel has a kitchen you can use (tip: bring a small sharp kitchenknife for yourself - that's often lacking). If it has; go to the French supermarket and pick up some stuff to try. Megamarts (like Auchan and Carrefour) carry an incredible selection of stuff.

Also ask the hostel people (staff and visitors) for tips on restaurants. A good backpacker travelguide will help with that too.

Another thing which is good to know is that in some places it's customary to have your main meal during lunch. Keep an eye out for lunch deals. Also, find out about university restaurants. They often allow non-students to eat there as well.

If you can afford it: find out about local specialties and try them.

Answer 2

food is about the only thing you will find cheap in france. look for the open air markets all the citys have them the people selling the foods sell hot meals there very cheap. i would also have to give you some advice try toullosses and toulone both are better than marseille and nice

Answer 3

Budget for good meals.  Your cheapness plan will make you miss out on the BEST thing France has to offer...its cuisine.

Bring more money and EAT.

Answer 4

One thing that you are sure to find in France is good places to eat reasonably cheaply in an evening - far more than in the US. You can certainly save a few pennies by buying food in a supermarket, but you will be missing out on an essential part of French culture. You don't need to go to expenisve restaurants. Even the cheap restos take care and attention in the food they serve.

That said, you should be careful where you choose to eat. In Nice and Cannes for example, avoid the restos on the proms, which are overpriced and geared to tourists. Take the side streets or the pedestrian precincts. In Paris, avoid the cafe-brasseries, which will serve you overpriced saussage and chips, and the tourist areas like the Champs Elysees.

But there are so many good and cheap places to choose from there is no point in asking for a list. A walk around a neighbourhood to check out the local restaurants is a pleasant way of working up an apetite. Aslo, French law stipulates that all restos display their menus outside. So you know what there is to eat and how much you will have to pay before you go inside.

Answer 5

this is what i do even when i don't need to eat cheaply -- it's the only way to eat real local foods w/out tourist hype!!!  

stop into the charcuteries wherever you are.  you will see the big signs so they're easy to spot --they have  prepared foods of the region--they are the delis of france.  you can try small amounts of many foods this way....you will find tasty dried sausages including: Saucisson Lyonnais: Natural, Noisettes, Cendre, Sanglier, Duck, Olive- Vin, Cheese and the Cepes

also the outside day markets have fresh prepared foods like paellas, cheeses, & fish...so browse thru...when you are on the coast eat seafood...

always ask  taxi drivers where good cheap places to eat are....they are very helpful

Boulangerie--this is where you buy the famous French bread, from the baguette to the heavy pain de compaigne.

Patisseries--Pastry shops, the smells will entice you in from the street.

Confiseries--The world's best chocolates and other sweets here. Fromageries (sometimes crémerie)--For the best cheese come here; you'll find the greatest variety and freshest cheese. For a taste ask: 'est-ce que je peux le goûter, s'il vous plaît?

Charcuteries--a delicatessen with sliced meats, seafood salads, pâtes etc. If you see traiteur they have take away food.

Boucherie--a generalized butcher, a boucherie chevaline sells horse meat.

Epiceries and Alimentations--small grocery stores with a little bit of everything. Some of these small shops are open when others are closed and may stay open later in the night.

Supermarkets (Supermarché)--Most town and city centers have at least one department store with a large supermarket.--Intermarche, Prisunic are two names.

Hypermarché--These huge supermarkets are usually on the outskirts of town and about as interesting as a supermarket in the states.

Open air markets--each town or district has one or two days a week for their open air markets. There are a variety of things sold here, but the fruits and vegetables are often fresh

and of better quality than in the stores.

http://www.francedirect.net/article5.htm...

Answer 6

sur, france is country where all the regions don't have the same origines

Answer 7

Keep to the side roads ...stop in the villages they have a 2-3hr lunch period and the local cafes provide really great local food with the wine of the region really cheap.

The S/W regions are really interesting ending up around Narbonne Carcassone easy reach to Spain as well.

The cities you have listed are quite expensive..although Marseille is one of the best for seafood.

In Langeudoc area is the chapel where the Templars met...Narbonne is an old Roman town great night life good food cheap. Carcassone is the place where the Cathars hung out then were burnt to death ..happy travels.